Nova Voyager Drill Press

[Michael Kellough]

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]

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.

 

[junk731]

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]

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]

[member=72967]LauraW[/member]  [welcome] to the FOG and please post pictures

 

[Vondawg]

[member=72967]LauraW[/member]  [welcome] to the FOG and please post pictures

DITTO ! We like pictures  [smile]

 

[nclemmons]

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

neil

 

[dragoneggs]

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...

[attachimg=1]

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.

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=12]

[attachimg=3]

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.

[attachimg=4]

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

[attachimg=5]

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

[attachimg=6]

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.

[attachimg=7]

[attachimg=8]

[attachimg=9]

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

[attachimg=10]

[attachimg=11]

 

[CeeJay]

Ohh. That is very nice. [emoji481]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mario Turcot]

[not worthy] [not worthy] [not worthy] 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]

Dragoneggs: very nice!

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]

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

 

[dragoneggs]

[not worthy] [not worthy] [not worthy] 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.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Mario Turcot]

Thanks for the reply and picture  [smile]

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks for the reply and picture  [smile]

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]

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...

[attachimg=1]

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.

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=12]

[attachimg=3]

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.

[attachimg=4]

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

[attachimg=5]

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

[attachimg=6]

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.

[attachimg=7]

[attachimg=8]

[attachimg=9]

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

[attachimg=10]

[attachimg=11]

[member=72968]dragoneggs[/member] 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]

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...  [big grin]

 

[sprior]

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]

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:
[list type=decimal]
[*]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
[/list]

 

[Mike Goetzke]

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:
[list type=decimal]
[*]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
[/list]

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.