Shop Fox

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Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2000
HQ: Woodstock, Illinois, United States
Parent: Woodstock International

Indexes

Woodworking

Overview

Shop Fox is a brand of woodworking and metalworking machinery targeted at hobbyists, DIY enthusiasts, and small workshops. It offers tools such as table saws, band saws, jointers, drill presses, and dust collectors, positioned as affordable alternatives to professional-grade equipment. The brand manufactures in a US facility and is distributed through retailers like Grizzly Industrial.¹⁶

History

Shop Fox was founded in 1978 by Charles Bacon, a high school shop teacher who aimed to provide commercial-grade woodworking tools at prices accessible to hobbyists. Initial products included high-performance lathes and bandsaws, later expanding to table saws, jointers, and drill presses. Production occurs in a 150,000 square foot factory in Woodstock, Illinois, under Woodstock International.¹

Product Lines

Product Line	Positioning	Price Range
Table Saws	Benchtop and contractor-grade for home shops	$400 - $1,800
Band Saws	Wood and metal cutting for versatile workshops	$350 - $1,200
Jointers	Benchtop models for edge flattening	$300 - $900
Drill Presses	Floor and bench models for precise drilling	$250 - $800
Dust Collectors	Shop air cleaning systems	$200 - $700
Lathes	Woodturning for hobbyists	$400 - $1,000

Manufacturing

Products are manufactured in a 150,000 square foot factory in Woodstock, Illinois, by skilled workers. Production is kept in the United States.¹

Notable Products

Shop Fox W1740 12" Bench-Top Drum Sander - Compact drum sander for finishing wood surfaces.
Shop Fox table saws - Hybrid and cabinet saws for accurate ripping and crosscutting.
Shop Fox band saws - Vertical bandsaws for resawing and curved cuts in wood and metal.
Shop Fox jointers - Benchtop jointers for jointing and flattening board edges.
Shop Fox drill presses - Variable-speed presses for woodworking and metalworking.

Reputation

Shop Fox is regarded by woodworking enthusiasts for delivering reliable, value-priced machinery suitable for home and small professional shops. Strengths include US manufacturing, solid build quality, and extensive product range, with free technical support available. Criticisms occasionally note that while durable, some models may lack the precision of higher-end industrial brands.¹⁶

Sources (8)