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Shop Fox W1706: A Floor-Saw Upgrade from Benchtop
The Shop Fox W1706 is a fourteen-inch floor woodworking bandsaw, included here as an upgrade reference for benchtop owners. Its cabinet, mass, and wider throat put it in a different installation category from a compact bench saw. The standard machine and a machine fitted with the optional riser kit also require different blades. This guide uses the manufacturer's specification and kit documentation without claiming first-hand cutting results.
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No exact offer was matched for this model. The products below are alternative systems to investigate, not this model or guaranteed equivalents.
Documented specifications for Shop Fox W1706
| Model | Machine family | Cut height (in) | Throat (in) | Blade length (in) | Blade width range (in) | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shop Fox W1706 | floor | 6 | 13.5 | 93.5 | 0.125–0.75 | No exact offer matched |
- Table dimensions
- 14 × 14 in
- Machine weight
- 242 lb
- Blade speed
- 1800 / 3100 FPM
Standard machine specification. D3348 riser changes height to 12in and blade to 105in; not a second base-model spec. Floor upgrade, not benchtop.
What the standard machine changes
The official specification gives a thirteen-and-a-half-inch throat, six-inch cutting height, fourteen-inch square table, and 242-pound weight. A1 HP motor is listed with 110/220 V capability and 110 V factory wiring. The broader throat can help with larger curved blanks, while the standard height remains much less than the openings found on some newer resaw-focused floor saws.
A move from a benchtop machine therefore changes support and handling more than a single wheel-size number suggests. Consider how you will move the work around the column and whether the table height suits your stance. Do not assume that a floor saw automatically accepts the broadest boards you intend to resaw. Draw the planned job inside the standard machine's actual opening.
The riser kit changes more than a capacity number
The base W1706 uses a 93-1/2-inch blade with a documented 1/8 to 3/4-inch width range. Shop Fox's D3348 extension-block instructions describe increasing cutting height from six to twelve inches and using a 105-inch blade. A secondhand saw with the block installed must be identified as that configuration before ordering consumables.
The kit also includes extended guarding and guide-post components. A spacer alone is not a complete equivalent. Verify that all manufacturer-required components are present and correctly installed. Increasing the opening does not increase motor output, so wider resawing still calls for suitable blade selection, prepared stock, and a controlled feed. Treat the kit as a documented machine modification, not a casual capacity trick.
Floor space includes the delivery route
The saw's published mass makes lifting and placement a real part of the purchase. Measure doors, steps, and the route from unloading point to final location. A mobile base, if used, needs an appropriate rating and fit for the actual machine. Once positioned for cutting, the assembly must remain stable under the forces applied by the stock.
Allow clearance at the front and rear for long workpieces. A floor saw can free bench space while consuming a larger working corridor. Place independent supports so they hold the board level without steering it. Think about access to the lower cabinet and dust connection as well as the attractive footprint shown in a product photograph.
Electrical and extraction plans should match the exact machine
The manufacturer sheet specifies different minimum circuit requirements at the two voltages. Follow the current manual and nameplate for the actual configuration, and have qualified help perform any electrical changes. Dual-voltage capability does not mean that changing the plug alone changes the machine correctly. Confirm an older used saw's actual wiring rather than assuming it remains factory configured.
The four-inch extraction connection points toward a different collection arrangement from many compact bench saws. Plan the hose and collector as a system suitable for the operation. Keep chips from building up around the lower guide and wheel area, following the manual's cleaning procedure with power disconnected when access is required. Good access makes routine care more likely to happen.
Buy the standard or modified configuration on purpose
A standard W1706 may be enough for larger curved work and moderate-height boards. A complete riser-equipped example has a different resaw envelope and blade inventory. Compare the total configured machine with a saw designed around a tall opening from the outset, rather than comparing an unmodified price or specification against a modified result.
For a used purchase, inspect the frame joints, table supports, guide hardware, tires, and tension-release operation. Verify the riser arrangement if present and ask for the corresponding kit documentation. A worn blade should be replaced before drawing broad conclusions about cut quality. The two published woodworking speeds, 1, 800 and 3, 100 FPM, are not blanket approval for steel; keep the material question separate from the reason for buying a larger saw.
Questions about Shop Fox W1706: A Floor-Saw Upgrade from Benchtop
Is the W1706 a benchtop bandsaw?
No. It is a 242-pound fourteen-inch floor model with a cabinet stand.
Which blade length does it use?
The standard machine uses 93-1/2 inches. The documented D3348 riser configuration uses 105 inches.
Does the riser increase horsepower?
No. It increases documented cutting height with matching guide and guard components; motor output does not increase.
