Nova Viking Drill Press: Models, Capacity, and Parts Support Explained
The first time you see a Nova Viking drill press run, something looks wrong, in a good way. There is no belt cover to open, no pulleys to shift, and when you tap a button the spindle simply spins at the exact speed you asked for. This is a drill press built around a computer-controlled motor instead of belts, and it represents a genuinely different idea of what the tool can be. The question for most buyers is whether that idea is worth paying a premium for, or whether it is clever technology solving a problem you do not actually have.
The Nova Viking drill press (model 83700) is a 16-inch benchtop machine built by Teknatool, powered by a 1-horsepower DVR direct-drive smart motor with no belts, offering electronic variable speed from 150 to 3,000 RPM (programmable higher), a digital display, built-in LED lights, laser alignment, an electronic depth stop, an auto-start feature for one-handed drilling, and a tilting, rotating table, weighing over 150 pounds.
Short answer: buy the Nova Viking if you want the smoothest, most controllable drilling available in a benchtop machine and you value the belt-free direct-drive motor, the very low 150 RPM minimum speed, and the smart features. Skip it if your drilling is basic and a conventional variable-speed press would do the same holes for far less. Here is how it breaks down.
What makes the Viking different
Every conventional drill press changes speed with belts and pulleys. The Viking’s DVR (Digital Variable Reluctance) motor drives the spindle directly and adjusts speed electronically, which has three real consequences. First, there are no belts to cause vibration, so the machine runs unusually smooth with very little runout. Second, you change speed with a button instead of opening a cover and moving a belt, so you actually match speed to every bit. Third, the motor holds constant torque across its range and can crawl down to 150 RPM, far slower than most presses, which is a genuine advantage for large bits and metal.
The smart features build on that motor: a digital display, an electronic depth stop you set electronically rather than with a collar, an auto-start feature that spins up when you begin the plunge for one-handed operation, plus built-in LED lights and laser alignment.
Capacity and the benchtop format
The Viking is a 16-inch benchtop machine, so it reaches the center of a 16-inch board, more swing than typical benchtop presses, while still sitting on a workbench. It uses an MT2 spindle and a keyed chuck, and at over 150 pounds it is one of the heaviest benchtop drill presses made, which adds to its stability. The table tilts and rotates for angled work. Teknatool also offers the Viking in a floor-standing version for shops that want the same motor with more standing reach.
The honest flaws
The premium. This is the big one. The Viking costs a large multiple of what a capable conventional benchtop press costs, and for basic drilling you are paying for technology you may not need. The value is real only if you use the low-speed control and smart features often.
The stock chuck. A recurring owner complaint is that the factory chuck key can slip, and many owners swap to a keyless chuck for convenience. It is a minor, easily solved gripe, but worth knowing.
Electronics dependence. A belt-drive press is mechanically simple and easy to repair anywhere. The Viking’s value lives in its electronics, so long-term serviceability depends on manufacturer support rather than a generic belt and pulley. Teknatool backs it with a warranty covering the motor and controller plus longer coverage on other parts, which addresses this, but it is a different ownership model.
Who should buy it, and who should skip it
Buy the Viking if you drill often and varied, work with large bits or metal where the 150 RPM floor matters, and want the smoothest, most repeatable drilling in a benchtop footprint. For serious hobbyists and small pro shops that live at the drill press, it is a joy to use.
Skip it if your drilling is straightforward holes in wood at ordinary speeds. In that case a conventional variable-speed press like the WEN 4214T gives you dial-and-read speed and a 12-inch swing for a small fraction of the cost, and a floor machine like the JET JDP-17 offers more raw capacity with a long stroke if that is what you need.
The verdict
The Nova Viking drill press is the most advanced benchtop machine you can buy, and its belt-free DVR motor delivers genuinely smoother, more controllable drilling than any conventional press, especially at the very low speeds large bits and metal want. Buy it if you drill enough, and demandingly enough, to use the low-speed control and smart features, and plan to swap the stock chuck for a keyless one if the key bothers you. Skip it if your work is basic holes in wood, where a conventional variable-speed press does the same job for far less. This is a premium tool that earns its keep only in hands that use what it offers.
For conventional variable-speed options at a lower cost, see our WEN drill press lineup guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is special about the Nova Viking drill press? It uses a 1-HP DVR direct-drive motor with no belts, giving electronic variable speed from 150 to 3,000 RPM, very smooth low-vibration operation, a digital display, an electronic depth stop, and an auto-start feature for one-handed drilling.
What size is the Nova Viking? It is a 16-inch benchtop machine, reaching the center of a 16-inch board, and at over 150 pounds it is one of the heaviest benchtop drill presses available. A floor-standing version is also offered.
Can the Nova Viking drill metal? Yes, and it is well suited to it. The motor holds constant torque and can run as slow as 150 RPM, slower than most presses, which is ideal for large bits and steel.
Does the Nova Viking have belts? No. The DVR motor drives the spindle directly, which eliminates belt vibration and means you change speed electronically with a button rather than moving a belt.
Is the Nova Viking worth the money? It is if you drill often, use large bits or metal, and value the low-speed control and smart features. For basic hole-drilling in wood, a conventional variable-speed press does the same work for far less.
What is the common complaint about the Nova Viking? The stock chuck key can slip, so many owners fit a keyless chuck. It is a minor, easily solved issue.
What warranty does the Nova Viking have? Teknatool covers the motor and controller for a period and offers longer coverage on other parts. Check the current terms, as an extended warranty has also been offered on the bench and floor models.
References
- Teknatool / NOVA, official Viking 16-inch DVR benchtop drill press page: https://www.teknatool.com/products/drill-presses/benchtop-83700/
- Australian Wood Review, Nova Viking DVR 16-inch benchtop drill press review: https://www.woodreview.com.au/reviews/review-nova-viking-dvr-16-benchtop-drill-press
- Teknatool, NOVA Viking store guide and specifications sheet
