Thread: Recommendations for Vintage Single Phase Machinery

Good luck I have been looking for the same for 2 years in 3ph for my Durden thickneser they just don't seem to be out there

I keep an eye on the second hand market (Trademe in my case). Unfortunately the steampunk market seems to absorb much of what comes up.

As far as modern stuff goes, your best bet might be a commercial cast aluminium electrical box fitted with push button switches - but even that will probably not look sufficiently vintage.

Cheers, Vann.

Sometimes old starters can be used for different phases,

220320121401.jpg

Only problem is they are just not available in Australia I think some one must be hoarding them

Couple of 3-phase on ebay, maybe a friendly sparky could make them work on single phase?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-...YAAOSw3fZaOzA6
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-...oAAOSwe6ZaVVrm

JC Walsh is a used machinery dealer that does reconditioning as well, they might be able to help

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Couple of 3-phase on ebay, maybe a friendly sparky could make them work on single phase?
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-...YAAOSw3fZaOzA6
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vintage-...oAAOSwe6ZaVVrm

That's the sort of thing I look out for - and half the price a local is selling them for here... . Unfortunately the seller doesn't show the internals - so you get no indication whether they're in good condition, or burnt out.

I'm not a qualified sparkie, but I believe 3-phase contactors can be wired for single phase. I think the switch on my single phase drill press is a 3-phase switch (but have not done any work on it, so I'm not sure).

The three phase vintage contactors I have re-worked, I clean the silvered contacts with a fibreglass pen (there is usually a bit of carbon around from arcing over the years). Many designs allow the contacts to be unclipped for this purpose. I've been advised not to use sandpaper, nor files, on these contacts - just a fibreglass pen..

Cheers, Vann.

I have been lucky enough to score a few of flee bay... I think it is just a matter of keep looking and if anything pops up grab it. I have been chasing old metal conduit fittings to tidy up the wiring and they are really hard to get. I think a lot of that sort of thing just went in the scrap bin.

Originally Posted by Gaza58

...I have been chasing old metal conduit fittings to tidy up the wiring and they are really hard to get. I think a lot of that sort of thing just went in the scrap bin.

I've been fairly lucky with conduit fittings, I found enough to do my bandsaw, and I think I have enough to do my buzzer. What size are you after, 5/8" or 3/4"?

Clear Out sent me a few with an electric switch a few years ago. They're different to anything I've seen here in that they slide in and are clamped. Over here everything was screwed in - I think the slide in ones might be an Aussie thing. Anyways, I haven't any plans for them yet (they're 5/8" fittings).

Cheers, Vann.

What if you try a Sparky who does industrial stuff. I am sure they would remove "old" stuff and replace it with new in the coarse of a new installation. If he was willing to let you know when he had something. I was lucky enough to get onto some 3Ph wiring and some plugs from a Sparkie who had done an up grade of all the wiring in an abattoir. He had pallets of used wiring that was ear marked for the scappy

Originally Posted by Vann

They're different to anything I've seen here in that they slide in and are clamped. Over here everything was screwed in - I think the slide in ones might be an Aussie thing.

I am pretty sure the screw in ones are standard here in Australia as well..... I am thinking the slide type ones are a US style.... I see them on eBay and they seem to be all in the US anyway.

I was thinking that I would use either 20mm or 3/4" Screw style depending on what I can lay my hands on. So far I have an On/Off switch that is 3/4" and a junction box with a 90 deg bend attached that is 20mm I also have a few lengths of 20mm Conduit and threading gear for both sizes.... Not ashamed to say that I got the idea of using conduit from your Bandsaw Post Vann Couldn't believe how awesome it looked. Was going to paint it all the same colour as the machine though as it will need to cross near the top where it will standout a bit.
Rod..... I have given a few of the sparkies I know a call and they are keeping an eye out for me but couldn't remember the last time they saw metal conduit.

Stew

I think I have the switch you are chasing, but I am having extreme difficulty posting pix. Just can't load them on the Forums. I think I have a computer issue. If you would like to PM your email address I will forward them to you. The switch is a metal bodied oval shape and weighs almost 1.5Kg. It seems to be in good order, but I have never used it.

Regards
Paul

PS: looks as thought the pix are at the foot of the post, but don't show up when composing the post. Neither can I preview the post!!! The seal around the lid is perished and broken, but I think it would be easy to improvise a replacement. The lidis held tothe body with two brass bolts which it looks I left out for some of the pix. The rusty look is stain and only surface. All I did was blow out the cobwebs with the air compressor before taking pix. PM me if interested.

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

...The rusty look is stain and only surface...

That should clean up nicely.

Cheers, Vann.

3 phase starters are simple to wire for single phase, as long as the contactor coil is 240V and not 415V. Still not a problem as fitting modern internals to the old enclosure is also fairly simple (and much safer)
The clamp fitting conduits were the old split conduit and were a nightmare to work on. They used to be installed in houses for all the wiring with single insulated rubber conductors running through them. The rubber would break down and the conduit would become live as the earth connection was often left off, disrupted or corroded away. Lots of people have died from contacting live conduit.
Unfortunately I binned a stack of old 3 phase starters a little while ago.

Here is the one I picked up a while ago for my Thornley Saw bench... when I get time to work on it..... I think I paid way too much but it was exactly what I was after..
Switch 001.jpg
Not for sale though