Thread: Wadkin PK Gen 4

Originally Posted by Charlie_6ft

Anyone got a drawing or dimensions of their riving knife I can copy?

I just mounted a piece of cardboard on the nuts and scribed a line around just off the blade. The only part that needed to finish the shape was drawing in the back line of the knife. And I just did that until I thought it looked good.

Thanks Rob

Well I am definitely making one. Perhaps I make a few and sell them ... can't believe what they sell for over in the UK, I wonder if they ever sell any?

eBay.jpg AMS.png
I'll use this pic below as a guide:

WadkinPKRivingKnife.jpeg

This is my interpretation - should do the job!

WadkinPKRivingKnifeTemplate.jpg

Gave the switch gear a little love. I bought this from the UK without the enclosure. I'll make up something temporary with some scrap metal that this face can bolt onto until I figure out something more permanent that looks closer to what it should be. I am thinking a piece of 100mm x 100mm RHS square tubing or perhaps something out of aluminium.

Wadkin PK Switch.jpg

If anyone has a spare vertical equivalent switch let me know as I'll need one for the Wadkin DN Bandsaw Restore - Early 1900s awaiting restoration.

WadkinSwitch.jpg

Originally Posted by auscab

The knife is someone else's job obviously.
The Bracket looks wrong as well. My original one (I'm pretty sure) has two bolts sit on top of each other not next to each other. I wouldn't think an 18" blade would fit a knife with that bracket as its a bit of a tight squeeze even with the bolts stacked upright. Van will have a good sketch and pictures of one...

When I got my PK there was no riving knife holder. There was a user made riving knife and holder combined.
riv3.jpg

It extended above the blade, which means it could only be used to cut right through timber.
riving.jpg

Eventually I cut the top off a little below the height of the top of the blade.
rivmod.jpg

However, as the riving knife should be thicker than the saw plate, but thinner than the kerf, and as I had by then acquired several blades with different kerf widths, I felt that I needed to be able to fit different thickness riving knives to suit.

Originally Posted by auscab

...You see supposedly original PK knife copy's that have a large rounded top end. Their not great I reckon because the rounded end sits higher than the teeth...

I acquired one of those. And Auscab is correct, they are not copied from an original PK knife.
rivwrong.jpg

Not only is it too high, but it doesn't follow the profile of the blade (I think that's a 16" blade on my saw).
rivwrong2.jpg

At that time I had got my hands on a riving knife holder, but it too was not original. After a lot of to-ing and fro-ing with Auscab I drew this sketch - and I feel confident it is the correct shape for the riving knife holder.

rivholder.jpg

I also found this on the Canadian site - Matt Matt had made a batch, which assured me that I had it right.
OMM knife holder.jpg

Auscab machined one up for me (the metal block needed both ends trimmed to length).
riv21.jpg

Earlier this year a mate bought PKA 803 (mine is PKA 800) and it's been cared for much better than mine. It still has what I believe is the original riving knife. I've copied the shape onto some old sawplate - but haven't yet finished cutting it out (man that sawplate is hard!!!). I'll try to remember to take a picture tomorrow.

Cheers, Vann.

Originally Posted by Vann

At that time I had got my hands on a riving knife holder, but it too was not original. After a lot of to-ing and fro-ing with Auscab I drew this sketch - and I feel confident it is the correct shape for the riving knife holder.

rivholder.jpg

I also found this on the Canadian site - Matt Matt had made a batch, which assured me that I had it right.
OMM knife holder.jpg

Cheers, Vann.

Thanks Vann - thats exactly what I needed, much appreciated. I'll look to make one up out of some scrap metal which I think I have somewhere.