Thread: Wadkin RM, FM, BTS, UOS, BAOS...

Hi Eldi,

Do you intend to buy a machine in the UK, have it restored and ship it back to Australia? If thats the case I would get in contact with Mark (Login • Instagram).

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Charlie_6ft

Hi Eldi,

Do you intend to buy a machine in the UK, have it restored and ship it back to Australia? If thats the case I would get in contact with Mark (Login • Instagram).

Good luck!

Exactly, I want to buy and rebuild the machine in the UK, and ship it to Australia once the restoration is done. Thank you for sharing Mark's details, from a brief inspection of his Instagram and website he looks like an expert for old Wadkin machines, many thanks!

Good luck - what do you want to do it BTW? This will dictate what to get. If money is no object you could get a RM 24" and spend ~$5,000 - $7,000 (guess as to how much a new helical block would cost for such a machine) on a new helical block.

Originally Posted by EldBI

Hi guys,

I am interested in purchasing a planer-thicknesser, and I strongly prefer a Wadkin machine.

Hi EldBI. I seem to have trouble with the UKW forum since they changed format - so after a little research I think this is the machine you're looking at:

M series 1.jpg

M series 2.jpg

M series 3.jpg

M series 4.jpg

I think you said it was the 24" model which would make it an ML.

My comments on UKW stand (if they didn't get lost in the ether).

Cheers, Vann.

Originally Posted by Charlie_6ft

Good luck - what do you want to do it BTW? This will dictate what to get. If money is no object you could get a RM 24" and spend ~$5,000 - $7,000 (guess as to how much a new helical block would cost for such a machine) on a new helical block.

I would like to work with it in my small (semi-professional) workshop. I rarely need to plane boards wider than 450 mm (~ 17.7 inch). I am ready to buy either 18” or 24” Wadkin RM/FM. This purchase is not only about my mere needs, I just love the old good Wadkins...it is a dream to have a Wadkin, and now I can afford to buy and restore one.

Originally Posted by EldBI

I would like to work with it in my small (semi-professional) workshop. I rarely need to plane boards wider than 450 mm (~ 17.7 inch). I am ready to buy either 18” or 24” Wadkin RM/FM. This purchase is not only about my mere needs, I just love the old good Wadkins...it is a dream to have a Wadkin, and now I can afford to buy and restore one.

Thanks Vann. I didn't know these models - M.J. , M.K. and M.L.
I am looking for one of Wadkin's RM or FM, I believe they were made in three sizes - 16", 18" and 24", here are the cover pages of their manuals:
Wadkin_RM_PlanerThicknesser.jpg
Wadkin_FM_PlanerThicknesser.jpg

BTW, between the RM and FM models, is there one that is much better than the other? In other words, should I wait to get a specific model or take the first one that I can put my hands on?

Originally Posted by EldBI

...BTW, between the RM and FM models, is there one that is much better than the other? In other words, should I wait to get a specific model or take the first one that I can put my hands on?

If it were me (and I don't have room) I'd prefer the RM - because I believe the heyday of quality was around the early days of RM production. But I think the FM is more compact (I think they moved the motors from outback to underneath).

However the MJ, MK and ML were in effect RMs before the factory fitting of electric motors. A few casting changes; the 15" increased to 16" - but still the same machines. They'll be every bit as good, just not as tidy (as the motors have been retro-fitted).

So if you want it tidy, pick the FM. If you want slightly better materials (less aluminium) pick the RM. And if you're not in a position to chose - grab that ML quickly before it gets away.

Cheers, Vann.

This is an MJ I did years ago. It is the older relative to the RM. One of the differances is the fence. On the RM and some newer MJ's the fence was moved with a hand wheel. On the MJ the planing size is 18" wide but on the thicknessing table it is 16" wide.
This machine dates from 1924

wadkin mj planer - YouTube

I’ve had an 18” Wadkin Bursgreen under and over bought here in Sydney.
It was a good machine had it for about ten years in a 4 person workshop.
Only problem was extraction. It was from a Pattern shop so not beaten to death on hard stuff.
Also bought and sold a 24” RM from another pattern shop.
My point being they may be available in Oz and may not need rebuilding.
Doing this on my phone so might post more later.
H

Originally Posted by clear out

I’ve had an 18” Wadkin Bursgreen under and over bought here in Sydney.
It was a good machine had it for about ten years in a 4 person workshop.
Only problem was extraction. It was from a Pattern shop so not beaten to death on hard stuff.
Also bought and sold a 24” RM from another pattern shop.
My point being they may be available in Oz and may not need rebuilding.
Doing this on my phone so might post more later.
H

Hi, I'm sure there are several Wadkins out there in Australia, I just need one owner that will be willing to sell...I've received two emails (after advertising on Gumtree) but the owners are still hesitating to sell. I guess part of that stems from an emotional connection to the device that served them for many years, I can definitely understand that

Ring George 0414324101. He has an immaculate big one for sale in Qld, he wants a pretty penny for it but it’s a beautiful machine. Good luck.

Originally Posted by riverbuilder

Ring George 0414324101. He has an immaculate big one for sale in Qld, he wants a pretty penny for it but it’s a beautiful machine. Good luck.

Thank you so much! I will certainly speak with George!

Originally Posted by EldBI

Thank you so much! I will certainly speak with George!

No luck today - George doesn't have the Wadkin anymore, he swapped it for a single phase Woodfast table saw. So the search continues...

This thread just stopped, so can you tell us if you found what you were looking for and share some pic's?