Thread: Wadkin EX

Continuing the thread on old spindle moulders. I was disappointed to miss out on this beauty in a Gray's auction earlier this week. My initial bid of $29 was highest until 12 minutes before the original closing time ( but it rapidly moved up to being past my limit in the last few minutes of the auction.
It was finally knocked down for a $500 bid which when added to the Buyer's Premium and GST meant a final sale price of ~$680 which given I would have had to drive to Sydney to pick it up was a bit steep for me!

Robinson Spindle Moulder 5.JPGRobinson Spindle Moulder 1.JPGRobinson Spindle Moulder 2.JPGRobinson Spindle Moulder 3.JPGRobibson Spindle Moulder 4.JPGRobinson Spindle Moulder 5.JPGRobinson Spindle Moulder 6.JPGRobinson Spindle Moulder 7.JPG
Enjoy the images,
Richard

Hi Richard.
Nice machine. I was watching that. Just out of interest.
Would you have driven to Sydney to pick it up ?
A truck company would have delivered to a Melbourne depot for around $380 to $400
Unless its gone up a lot like everything else in the last few years . Last time I got similar things delivered it was around that.

Rob

Hi Rob,

I guess it's a moot question now as I didn't win the auction.
Last time I tried to contact a freight company in Sydney to ship some stuff down that Henry sold me I didn't get a response from 2 website enquiries and a phone call so I've sort of lost faith in the carrying companies. That was pre-Christmas a year and a half ago so maybe it's better now. Also the auction site had no lifting gear so I was concerned about picking it up and loading it at the site (Henry offered to pop over and assist if I was making the trip which was nice of him!).
It may well be easier for me to wait for a Victorian based unit to come up though for sure!

Cheers,
Richard

I have had a tarp over the EX (and a few over Wadkin's), the bed was already rusty and I thought I would spend time on it when I start restoring it, but I had to move it to a new position to make way for the temporary shipping container shed (until the new big shed is built) and found the rust was now much worse. I think things rust in my part of OZ much more than when I lived in the UK.

Here are some pics of the bed, I got the rust off and have sprayed Penetrol on it, I have found this product to be good on my hand tools and once dry it can be painted over with an oil based paint.

Rust 1.jpg Rust 2.jpg Rust 3.jpg

Rust 4.jpg Rust 5.jpg Rust 6.jpg

Nice one - there is a dozen different ways to clean up the tabletops. If you could be bothered, life the top off and create a bath (from builders film & a rectangle frame from scrap wood) and fill it up ½ inch with Double Strength White Vinegar and soak the top facing down in that for 1-2 days. You can then hit it with an angle grinder with a wire brush followed by various high grit on the orbital sander to get things nice and shiny & smooth.

I find the Double Strength White Vinegar does a very similar job to Evapo-Rust at a fraction of the cost.

BTW - Did you ever hear back from ol'mate down in SA regarding he's EX?

Here's one currently listed in South Africa. Unfortunately no close up of the tag so we have no idea what number it is.
Don't you just love how it's been repainted. Just about EVERYTHING is now green including handwheel rims, horn handles, you name it...

I thought you might be interested in what the fences should look like - well almost, as two of the four have been repaired.

EX1.jpg

EX2.jpg EX3.jpg EX4.jpg

Cheers, Vann.

The oil mist system utilizes a wick under the top (larger ) bearing that is filled with light spindle oil and topped up every day prior to use by 2-3 depressions of the Wadkin oil gun to the relevant nipple.
The lower bearing I replaced and is sealed and lube is not necessary.
I had to replace the top bearing on my EQ and it cost $350 so remembering to "oil daily" is necessary to relieve pain.
The bearing replacement/disassembly process is tedious also.

Here are some 1929 catalogue cuts of fences and double spindles.
The larger one EYA had a table 6ft6in and weighed 25cwt = one and a quarter tons.


Tony

Originally Posted by Charlie_6ft

Nice one - there is a dozen different ways to clean up the tabletops. If you could be bothered, life the top off and create a bath (from builders film & a rectangle frame from scrap wood) and fill it up ½ inch with Double Strength White Vinegar and soak the top facing down in that for 1-2 days. You can then hit it with an angle grinder with a wire brush followed by various high grit on the orbital sander to get things nice and shiny & smooth.

I find the Double Strength White Vinegar does a very similar job to Evapo-Rust at a fraction of the cost.

BTW - Did you ever hear back from ol'mate down in SA regarding he's EX?

No he never replied, too heavy to take off, looks ok sprayed with oil now

Thanks Vann for pics, a lot more complete than mine

Originally Posted by AJOE123

The oil mist system utilizes a wick under the top (larger ) bearing that is filled with light spindle oil and topped up every day prior to use by 2-3 depressions of the Wadkin oil gun to the relevant nipple.
The lower bearing I replaced and is sealed and lube is not necessary.
I had to replace the top bearing on my EQ and it cost $350 so remembering to "oil daily" is necessary to relieve pain.
The bearing replacement/disassembly process is tedious also.

Here are some 1929 catalogue cuts of fences and double spindles.
The larger one EYA had a table 6ft6in and weighed 25cwt = one and a quarter tons.


Tony

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the info, those machines were the models before the EX and mine is the larger model EX

Originally Posted by Camelot

Wadkin say the spindle is lubricated by a patented oil mist system.

Does anyone know how the mist system works, does the spindle produce mist while spinning?

Do you have the gun for it?

There was a bit of discussion on the facebook Wadkin appreciation Group page on 20th June about oiling the EQ bearings and a suitable gun to do it. One of the members who doesnt have an original Oil gun uses a new gun on his and he said these work good . I took note of it . I need to get one .

https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_...+Yato&_sacat=0



Oil Can EQ.png

Hi Rob,

No I don't have a gun, but it will be a while before I get around to the EX, let me know how you get on if you buy one.

Cheers Nigel

Originally Posted by Vann

Here's one currently listed in South Africa. Unfortunately no close up of the tag so we have no idea what number it is.
Don't you just love how it's been repainted. Just about EVERYTHING is now green including handwheel rims, horn handles, you name it...

I thought you might be interested in what the fences should look like - well almost, as two of the four have been repaired.

EX1.jpg

EX2.jpg EX3.jpg EX4.jpg

Cheers, Vann.

Hi Vann

Here's a pic of the tag, it's 1961.

South Africa.jpg

Cheers

Nigel