Author Topic: Nova Voyager Drill Press (Read 111910 times)

Mario Turcot · « **Reply #270 on:** March 11, 2020, 10:44 AM »

@Bob D. thank you for the additional infos.

Quote from: Michael Kellough on March 11, 2020, 09:53 AM

Wonder what the story is with this from the downfeed attachment description?

“Compatible with the Vulcan and the Voyager

Note: Currently, this accessory is not suitable for the NOVA Voyager DVR Drill Press.
May be compatible in the future.”

It's compatible meaning that the voyager interface will accept it. Not suitable meaning that it is not recommended. I agree it's extremely confusing

It may be something that would affect voyager longetivity???

I can see the attachment as an interesting concept for mass production. Being able to free both hands to switch material without the quill going up all the way.

Cypren · « **Reply #271 on:** March 11, 2020, 04:37 PM »

Knowing that the Vulcan was discontinued makes everything snap into focus. It also explains why I couldn't find the compound table accessory for sale anywhere. Thanks for the explanation!

Knowing that Teknatool has cycled through products so quickly in a few years makes me considerably less enthused about buying from them; I'd rather go with a vendor that can still give me parts and support a decade from now.

Jiggy Joiner · « **Reply #272 on:** March 11, 2020, 04:58 PM »

@Cypren Before I bought my Voyager, I did some research like I always do when considering a purchase.
I heard nothing but great reports regarding Teknatool, they provide great customer service, and take customer care seriously. That’s good enough for me.

Also, the Voyager is like no other pillar drill ever made, they really are something else.
So no other vendor could supply you with one.

I wouldn’t worry about discontinuation or re design, this can happen in manufacturing, even soon after a product release. It might be a new designer took over, or potential for improvements was realised just after release.
The design and aesthetics of the Voyager, is so much better than the Vulcan, so I can see why Teknatool changed it, and glad they did so.

Bob D. · « **Reply #273 on:** March 11, 2020, 07:00 PM »

Why do you say it can't be used with the Voyager Michael. Did you find that somewhere on their site or is that information from an inquiry you made. What I posted is from their current website. Now it may be they are trying to sell off remaining stock I don't know. You mentioned the Vulcan is discontinued and that would seem to be the real market for the downfeed attachment. If the Vulcan is gone then it follows the accessories would dry up too.

Mario Turcot · « **Reply #274 on:** March 11, 2020, 07:57 PM »

Bob, this is from the first link you posted

"DOWNFEED SPECIFICATIONS
Under Precision Quill Control
Quill Feed 2.5mm (1/10”) control per revolution on hand wheel (when gears are fully engaged)
Quill feed .025mm (1/1000”) control per division on the hand wheel (when gears fully engaged)
Compatible with the Vulcan and the Voyager

Note: Currently, this accessory is not suitable for the NOVA Voyager DVR Drill Press. May be compatible in the future."

Bob D. · « **Reply #275 on:** March 12, 2020, 04:56 AM »

OK, didn't catch that down near the bottom of the page.

Strange to have all the copy about using on both machines then have a one line disclaimer at the bottom for the Voyager.

dragoneggs · « **Reply #276 on:** May 10, 2020, 01:21 AM »

Hey... new here. Recently have invested in a couple of Festools (1400 router, 500 domino, and CT26). Wallet took a hit obviously but happy so far. Happened on this thread as a guest as I have a Voyager and after reading through it, decided to join in.

Super happy with my Voyager. Upgrading now to a keyless chuck and hear all the talk about Albrecht. No one is mentioning Llambrich. Anyone own one? I have one on order and it seems similar quality. but far less money. I'm all for quality but don't much like paying just for a brand if there are other equivalent options.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R62N4Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also looking to build a better and more useful table. Thanks everyone here with ideas, etc. The crank mod for table height adjustment is what I need to resolve.

Anyways... thanks for putting up with a newbie here.

Mario Turcot · « **Reply #277 on:** May 10, 2020, 01:32 AM »

@dragoneggs

to the FOG

I never heard about that brand. I bought a cheap keyless chuck and I'm satisfied with it so far. I am working on my table and waiting for the last piece of hardware to put a leveling crank. Will post update soon as I get it wworking

Jiggy Joiner · « **Reply #278 on:** May 10, 2020, 05:54 AM »

I always bought Rohm chucks, mainly because they were quality and also because they are readily available over here.
I ad a bd experience with the last one I bought, and got refunded. I then bought an Albrecht, it’s without any doubt the nicest chuck I’ve ever owned or used, so the issue with the Rohm was a blessing in disguise.

