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  1. #1
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    Sep 2012
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    Default Wadkin RS restoration

    Its been a whole year since I started a machine so I thought its about time, This one dates from 1936 and is in rough but very complete condition. It has its original compound slide/carriage and even a nice 4 jaw chuck

    One must remember check height restrictions and fluorescent tubes when entering the workshop, they don't half make a pop when hit




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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Petone, NZ
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    68
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    Default

    It's good to see another resto started wallace. Are you using another hosting site for the photos, or attaching them direct?

    I like the stack of Wadkin flooring blocks in the background of the last photo.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  4. #3
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    Sep 2012
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    uk
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    Default

    yeah I'm using imgur, I was hoping photobucket would relent and lower their price. I've just sawn 1.5k blocks in half so should have enough to do my workshop, the place stinks now of creosote, I had to chuck my work clothes away because the mrs said they werent going in the washer.

  5. #4
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    Sep 2012
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    uk
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    Let the fun begin


    All of the cloth wiring is rotten but the starter looks to be in great condition.

    Never come across this on an RS before, brass hinges

    There is normally a tapered pin locating the lever but this one had a straight pin which would not budge so I had to drill it out.

    Funny little marks

    I'm always impressed when taking a wadkin to bits, Bolts are just the right torque and come out like this after 82 years

    Never seen 3 grease rings on the spindle before

    This is my tool for getting the nut off the spindle, Its not pretty but works


  6. #5
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    Sep 2012
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    uk
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    Original colour under the tags

    That wasn't too difficult, I was expecting a fight

    I think this bit might put up a bit resistance

  7. #6
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    Sep 2012
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    uk
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    Their are some pretty rusty bits so I got some phosphoric acid.

    This is the tail stock, note the differences to a later one.

    The carriage is in good nick just rusty, funnily the cutter in the holder is a carbide tipped parting tool.


    To get the machine pins out I put a slit with the dremmel and twist with a screwdriver

    The motor put a decent fight up, the end bells are aluminium and the main body cast iron. There was a bit sticking due to dissimilar metals.

    I've never come across a motor in this good a nick inside, it still had chalk writing on the stator. Normally they are crammed with grease.



  8. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Petone, NZ
    Age
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by wallace1973 View Post
    ...This is the tail stock, note the differences to a later one.
    aRS1.jpg
    That style of tailstock looks like this one on an early RT woodlathe...

    aRT.jpg

    ...except maybe it's taller.

    Quote Originally Posted by wallace1973 View Post
    ...The carriage is in good nick just rusty, funnily the cutter in the holder is a carbide tipped parting tool.
    aRS2.jpg
    If I'm not mistaken, that handwheel is aluminium - which would suggest the carriage is off a later machine.

    Anyway, I have the popcorn out and am watching with interest.

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  9. #8
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    uk
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    I have found that using phosphoric acid before cleaning up works really well, I intend to cold blacken some parts after cleaned. It smells horrible, almost like a stink bomb

    Wadkin must of had a good few motors still with Wadkin & Co when they became a limited company.


    Mmm Hofman bearings

    It must of been in the same company whenit got its coat of green paint, I found the same asset number underneath

    I got back together and wired up and it works lovely, a quick lick of zinc primer

    Just realised it might have to come to bits again because I will be fitting a VFD and this motor is not dual voltage, My motor man might be able to fiddle with the leads

  10. #9
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sth Gippsland Vic
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    4,355

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    Great pictures thanks Mark ! I like the look of your puller as well . I could do with one of those . Rob

  11. #10
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    Rob its just a cheapy off ebay
    This is the support for the motor pulleys, as you'd expect Hofman double row self aligning bearings.

    The pulley spent the night in a bucket of solution and came out rust free

    This is it after a while in the cold blackening solution, just spray with wd40 and then boeshield

    The head spindle all cleaned up

    The speed change handle is a week point on the RS, they usually get broken.


  12. #11
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    The carriage and compound tool holder is a tad rusty

    But came to bits pretty easily

  13. #12
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    Aug 2011
    Location
    Stockton
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    Quote Originally Posted by wallace1973 View Post
    The carriage and compound tool holder is a tad rusty

    But came to bits pretty easily
    Wallace

    excuse my ignorance, but is the carriage and compound tool holder included on this lathe so you can use it like a metal lathe or is it for copying? I have never seen one on a wood lathe....


    Cheers stew

    Ps I’m loving the thread

  14. #13
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    Yes you can use it for metal, mainly non ferrous but I have used it on steel. It works well on wood if you want good tolerances, you can make long columns by just walking along winding the carriage handle. I was going to make some greek columns like what was at the wadkin entrance when I hang the green lane front doors.
    Wadkin had a powered traverse as an option on the bigger RU lathe.
    Apparently the old timers hated them and took them off.
    I have seen a carriage on a little union jubilee lathe which looked pretty cool, Dominion had one also, I've never seen robinson one come to think of it I've never seen a robinson lathe full stop.

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Rockhampton
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    439

    Default

    I have seen this sort of setup used for. Teal spinning as well

  16. #15
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    I'm not going to make everything all shiny, some bits are getting black oxided.

    But theres still plenty to make shiny, this is the handle for the cross slide

    Sanded to 400 grit

    Then buffed with silverline red compound

    The buffalo horn handle cleaned up pretty well, I just sanded it then used some T-cut

    The handwheel for the carraige went on the lathe to get sanded and buffed

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