Just purchased a Wadkin Table Saw for $53
Hello all,
So today I picked up a second hand Wadkin table saw, from what I can tell from google searching and the details in the auction description, I think it is a Wadkin BGP (the smaller one not the 60”), if anyone can confirm that from the photo (if I attached it correctly) that would be great.
Anyway I managed to get it on a graysonline auction for a total of $53 (including the graysonline 13.5% commission):D. http://www.graysonline.com/lot/0066-5002537/ its 3 phase so that probably put a lot of people off, and it seemed to be hidden in a completely unrelated auction (bits of everything in it), I only found it when I was searching the key work 3 phase (hoping to pick up some cheap plugs and sockets).
It's heavy so it was very easy for the guy at grays to get on the back of my trailer with the forklift, but not so easy to get back off (no access to a forklift at home). So total cost so far $53 + about $30 petrol.
I've spent the day looking for major faults expecting the worst. I was initially thinking: I bet the motor doesn't work, and then I bet the arbor is bent or the bearings are shot, then I bet that under the surface rust the table is cracked, I bet it's not just surface rust and the table is all pitted.
I have never been any more happy to find out I am wrong, after taking the motor out and testing everything with the multimeter, then testing the motor out of the table, then checking everything else before putting the motor back in, it seems to be working perfectly (I did have a minor hiccup where the blade did not seem to cut, just burning, until my wife pointed out that the blade seemed to be turning the wrong way:doh:, but changing L1 and L2 fixed that). It even came with a 96 tooth blade and what look like new or near new belts.
Over the next few weeks I hope to clean it right up and repaint it (can anyone advise on how to go about matching the colour and what would be the best paint for the job). I am going to have to make a riving knife for it (if anyone has this table saw with a riving knife, I would appreciate any assistance with dimensions), and I will need to add a blade guard. I think I will also look at either replacing the on/off switch, or adding a kick plate for easy shutdown in an emergency. May also need to upgrade the fence (not sure on the quality of the existing one at this stage).
I'm not too sure how difficult it is going to be to adjust and setup (I'm used to my old contract saw), I haven't had a chance to really look at if the trunnion attached to the table top or the base, and if I just adjust the trunnion so the blade matches the tracks in the tables, or the fixed top and sliding top to match the blade. Any help with a step by step process for this specific type of table saw would be greatly appreciated.
This is my first real restoration attempt so any advice I could get especially from anyone who currently owns or has owned one of these table saws would be greatly appreciated. Also I would appreciate any opinions on the quality of this particular machine, and so if I can expect to get it setup for a good standard of cut, or have I just bought a very cheap, but also cheaply made table saw.