Cheese has good experience with Albrecht chucks, and was one of the people that recommended them to me.

I have no experience with Llambrich though.

Cheese · « **Reply #279 on:** May 10, 2020, 10:06 AM »

Quote from: Jiggy Joiner on May 10, 2020, 05:54 AM

Cheese has good experience with Albrecht chucks, and was one of the people that recommended them to me.

I'm a fan of Albrecht chucks, I have a dedicated one for the drill press and I swap between 2 others on the lathe. You can find them on eBay used but in like-new condition for only $125-$150. They're a beautiful piece of equipment. They put the Jacob Ball Bearing chucks to shame.

I think @Michael Kellough may have some experience with Llambrich...maybe?

Michael Kellough · « **Reply #280 on:** May 10, 2020, 03:38 PM »

I probably discussed my problem with my Llambrich chuck (actually two of them) somewhere in this long thread. I have a difficult time getting getting a bit clamped straight in the jaws. It often takes several attempts tightening and test running and repeating to get it to spin true. Not spinning exactly true is not a big problem with small bits bit it became a problem when using bigger bits and medium sized end mills.

I bought the Llambrich because it is keyless but also has a wrenchable collar for extra tightening so a tap can be reversed.

dragoneggs · « **Reply #281 on:** May 10, 2020, 08:14 PM »

Quote from: Michael Kellough on May 10, 2020, 03:38 PM

I probably discussed my problem with my Llambrich chuck (actually two of them) somewhere in this long thread. I have a difficult time getting getting a bit clamped straight in the jaws. It often takes several attempts tightening and test running and repeating to get it to spin true. Not spinning exactly true is not a big problem with small bits bit it became a problem when using bigger bits and medium sized end mills.

I bought the Llambrich because it is keyless but also has a wrenchable collar for extra tightening so a tap can be reversed.

Hmmm... now I am wondering if I made a mistake in ordering the Llambrich. I liked the wrench able collar feature as well. I wonder if yours was to spec or not? I guess I will see what I get and return it if not happy. For $250 I am figuring it will/should be a dream.

Gone · « **Reply #282 on:** May 11, 2020, 07:23 AM »

I just installed the 1mm to 16mm keyless chuck from Nova themselves, about .001" runout and smooth operation. The chuck was 80.00 CDN. In my world this more than adequate for drilling in any materials that I have to deal with on a daily basis. Time will tell if this is the bargain it appears to be.

LauraW · « **Reply #283 on:** May 29, 2020, 07:38 PM »

Quote from: neilc on August 22, 2018, 10:37 AM

Here's the stand I made for my Voyager drill press.

I'm necromancing this thread just to say thanks for posting the plans for this Voyager drill press cabinet. I'm in the process of building a slightly modified version right now. All I have left to do is the drawers. I'll try to post a picture when I'm done.

(The modifications are mostly due to some mistakes I made. Fortunately they were correctable, but required some minor design changes. I'm just getting back into woodworking after a decade or two away due to an all-consuming day job.)

I've had the Voyager for about 18 months and love it so much I went and bought a Nova lathe last year as well. Early on I put a Llambrich JK chuck on the Voyager, and that's worked very well too -- under .001" runout. I bought a cheaper Llambrich "JK Solid" chuck for the lathe. I never posted about it before because I'm new to the forum (and fairly new to Festool).

Mario Turcot · « **Reply #284 on:** May 29, 2020, 08:32 PM »

@LauraW

to the FOG and please post pictures

Vondawg · « **Reply #285 on:** May 30, 2020, 09:04 AM »

Quote from: Mario Turcot on May 29, 2020, 08:32 PM

@LauraW to the FOG and please post pictures

DITTO ! We like pictures

neilc · « **Reply #286 on:** May 30, 2020, 03:09 PM »

Glad the stand is working for you Laura. And welcome to the FOG!

neil

dragoneggs · « **Reply #287 on:** June 01, 2020, 03:32 AM »

Okay, getting my new Voyager going and made four significant mods.

