Thread: Wadkin PK Gen 4

Great to see you got yourself a PK Charlie. Nice looking saw. Is the switch gear inside been changed too ? Or just the switch?

Have you seen these before? I did them years ago and posted them on Canadian forum . I don't remember if I posted them here .

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I started fabricating a pair from mild steel but gave up half way through after getting tired of the amount of angle grinding it took . After about a week of cutting and grinding and another week or more of cutting and grinding ahead of me enough was enough !

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Ive got a rough way of milling now and a metal lathe so ill possibly go back to them one day . Or just finish the first part off for the early PK I have .

If I ever had to do another set though I'd do patterns and have them cast. If not cast iron even in Bronze or Zinc possibly. I wouldn't recommend trying to do exact copies in mild steel . Maybe fast copies that work but don't look exact . That'd be easier in mild steel.

This fabricated set was impressive for a fast way of fabricating a pair. I saw it on a UK ebay listing . Its Just cut angle iron with bits and nuts welded on .
They would work 100% the same as original until a real set turned up .



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This picture turned up today of fabricated stuff on a PK in South Africa.
A bit on the light weight side ??
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Rob

Legend - thanks Rob! I actually think the double mitres would be waisted on me - perhaps the main one would be good. I do like what Jack had made up below and would be keen to create something similar (perhaps not as elegant).

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Switch gear has all been changed unfortunately. If I got an original switch I assume I could still use it with this switch gear or are they hand in glove?

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Perhaps a question for Vann... what are the two different thread type & sizes on the table tops?

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Nice find for your Wadkin collection

Rob if you are getting stuff cast, Brass or Bronze maybe Gunmetal but not Zinc.
Even though I’m a patternmaker I find fabricating easier nowadaze.
Here’s the angled tool rest for use with the gap out on the RS lathes I have.
I had the young guy at the Uni waterjet me out a couple out of some 1” steel plate from the stash.
Cost me a slab, sure beats hours of oxy cutting and grinding.
Turned up the pedestals on the Macson, they fit the waterjet cut holes perfectly no probs.
H.

Originally Posted by Camelot

Nice find for your Wadkin collection

Thanks mate - now onto getting it running smooth and proper!

Speaking of ... Missed this by hrs! Mind you I struggle with UK prices on spares, it makes your eyes water!

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Originally Posted by clear out

Rob if you are getting stuff cast, Brass or Bronze maybe Gunmetal but not Zinc.

Ha Ha, Tell me what you dont like about Zinc Henry. I'm eager to learn more . I thought it was easy to cast and machine and would hold up. Certainly Brass or Bronze would look and probably be better in that the threads would hold up better ? Is that right?

How do you find sucking the dust off the RS when turning . Does it work good with that funnel ?

Originally Posted by Charlie_6ft

Speaking of ... Missed this by hrs! Mind you I struggle with UK prices on spares, it makes your eyes water!

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Its making My eyes water I think . I cant read the price?? what happened to it



I bought one last Feb of same guy and it cost $400 inc post and stupid import duties.

PK switch 132 UK
Post 48.78
Import charges 19.04

We pay GST here on goods and services produced by businesses. Why do we pay it to second hand things bought off private sellers in the UK?
Someone making life harder for us . Middle finger up to them.

It was £125 so I guess that was a pretty good price then!

Switch swap out looks pretty straight forward:

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I had a look the outlet bolted to the isolator. Looks like I can piggy back a machine to the PK which is handy.

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I am obviously missing the isolator - not a major issue!

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OK as far as table top hole sizes go there is a forum already here:

Wadkin PK Sliding Table.

So assume it's:

Blue circles indicate 1/2" (12.7mm) BSW (12 tpi) threaded holes
Yellow circles indicate 5/8" (15.874mm) BSW (11 tpi) threaded holes

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Originally Posted by Charlie_6ft

...Switch gear has all been changed unfortunately. If I got an original switch I assume I could still use it with this switch gear or are they hand in glove?...

Yes you could use that switchgear with an original classic set of On/Off push buttons.

It would be worth checking what the overload setting is at on that switchgear. Sparkies seem to replace original switchgear with whatever they have in the van at the time. The overload setting is supposed to match the amperage draw of the motor (~5.8amps per phase for a PK).

I found the replacement switchgear on an old Wadkin CK radial arm saw I bought was set at ~9amps for a ~3amp draw. That would work just fine, but would provide no overload protection for the motor. And due to the cost of getting a burnt out PK motor rewound , it's worth having the overload set right.

Cheers, Vann.

Originally Posted by Charlie_6ft

...I had a look the outlet bolted to the isolator. Looks like I can piggy back a machine to the PK which is handy.

Isolating switch modified.jpg

I am obviously missing the isolator - not a major issue!

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Don’t stress about the modified isolating switch. Those switches were an extra, supplied on request only, so your PK is no less authentic without it.

And I guess that auxiliary power supply supports my theory that those extra holes in the fixed table were for a power feed.

Cheers, Vann.

Thanks Vann - yes good thinking!