Thread: Nova Viking Drill Press

I can't think directly why i would need a quill lock on a bench drill but I was curious as it's two big brothers have the feature. Now just need to see if the tax return helps with funding

Originally Posted by Aussiephil

I can't think directly why i would need a quill lock on a bench drill but I was curious as it's two big brothers have the feature. Now just need to see if the tax return helps with funding

You won't regret it, it's an absolutely awesome drill! Very powerful, absolutely no runout (on mine anyway), super quiet.

And the depth settings and auto reverse are brilliant, more useful than most would realise I reckon.

The only things that let it down IMHO, are the winding mechanism for the table is a bit crap, they definitely could have done that better, feels cheap in use.

The other thing that's a real shame in my book, is that the centre of the table plug is about 1/8" off (short) from drill centre. Having the hole in the table really lends itself to fitting a chuck, but you'd need to shimmy the table mount out first, it's a small thing I know, but something I'm really surprised didn't seem to occur to anyone in the design team.

Being able to use a chuck or a jig centred on the beautifully machined recess in the table would be extremely handy.

Apart from those niggles, it's extremely well worth it!

Nice buy!

I would not get fussed about the offset hole. You will cover it with a drill press table. I offset the plate, which is round for multiple turns and fresh surfaces ...






Regards from Perth

Derek

Drill press is something I probably will upgrade last in my workshop... some machines I have upgraded a few times, say a mitre saw, I have maybe upgraded 4th-5th times. I now dont even own a mitre saw (actually I do, an older style Omga sitting under the panel saw covered in dust).


The drill press is to drill a hole, very basic, I am still using my $299 Ryobi floor standing model. it doesnt have all the bells and whistles but it get a hole drilled and that is all it mattered...

Originally Posted by Albert

Drill press is something I probably will upgrade last in my workshop... some machines I have upgraded a few times, say a mitre saw, I have maybe upgraded 4th-5th times. I now dont even own a mitre saw (actually I do, an older style Omga sitting under the panel saw covered in dust).


The drill press is to drill a hole, very basic, I am still using my $299 Ryobi floor standing model. it doesnt have all the bells and whistles but it get a hole drilled and that is all it mattered...

"The drill press is to drill a hole, very basic ..."

Yeah, right!

Seriously, I use the drill press for so many tasks. It is one of the more important machines in my workshop. I have no regrets spending on it. You have no idea what this one can do! (actually, neither do I ... still to read the manual )

Regards from Perth

Derek

I know it is a trivial thing Derek, but machine parts are made to spec, they could just as easily have made the drill centre the centre of the insert of the table instead of 1/8" short.

It just makes no sense to me to design such an outstanding machine, and then have the table design and sloppy handle mechanism they do.

I will probably end up making a fixture plate on the milling machine, as the use of jigs and a way of being able to hold something dead centre is more appropriate for what I want more so than a table with a fence.

Having the insert dead centre would have made my life so much easier, oh well, off to drill and tap a hundred holes! ;-)

cheers, Ian

Ian, actually I agree with you. Further, if I had designed the damn thing, the column would have been a square section and not round. That would enable it to retain the settings when the height is adjusted. The cross hairs are helpful here.

Better design does not cost more.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by aarggh

You won't regret it, it's an absolutely awesome drill! Very powerful, absolutely no runout (on mine anyway), super quiet.

And the depth settings and auto reverse are brilliant, more useful than most would realise I reckon.

The only things that let it down IMHO, are the winding mechanism for the table is a bit crap, they definitely could have done that better, feels cheap in use.

The other thing that's a real shame in my book, is that the centre of the table plug is about 1/8" off (short) from drill centre. Having the hole in the table really lends itself to fitting a chuck, but you'd need to shimmy the table mount out first, it's a small thing I know, but something I'm really surprised didn't seem to occur to anyone in the design team.

Being able to use a chuck or a jig centred on the beautifully machined recess in the table would be extremely handy.

Apart from those niggles, it's extremely well worth it!

Thanks for the summary.

I think i'm in Derek's camp on the centering of the plug as i plan to also cover it with a table/fence setup but i do get the point about attention to detail that would have meant better fit and finish impressions.

As for the winding mechanism i'm coming from a very very low base of a crappy Ozito bench unit.

I use it a lot and will really appreciate something better.

Cheers
Phil

Originally Posted by Albert

The drill press is to drill a hole, very basic, I am still using my $299 Ryobi floor standing model. it doesnt have all the bells and whistles but it get a hole drilled and that is all it mattered...

As with all things in life, there are tools and then there are TOOLS!

If the Ryobi suits all your needs and your happy with it that's great.

Until the Nova, the drill presses I had didn't suit my needs, and I hated the quality/performance, changing the belts, and the overall lack of accuracy. I also got a little tired of using my mill as a drill press, especially for more delicate work, somewhat akin to threading a needle with a crowbar.

Apart from the two issues I mentioned, the Nova is in a class of it's own, and I love using it. For anyone who spends more than a little time drilling, it more than justifies itself in time, performance and accuracy.

cheers, Ian

Originally Posted by aarggh

As with all things in life, there are tools and then there are TOOLS!

If the Ryobi suits all your needs and your happy with it that's great.

Until the Nova, the drill presses I had didn't suit my needs, and I hated the quality/performance, changing the belts, and the overall lack of accuracy. I also got a little tired of using my mill as a drill press, especially for more delicate work, somewhat akin to threading a needle with a crowbar.

Apart from the two issues I mentioned, the Nova is in a class of it's own, and I love using it. For anyone who spends more than a little time drilling, it more than justifies itself in time, performance and accuracy.

cheers, Ian

I know if you guys spend a lot of time drilling then yes, a Nova would be very helpful, I know how it feels, I am starting to do a lot of spindle moulding now a days and I got tired of my old spindle moulder and ordered a new spindle moulder, price? $50k.

for my line of work... I dont think I ever changed the belt on mine, it is always drilling 6-10mm hole in pine and that it.

Just placed my order for a new Viking but the one dimension i can't seem to find is the total height from base bottom to the top of the motor.

Can someone who as one can they tell me what it is... this may affect which bench this ends up.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Aussiephil

Just placed my order for a new Viking but the one dimension i can't seem to find is the total height from base bottom to the top of the motor.

Can someone who as one can they tell me what it is... this may affect which bench this ends up.

Thanks

1140mm to the highest point.

Originally Posted by TTIT

1140mm to the highest point.

Much appreciated, look like it will be tight

I just received the viking benchtop last week - I've used a drill press in the past - but this is the first one I've owned. So my issue is when I raise or lower the table the table swings left and right - I contacted Teknatool via phone, email and filled out their form but no response. I then contacted my dealer. Still nothing. I contacted my dealer again and they contacted Teknatool on my behalf and finally someone from Teknatool got back to me - a week later. They told me to loosen the small allen nut on the back of the column and push the collar down to engage the track that the table runs up and down on. I tried this but the collar was as low as it could go. I then took a video and replied to the email I had received from Teknatool support - but crickets. I'm not sure if this is normal for this type of a tool. The head is brilliant but the machining of the drill table is very poor. I'm not sure if I'll ever need to use the tilt mechanism - hopefully not since this is also very poorly done; You loosen two bolts under the table (in my case I had to use a PB Blast solution to get this unfrozen) and then the whole thing moves, but without any sort of precision - so there is no way to just loosen and turn, the whole thing comes loose and away from the mechanism so when you try and tighten it it sort of has a mind of it's own. I wish the machining of the base/column/table were as good as the direct drive head.

I'm still waiting for an a solution to the table swinging left and right when you raise or lower the table - this can't be correct - ?!

j