1. Upgraded to a Llambrich keyless chuck. Seems on par with an Albrecht for about 1/2 the price. Happy with the ease and precision so far...

2. Built a base cabinet that mounts to the T slots on the drill press foot and integrates nicely with the mobile base. I did not want to restrict the operation of the mobile base and wanted to be able to remove the base cabinet without tools in case I needed more height. Two full extension drawers and a hole for a Systainer.

3. Added a Woodpecker drill press table and created a mount that also is removable without tools. This fits snugly over the OEM table so I can quickly convert from wood to metal working.

Because the Woodpecker table is larger, it interferes with the table crank, so I needed to elevate the table.

This lift created a nice 'cubby' hole for additional storage or perhaps also a dust collection chute?

Decided to keep the theme of no tools and adjustability so I added hardwood rails to the underside of the Woodpecker table so it can slide fore/aft allowing me to use more of the sacrificial insert.

4. Added the Wixey Laser... a little edge banding and pretty happy with the results so far.

CeeJay · « **Reply #288 on:** June 01, 2020, 03:38 AM »

Ohh. That is very nice.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mario Turcot · « **Reply #289 on:** June 01, 2020, 09:49 AM »

very nice mods. I understand why you put it on a mobile base. My main concern when I bought the Voyager was about stability. I was used of a skill bench top DP and hate it, so I anchor mine on the floor. I have it right by the door with 6' clearance on each sides. I put a cheap keyless chuck on mine but that Llambrich look pretty sweet. Does it come with a holding tool?

Something like this

LauraW · « **Reply #290 on:** June 01, 2020, 01:43 PM »

Dragoneggs: very nice!

Quote from: Mario Turcot on June 01, 2020, 09:49 AM

I put a cheap keyless chuck on mine but that Llambrich look pretty sweet. Does it come with a holding tool?

FWIW, the Llambrich JK Chuck I bought a couple years ago did come with a holding tool. I don't think it had the grippy rubber handle, though. I'm not sure because I never bother with it. The Power Spindle Hold feature on the Voyager works just as well for me.

If I remember right, the cheaper JK Solid chuck I have for my lathe did not come with a holding tool. Otherwise it's also a nice chuck, but with a higher runout spec. I can't remember if I've ever measured runout on it. I'll have to do that. (The JK chuck runout was under 0.001", about at the limit of what I can measure)

Mario Turcot · « **Reply #291 on:** June 01, 2020, 07:02 PM »

If I use a 2" 1/2 forstner bit or bigger, I some times need a pair of channellock pliers to undo the chuck

dragoneggs · « **Reply #292 on:** June 01, 2020, 08:30 PM »

Quote from: Mario Turcot on June 01, 2020, 09:49 AM

very nice mods. I understand why you put it on a mobile base. My main concern when I bought the Voyager was about stability. I was used of a skill bench top DP and hate it, so I anchor mine on the floor. I have it right by the door with 6' clearance on each sides. I put a cheap keyless chuck on mine but that Llambrich look pretty sweet. Does it come with a holding tool?

Something like this

Thank you... was a fun build. Yes for space reasons, I have all of my floor standing tools on wheels (planer, jointer, bandsaw, tablesaw, and now my new drill press... even my metal 6ft metal double door cabinets! I am pleasantly surprised of the drill press stability on the mobile base and my cabinet and table additions can only help by lowering the CG.

The Llambrich does come with a wrench and precision cut flats on the chuck. It takes a little bit of fiddling to slide the wrench in the slots due to a 'clearance' fit but so far I haven't had the need for it. We shall see when I get to using a big Forstner bit though. Also note that the chuck grips are very nice steel knurled, no rubber.

Mario Turcot · « **Reply #293 on:** June 01, 2020, 08:58 PM »

Thanks for the reply and picture

dragoneggs · « **Reply #294 on:** June 01, 2020, 09:17 PM »

Quote from: Mario Turcot on June 01, 2020, 08:58 PM

Thanks for the reply and picture

And did I mention I love this DP? I bought this after buying the Nova Galaxy lathe last year. So impressed with it that I knew I would love the direct variable drive on a drill press.

festal · « **Reply #295 on:** January 03, 2021, 11:07 PM »

Quote from: dragoneggs on June 01, 2020, 03:32 AM

Okay, getting my new Voyager going and made four significant mods.

