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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    uk
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    456

    Default wadkin RU lathe restoration

    Not to rest on my laurels, I thought it would be nice to start this monster. I've been after one of these for a long time but I am very cheap so didn't want to pay top dollar. I got an email from a guy who said he had seen one in scrap dealers yard, and hated to see it go for scrap. He kindly got me the dealers contact and I rang immediately. The price was cheap at £800 but it was about 170miles away.
    I said I'd have it so then set about figuring out how to get it home. I didn't trust a courier to handle the bed because its 3m long. In the end I took the seats out of my vw and went to collect the bed and carriage etc. I put the headstock on a pallet for a courier. The bed just fit under the passenger footwell and I could close the tailgate.
    The guy had an overhead crane so it was easy loading it. I had an engine hoist and a pump truck. The bed weighs around 750kg.





    Its been sat in my garden for quite a while smothered in waxoyle and sheeted, I wont be able to bring it in untill the FM I did last year goes. I'm hoping it will be soon.


    Its hard to illustrate just how big this thing is. Thats a wadkin RS10 tailstock next to the RU one.












    I had to use the oxy/propane to warm the tailstock up and hit the quill with a big hammer











    The carriage is huge











    But its not in bad shape





    This bit is the gears for moving the bed, its been repaired before. I think I will ask mr doubleboost to do a proper job











    No pitting on the ways, just surface rust.









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  3. #2
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Sth Gippsland Vic
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    Default

    Can you lift that HUGE tail stock onto the lathe by yourself ?
    Or does it have to be with block and tackle ?

    The Wadkin floor is looking good too .

  4. #3
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    Sep 2012
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    uk
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    Default

    Definately a block and tackle job,

    Most of the floor is covered over with osb to protect it whilst messing with machines. I still havent decided how I'm going to finish it, I quite like the dirty look.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2007
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    Sth Gippsland Vic
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    Default

    Whats osb ?

    The dirty look is how I'd be having it . It looks just the same as where it came from.
    What a great reminder of a Fantastic Factory .

    Now very sadly gone .

    Is it still giving off that smell now that its laid ? Or has your nose stopped working .
    Maybe some boiled linseed oil mixed with turps would seal that smell in ? And keep the old look still.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    uk
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    Default

    Osb = orientated strand board, also called sterling board. Its like cheap ply wood, slivers of wood in glue. Probably lasts longer than ply. I've had a section outside for 6 months and its still useable.

    I cant smell it really, I'm nose blind I think. I have to bag my clothes and shower after being in their to keep the mrs happy. I think once I'm finished machines and lift up the boards the smell will come back for a while.

    I'm looking forward to when I can hang the wadkin front doors on my workshop, I might make some columns and a portico like at green lane

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Petone, NZ
    Age
    68
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    Default Osb.

    Quote Originally Posted by auscab View Post
    Whats osb ?...
    Quote Originally Posted by wallace1973
    Osb = orientated strand board, also called sterling board. Its like cheap ply wood, slivers of wood in glue....
    This stuff.

    OSB.jpg

    We never see it in New Zealand either (except on the odd bit of imported packaging).

    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  8. #7
    Join Date
    May 2007
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    Sth Gippsland Vic
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Vann View Post
    This stuff.

    OSB.jpg

    We never see it in New Zealand either (except on the odd bit of imported packaging).

    Cheers, Vann.
    Yeah I have seen that stuff . Never had any idea what it was called though .
    I just did some searching. Its here in Au. Cheap enough too. Good for a floor covering. Nice way to protect precious castings from a concrete floor .
    2440 x 1200mm 6mm Braceboard OSB - Bunnings Australia

  9. #8
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    Sep 2012
    Location
    uk
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    Default

    Its pretty good stuff, feels really cheap and nasty but lasts really well. covid has made prices silly at the moment but I can still find sheets for £20 on facebook

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    uk
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    Default

    I really do like these paint removal discs, I wish I'd found them 8 years ago. They do vibrate a bit untill they balance themselves.











    I went to get some paint today, I fancy trying 2 pack again so got a liter mixed to the usual RAL7011, it was nearly £40. The place I use is normally good for paint, enamel is only £11 a liter. I just checked and 2pack is only £22 online but enamel is £24. It pays to shop around.


    I recently invested in a new powered respirator, I'd been using the versiflo for years but you couldnt use paint filters with it, I've stayed with versaflo but its a newer model that can take appropriate filters for spraying. I also got a hood which is quite comfortable.
    With the old one even though it was a positive pressure helmet and visor you could still get stuff coming through even though it had an elasticated strip around your chin.



  11. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Port Sorell, Tasmania
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    Default

    I also have a versaflo but with the helmet rather than the hood. Can you fit a pair of earmuffs under the hood?.
    You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. ~Oscar Wilde

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Brisbane
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    619

    Default

    The Wadkin RU was the first machine that kicked off my love for the machines from this manufacturer. I remember somehow finding the below YouTube video which then led me to watching Jack's video on he's Wadkin PK which then sent me down a rabbit hole!!!

    WadkinRU.jpeg

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    uk
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    Default

    I've been using some silicone ear plugs. I had some ear defenders on my helmet but I didn't think they applied enough pressure to work properly.

    Charlie I think I'm at the other end of the wadkin rabbit hole, after 10 years of chasing those bucket list machines.

  14. #13
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    Sep 2012
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    uk
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    Default

    Not much to show, just lots of grunt work filling and sanding








    After a basic fill and sand I went over with a polyester spray filler





    Then more sanding











    After final sanding everything got a prime coat and then I used a product called barcoat. It acts as a sealer and stops anything affecting the top coat. Because I'm using 2pack it can be very unforgiving and go pear shaped.
    I once prepped a whole lathe for 2 weeks then when I applied the top coat it reacted to something underneath.









  15. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    Petone, NZ
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    Default

    Looking really good.

    Quote Originally Posted by wallace1973 View Post
    ...I once prepped a whole lathe for 2 weeks then when I applied the top coat it reacted to something underneath...


    Cheers, Vann.
    Gatherer of rusty planes tools...
    Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .

  16. #15
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    Sep 2012
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    uk
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    Default

    I managed to drag the headstock into the shed











    I found the pics off when I went to collect the bed





    It was fun getting it out by myself with just a pump truck and engine hoist








    It has a tapered pin but its impossible to tap it out. I had to drill it.





    Its supposed to have an oil sight glass here, I'm going to see if john can make one.





    Everything moves freely so I will just flush it and repack the bearings.





    This is the speed changer, it just hooks over a gear and shoves it to mesh into the others



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