Thread: My New, Old 24" Woodfast Scroll Saw

Hi Camo

I'm very interested in your scroll saw...I have a Hyco scroll saw of the same design.

By way of history, Hyco were subsequently acquired by Woodfast who retained the design.

This applies to the old lathes as well, which are also seemingly direct copies of the US Walker Turner designs.


McPhersons 1955 HYCO.jpgMcPhersons 1966 WOODFAST.jpgHyco 3.jpgHyco 2.jpgHyco 4.jpg

edit - catalogue pics above are from McPhersons 1955 (HYCO) and 1966 (WOODFAST)

Regards
John

Camo

This is the best I can do as far as a user manual goes.....a poor image I snagged from the internet somewhere

P1140655.JPG

edit - document recomends the following lubrication
"The gearbox is fitted with an oil level and holds about ?/? pint of S.A.E. 50 high grade oil should be used. An oil cup is fitted and the oil should be about halfway up the cup. Lift the hinged cap to check level."

Regards
John

Thats a nice machine Camo, I had a look through a pile of Woodfast paper/catalogs, and I have and found nothing, I don't think they are a common saw, I have a McPhersons branded machine but its basically a 1940's American Delta Clone.
Hey John, welcome aboard, great to see you posting this neck of the woods, look forward to seeing more of you !!!

Melbourne Matty.

Well It must be the weather, less than 4 hours ago I took the cover off my own Woodfast jigsaw to start the process of retoration, it has been under cover for 5 years. I am going down to Woodfast this week for a different purpose and I will see what I can find out and will post here if I get something relevent

Hey guys,

I started on this project in June, and things didn't really progress much past dismantling. I spent a lot of time trying to work out what oil should go in the sump (and stumbled along the same photo that John has posted of the user manual), and was able to determine SAE 50. I cleaned it up, replaced the bearings in the motor, and then my Stenner table saw came along and the project stalled. I think you guys must be watching what I am doing, because strangely enough I have started the restoration again (only this week), as I am painting the Stenner and thought it would be just as easy to paint both together.

Matty, I am truly speechless, finally something you don't have a catalogue or image of, this might truly go down in history.

John it looks like yours might actually be an older version; I must admit I am a little jealous. From the pictures it looks like your belt guard and stand are cast iron (mine are pressed steel). I would love to see more photos!

China, I did try Woodfast in my initial search, but unfortunately the guy I spoke to said they didn't have a manual for it, but please do ask and let me know if you find anything, and if you are restoring please feel free to jump in on this thread with your progress if you would like. Is yours like John's or does it have the pressed steel guard, or perhaps another variation again? I would also love to see photos of yours!

When stripping it down I found it to be very similar to the Walker Turner J740.

Cheers,

Camo

Originally Posted by camoz

From the pictures it looks like your belt guard and stand are cast iron (mine are pressed steel). I would love to see more photos!

Camo

The guard and stand are both cast iron - I'll start a separate thread for the Hyco scroll saw and post a link here.

I'm missing a few pieces and would be grateful for some detail pics and dimensions if you would be so obliging.

Look forward to seeing progress on your Woodfast (and Stenner too !!!)

Regards
John

John,

I really do need to stop replying to messages when I am tired, I guess yours is an earlier version, backed up by the fact that your heading states "Hyco preceeds Woodfast", and the fact that you listed the dates in your message.

I will be happy to help at all with anything (details, pics, dimensions).

Cheers,

Camo

Originally Posted by camoz

Hey guys,

Matty, I am truly speechless, finally something you don't have a catalogue or image of, this might truly go down in history.

Cheers,

Camo

I know, Im soo ashamed !!

Melbourne Matty.

Originally Posted by L.S.Barker1970

Hey John, welcome aboard...Melbourne Matty.

Thanks Matty

I have finally all but finished the scroll saw still needs a zero clearance insert, I have some UHMW plastic for that, and a shelf (I removed the pieces of sheet metal on the side which revealed its original design, with an under shelf). I have forced myself to get this done as the Christmas list is growing and the scroll saw is the right tool for the job.

For those too lazy to look further down the screen, below are the before, then after photos:

Before:

IMG_0671.jpgP1020220.jpgP1020229.jpgP1020224.jpgP1020231.jpg

After:

completed 1.jpgcompleted 2.jpgcompleted 4.jpgcompleted 3.jpg

To be honest this one wasn't really the hardest machine that I have done up, although I did fully strip this right down (I could have just replaced the bearings and the oil and gasket and started using it). The two bearings were replaced in the motor, every bolt and screw was cleaned and then coated with G15 (for rust prevention). The sump was full of old oil, and it had been opened previously without relacing the gasket (so the underside was caked in oil and sawdust). After a fair amount of searching I confirmed that the original oil was likely to be a SAE 50, so I have replaced it with that and then made a gasket using polypropylene (so I can inspect it in the future and reuse the gasket). As the underside was previously enclosed, all the wires were exposed, so I have rectified this and mechanical earthing has been replaced with electrical earthing. The isolation switch has been moved to the inside (behind the magnetic switch, as it was previously located on the side panel that had been added at a later date).

Obviously everything was then cleaned, and or painted before putting back together.

The main thing I like about this machine is the complete lack of vibration when operating. I did a coin test (which it passed) using a $2, $1, 50c, 20c, I only had an old 10c piece and couldn't stand it up to start with.

Now to go and make it all dirty again.

Cheers,

Camo

Very nice Camo, good to see you colour coordinating all your machines.

Melbourne Matty.

Very nicely done Camoz....it looks great and I like the two tone (grey/black) with red.

How have you finished the table to give that lovely black sheen ?

I like the magnetc switch (DOL starter)....do you know the maker ?

John

Thanks Matty, although I think the colour coordination is more of a by-product of the fact that I am too cheap to buy another set of paints.

John, good eye with the table top. I am not entirely sure what has happened (although it is not permanent and seems to reside in the rust protection layer), something to do with the G15, wire brush and metho. I have only just started using G15, but I have also only started using the wire brush. I have cleaned the surface down using metho, until I get no more residue on the cloth, before spraying the G15. I spoke to the guy in Victoria who make the G15 (very helpful and seemed to be very knowledgeable), and it doesn't seem to be related to the G15 directly, I think I may not have gotten all of the particles from the wire brush off the top and the oil in the G15 has enabled the reaction to occur. I am not too concerned at the moment as it does not seem to have penetrated the cast (rubbed a section off and reapplied the G15, but it has now turned a darker colour again). So I would be happy if someone has any ideas?

Regarding the DOL, it appears to be original. It is a Nilsen OJ15 (Oliver J Nilsen & Co Pty Ltd Melbourne Australia). I only know this as fortunately it has a full circuit diagram etc. pasted to the inside of the cover.

Cheers,

Camo

Camo - Thanks for the answers

I do like the Nilsen starters...they have great vintage styling

$T2eC16NHJGYE9noohZuwBQrDri0BMw~~60_3.jpg

Regards
John