1. Upgraded to a Llambrich keyless chuck. Seems on par with an Albrecht for about 1/2 the price. Happy with the ease and precision so far...

(Attachment Link)

2. Built a base cabinet that mounts to the T slots on the drill press foot and integrates nicely with the mobile base. I did not want to restrict the operation of the mobile base and wanted to be able to remove the base cabinet without tools in case I needed more height. Two full extension drawers and a hole for a Systainer.

(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

3. Added a Woodpecker drill press table and created a mount that also is removable without tools. This fits snugly over the OEM table so I can quickly convert from wood to metal working.

(Attachment Link)

Because the Woodpecker table is larger, it interferes with the table crank, so I needed to elevate the table.

(Attachment Link)

This lift created a nice 'cubby' hole for additional storage or perhaps also a dust collection chute?

(Attachment Link)

Decided to keep the theme of no tools and adjustability so I added hardwood rails to the underside of the Woodpecker table so it can slide fore/aft allowing me to use more of the sacrificial insert.

(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

4. Added the Wixey Laser... a little edge banding and pretty happy with the results so far.

(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

@dragoneggs love the mods. Do you have plans for the cabinet you did? This is exactly what I would like to do. How did you attach the cabinet to the t-tracks on the base?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

sprior · « **Reply #296 on:** January 04, 2021, 12:13 AM »

Well poop, I thought I was going to have to settle for the bench top version of that drill press because I really want a cabinet and mobile base under it, but now you've shown me how amazing the big press can be with both - that's gonna cost me...

sprior · « **Reply #297 on:** January 04, 2021, 01:14 PM »

Quote from: Bob D. on March 11, 2020, 05:01 AM

Nova Vulcan Info - It's not your Fathers' drill press. It's still listed on the NOVA website. I didn't see anything about it being discontinued. But yes when you click on the Buy Now button you are taken to an eBay listing. Admittedly it's a hybrid or mish=mash of two machines, and as such probably not the best at either, but it may serve some for light duty applications. Which as has been stated is probably why it's discontinued.

With some aspirations towards metalworking from woodworking I was very interested in the Vulcan when it came out, but not knowing much about metal milling I wanted to be sure it was actually OK before buying. While light milling was a major feature of this press (it had bearings to handle the side load that a normal DP cannot) I noticed that exactly NONE of the online reviews actually tested that feature. I contacted Technatool and they couldn't provide any either.

Wood_Slice · « **Reply #298 on:** January 04, 2021, 07:32 PM »

For myself i have done some research on tools. I have picked some specific brands/models for specific tools. List goes on and on. Now i have preferred ones for me but some I do not have yet..
For example:

Table Saw- Sawstop PCS 3HP 36” rails
Drill Press- Nova Viking as I dont need the floor Voyager
Clamps- Bessey
Joinery- lost of options for various but only 1 DF 500
Measuring/Marking- Woodpeckers, Incra, Starrett, Fastcap tape
Planer- DeWalt DW735x, hobby shop more than enough

Mike Goetzke · « **Reply #299 on:** January 04, 2021, 10:33 PM »

Quote from: Wood_Slice on January 04, 2021, 07:32 PM

For myself i have done some research on tools. I have picked some specific brands/models for specific tools. List goes on and on. Now i have preferred ones for me but some I do not have yet..
For example:
Table Saw- Sawstop PCS 3HP 36” rails
Drill Press- Nova Viking as I dont need the floor Voyager
Clamps- Bessey
Joinery- lost of options for various but only 1 DF 500
Measuring/Marking- Woodpeckers, Incra, Starrett, Fastcap tape
Planer- DeWalt DW735x, hobby shop more than enough

I've had a floor standing DP for many years and love it but drool over this Voyager. It seems to be stuck at $1699 right now.

(side note) I would keep an open mind - projects happen. I'm a serious hobbyist and had a DW735 that I put a Shelix head into it. Then came the day we decided to completely remodel our kitchen/dining room/living room into a large great room. I built MANY cabinets. First thing I did was sell the DeWalt and pick up a 15" Grizz planer on a cabinet stand. Doesn't seem like a lot but that 2" allowed me to plane all my 60 some door panels (not to mention the quality of cut and greatly reduced noise) - don't even think half of them would have made it through the DeWalt.