Thread: Not exactly an antique, but it's Australian made

Wayne,

That 8SN looks nice! The VFD is a nice feature (not the prettiest, but practice).

Thanks for showing. I have to admit I have a bit of an obsession with Waldown drill presses lately. Started with the 2M, then snapped up a 3M (use one for metal, one for woodwork), bought a sad example of an 8SN to steal the handles (2M was missing 2 handles, at about $19 for the 8SN it was a no-brainer), recently acquired a Waldown Radial arm drill press. With the radial arm and 8SN I have enough to make one of them functional (I will probably restore and sell the Radial arm). A few weeks ago, I saw 3 vices listed as unbranded (they were Waldown vices, 1 really good example, 1 OK, and one parts).

These are great machines, and although like you say, they may not have extreme age to them, they are well made, solid, serviceable, and accurate, which are the main reasons why I have sought out older machines over some of the newer stuff. It still amazes me some of the low prices that these drill presses go for (although it is obvious there is a following for these drill presses, when looking at the more accessible auction sites). Three phase motors keep the prices down, but given the availability of low cost VFD's, as you have shown, this does not need to be a major barrier to buyers with single phase power.

I am curious about the bearings on the 8SN, do you have any details on which bearings they are? I thought I had read issues with getting the right size bearing for the 8SN, but I am not sure if my memory is just letting me down.

Hows the new workshop progressing?

cheers,

Camo

I just finished restoring an 8SN as well. No problems getting all the bearings at the local bearing service here (Country Vic). Not expensive either.

Thanks Camo.

The 8SN I bought had already had all the restoration work done to it when I acquired it. The guy lives just out of Melbourne and had sent the machine to Parken Engineering to have the spindle bearings renewed and the variable speed controller fitted, so I'm not sure exactly sure what was involved with the bearings.

In any case, and as Joe has said (thanks Joe), I can't imagine that there's anything too exotic and that the components should all be readily available.

I too am a late-ish fan of Waldown machinery, and even more lately of Parken equipment as well. It appears that there aren't too many Australian manufacturers of quality machinery left, which is a pity, because our locally made/fabricated machines were/are as good as anything on the planet. Case in point is our Vicmarc and Stubby lathes which I fear may also succumb to the Asian invasion.

Also, I'm in the market for a few Waldown vices if you know of any for sale. I saw one on eBay over the weekend but it got snapped up as a Buy It Now. I put a watch on it intending to come back when I had a little more time but is was already gone. Oh well.

Very interested in your radial arm machine as well. I must admit to having no experience whatsoever with metal working equipment (lathes, milling machines etc) - but hey - that's never stopped me in the past.

I'll post an article on my recent purchase of 3x Australian Made chain mortiser machines shortly - two are by Mortise Master and one is a Tough (although I already own an identical Tough).

Wayne

Originally Posted by jhovel

I just finished restoring an 8SN as well. No problems getting all the bearings at the local bearing service here (Country Vic). Not expensive either.

Joe,

Thanks for the info, anything to know about the process, things to look out for? I don't think the radial arm drill needs it, but if it's an easy process, I might go ahead and replace them anyway as I will be stripping it down completely anyway.

Cheers,

Camo

Originally Posted by Hardenfast

Also, I'm in the market for a few Waldown vices if you know of any for sale.

I will eventually sell the worst of the 3, but although it is functional, aesthetically it will be a poor example. I will keep an eye out for you and PM you if I see one, perhaps add to this thread
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f299/missing-machine-people-look-181922
so we all know you are searching for one.

Originally Posted by Hardenfast

Very interested in your radial arm machine as well. I must admit to having no experience whatsoever with metal working equipment (lathes, milling machines etc) - but hey - that's never stopped me in the past.

The one I have is missing the pulley cover, which I will replace, and I am yet to check electrics, but should be a fun restore:

image.jpgimage.jpg

As with all things it's a matter of time.

Cheers,

Camo

Originally Posted by Hardenfast

I too am a late-ish fan of Waldown machinery, and even more lately of Parken equipment as well. It appears that there aren't too many Australian manufacturers of quality machinery left, which is a pity, because our locally made/fabricated machines were/are as good as anything on the planet.
Wayne

Wayne

Waldown and Richardson were no doubt the mainstay of Australian manufacturing when it came to locally made drill presses - IMHO the Waldown's were probably the cream of the crop. Nice drill you have there.

