Drill Press--Is bigger better?

[Andy D Jones]

Things that are important on a drill press to me:

minimal run out
digital variable speed
quill stroke
throat depth
automatic depth stop
precision movement of the table up and down with zero deflection

I achieved the first 5 items with with my 18" Nova Voyager. I highly recommend it.
The 6th item seems elusive.

And until recently, those first 5 items were exclusively available in a floor model DP.

Now Nova has come out with the Viking benchtop DP, with those qualities (albeit slightly smaller 16" swing and 4.5" stroke).

I already have (and like very much) the Voyager, but if I didn't have it, it might not be a slam dunk over the Viking. Given its smaller (by ~33%) price tag, I see it as a potentially attractive option for some buyers.

As for the floor space argument (including the cabinet the benchtop model is mounted on, vs the storage cabinet for the floor model's accessories), I have seen several uses of small cabinets on casters that straddle the base of the floor model DP.

Andy - Arlington TX