Thread: Wolfenden Mortiser

$100 . Well bought .

I have two of those chisel or chain machines by Wolfenden.
One is an older belt drive that was converted to electric and is spread about my storage shed in bits as I wanted to use its base on another project . It was missing some parts . The chisel attachment I think ?
The second is a complete Chisel or Chain 3 phase machine .

I can get pictures of parts off my two but depending on what it is, they may not be great . Their both sort of buried in amongst other things .

Here is some catalogue pics of Chisel or Chain machines I have stored.

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The one below is Chisel and Chain . Added by mistake but Ill leave it .

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Oh that’d be awesome if you could, thanks! No rush though won’t be getting to this one for a few months i don’t think. I’m thinking that this ones the first pic you sent through with the interchangeable chain and chisel, not sure how easy it’s going to be to source the parts to run this as a chisel might end up using it just as a chain mortiser.

is your second mortiser the same model or the one from your third scan?

Ive got seven mortisers .
It just worked out that way after I started with a new single phase Carbatec chisel model 30 years ago. Then I got a cheap Woodman chisel single phase that was offered to me.
I then kept finding reasonably priced 3 phase machines and the list grew until I found the dream machine which was the Wadkin MF chisel and chain . So I use three atm and will probably have 4 or 5 set up in the end . I love not having to change chisel or chain set ups and just like being able to walk up and use a machine . Changing chisels is easy and fast. When you have a chisel and chain machine a size change is a bit more involved. The chain bar has to be moved back or forwards as well .

With The Wolfenden machines I have two like yours and similar to the two top catalogue pictures. And one like the bottom catalogue picture . A side by side Chisel and chain .

If I was you and if you can fabricate parts Id mount a motor and chuck above and make a fitting to hold chisels . Chisel is more clean and accurate than chain . Chain works out best when you have chisel as well to tidy the ends of the mortise. I don't know what your doing though so chain may be best for you ?
For me, making a chisel attachment for a chain machine seems pretty hard as it involves fitting bevel gears and more accurate lathe work than mounting a motor and chuck . I'm learning more about metal turning atm so maybe one day I could do that ?? Finding a machine with all the parts is way easier .
I found some pictures of my ones . If you want more detailed pics I can get some later .

This is the one in bits . last used with chain only . And no chisel attachment. I Think it would have been like the belt drive chisel attachment in the catalog pic above .
IMG_8063b.jpg IMG_8061a.jpg


This is the complete Chisel or chain . Its got its chisel fitted and that unbolts . A spur drive on the shaft drives the chain when that's fitted.
Ive seen a few of these machine show up and its a common thing for the chisel attachment to have been lost in the past .
IMG_2045 (2).JPG IMG_8067a.jpg

And below is the Chisel and Chain Wolfie . She's a beast of an Aussie made machine . Most big mortisers like these had cast iron bodies . These were fabricated though . The body has been cut from sheets of mild steel 3/8 thick with Oxy torch . Ground up and welded together . It amazes me that they made it like that !

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Rob

Originally Posted by auscab

Ive got seven mortisers .

And below is the Chisel and Chain Wolfie . She's a beast of an Aussie made machine . Most big mortisers like these had cast iron bodies . These were fabricated though . The body has been cut from sheets of mild steel 3/8 thick with Oxy torch . Ground up and welded together . It amazes me that they made it like that !

IMG_1057.jpg IMG_8085a.jpg


Rob

Rob that Wolfie is a beast.

Originally Posted by conarobb

Rob that Wolfie is a beast.

It is conarobb .
I'm looking forward to using it again . It stripped and wrapped its V belt around the shaft on the inside some time back and it sat under a tarp for a few years since. I will get it going again soon and set it up for 3/8 chisel with 3/8 chain . I'm doing a piece tomorrow with all 3/8 mortises and wish I had it set up already . Ill be doing that job with a chisel mortiser. One day I may even re paint it . I just better finish a couple of other machines first that I started and haven't finished.

Rob