Regards,
John

Hi Wayne and all,
You're drill press looks great and I am sure you will get great service out of it. You're Tough morticer is it the chisel or chain version i have a chisel Tough morticer and am very happy with it as well as a Tough lathe which also serves me very well indeed.
Regards Rod.

Originally Posted by camoz

Wayne,

Hows the new workshop progressing?

cheers,

Camo

I'm embarrassed to tell you that there's no progress at all at this stage Camo. I haven't even submitted my DA/BA to Council yet, which is pretty ordinary. I've had to attend to more boring things like quoting new jobs, keeping clients happy, maintaining an income stream etc. I'm sure you all know how it goes.

However, I've continued to acquire the occasional piece of equipment which is always satisfying. It would be much better if I had somewhere to put them.

Wayne

Originally Posted by Rod Gilbert

Hi Wayne and all,
You're drill press looks great and I am sure you will get great service out of it. You're Tough morticer is it the chisel or chain version i have a chisel Tough morticer and am very happy with it as well as a Tough lathe which also serves me very well indeed.
Regards Rod.

Thanks Rod.

And yes, the Tough equipment is always well regarded and popular with enthusiasts. I know that the lathes in particularly are very, well.... Tough. Almost unbreakable, it would seem. I have two of the Tough chain mortisers, but I'm not sure that I've ever seen a chisel mortiser. I'd be interested to see a few images of it.

Wayne

Originally Posted by Hardenfast

I also picked up a great vertical/horizontal Parken 4" linisher for the collection. To quote the Small Faces from a few years back: "It's all too beautiful".

Image1.jpg Image2.jpg Image4.jpg Image5.jpg

Is this the same linisher as yours?? Not sexy condition of course. Sold for $134 Yesterdy

Originally Posted by jcge

Wayne

Waldown and Richardson were no doubt the mainstay of Australian manufacturing when it came to locally made drill presses - IMHO the Waldown's were probably the cream of the crop. Nice drill you have there.

Regards,
John

It seems that I'm a little late to the game with my appreciation of the Australian made pedestal drills, John - as usual.

Having been reasonably satisfied with an old Gasweld/Toolex pedestal drill (and other imported machines) for the last 25-30 years, I didn't gain a full respect for our magnificent locally made equipment until I started to notice the occasional Barker disc sander or Wolfenden bench saw in the workshops of older colleagues. And not just older Australian machines, but other great names like Wadkin, Macson (Australian?) etc. The older stuff is great, but in many cases is now redundant due to CNC capabilities or unsuited because of current OH&S requirements etc.

It seems I missed a nice looking Richardson bench drill here a while ago. I'll have to be more vigilant.

Wayne

Originally Posted by camoz

I will eventually sell the worst of the 3, but although it is functional, aesthetically it will be a poor example. I will keep an eye out for you and PM you if I see one, perhaps add to this thread
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f299/missing-machine-people-look-181922
so we all know you are searching for one.



The one I have is missing the pulley cover, which I will replace, and I am yet to check electrics, but should be a fun restore:

image.jpgimage.jpg

As with all things it's a matter of time.

Cheers,

Camo

When did you pick this one up, Camo? There was a similar one for sale with some other old stuff in South Sydney recently - missing the top cover same as yours. The guy was selling off old equipment from his father's joinery.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

Is this the same linisher as yours?? Not sexy condition of course. Sold for $134 Yesterday

Well, it looks like the same model machine and the price is/was much better than my buy price as usual (sigh), DSEL. All of these great Grays auctions always seem to be in Melbourne, but I haven't been keeping an eye on them lately.

Wayne

Originally Posted by Hardenfast

When did you pick this one up, Camo? There was a similar one for sale with some other old stuff in South Sydney recently - missing the top cover same as yours. The guy was selling off old equipment from his father's joinery.

Picked it up a few months back, I don't think it is the same one you are talking about, this one was on the central coast.

Cheers,

Camo