wadkin RS

[wallace]

Its been a whole year since I started a machine so I thought its about time, This one dates from 1936 and is in rough but very complete condition. It has its original compound slide/carriage and even a nice 4 jaw chuck



One must remember check height restrictions and fluorescent tubes when entering the workshop, they don't half make a pop when hit

 

[chataigner]

Looking forward to some shiny metal

 

[Robert]

Looks a bit like the Taylor lathes we used to have for metal spinning. It there a flat belt and some stepped pulleys inside for speed changes?

Ours went on ebay and were bought by wood turners. Made metal reflectors over 1m diameter on wooden chucks on the larger machine. metal spinning by hand is a dead/dying craft now.

Yours is going to be a big wood lathe. Can't wait.

 

[fiveeyes]

Also looking forward to this. Oh, how I would love to have some of your machinery.

 

[wallace]

Yes Robert, it has stepped pulleys, I've always fancied having a go at metal spinning. I nearly bought a set of metal spinning tools at a antique fair. Lovely looking things about 30" long. Too much money though

 

[Robert]

I have had a go at metal spinning and it is a scary business

The tools our spinners used were all home made and precious to them. Long handles with a lump of silver steel (for aluminium) or brass (for steel) coming out of the end. Shaped to points or flats. Similar long handle with a lump of Stellite in the end for edge trimming. it was the only HSS material that could cope with the high cutting speeds.
Household bar soap and a touch of engine oil was the lubricant of choice. The smell of soap reminds me of metal spinning sometimes.

I still hear from one of our spinners now and then. He was one of our highest paid employees - now he drives a delivery van. Sad waste of skills.

 

[wallace]

Let the fun begin





All of the cloth wiring is rotten but the starter looks to be in great condition.



Never come across this on an RS before, brass hinges



There is normally a tapered pin locating the lever but this one had a straight pin which would not budge so I had to drill it out.



Funny little marks



I'm always impressed when taking a wadkin to bits, Bolts are just the right torque and come out like this after 82 years



Never seen 3 grease rings on the spindle before



This is my tool for getting the nut off the spindle, Its not pretty but works

 

[wallace]

Original colour under the tags



That wasn't too difficult, I was expecting a fight



I think this bit might put up a bit resistance

 

[DaveL]

That blue tin in the first two pictures contains the best tool for taking things apart.

 

[wallace]

That and a big hammer works a treat

 

[wallace]

Their are some pretty rusty bits so I got some phosphoric acid.



This is the tail stock, note the differences to a later one.



The carriage is in good nick just rusty, funnily the cutter in the holder is a carbide tipped parting tool.





To get the machine pins out I put a slit with the dremmel and twist with a screwdriver



The motor put a decent fight up, the end bells are aluminium and the main body cast iron. There was a bit sticking due to dissimilar metals.



I've never come across a motor in this good a nick inside, it still had chalk writing on the stator. Normally they are crammed with grease.

 

[Malc2098]

Utter, utter porn!!

 

[9fingers]

Mark, Does that motor smell cooked? Very unusual to see an opaque varnish on windings like that.
Did you check the motor runs before stripping it?

Cheers
Bob

 

[fiveeyes]

That is one hell of a lump of iron!! I do hope that you eat your Wheaties.

 

[wallace]

No bad smells Bob, I didn't check it because the leads are really perished. I've never seen one with this sort of finish on the windings and never seen one that's 82 years old with so little grease, I would normally expect the bells to be filled up. You could tell if this had been apart before, theres a pinned collar that holds the stepped pulley on and it was pristine.
Fiveyes I use a block and tackle as much as possible for lifting nowadays, I've got a calcified shoulder which likes to let me know if lift too much :evil:

 

[wallace]

I have found that using phosphoric acid before cleaning up works really well, I intend to cold blacken some parts after cleaned. It smells horrible, almost like a stink bomb



Wadkin must of had a good few motors still with Wadkin & Co when they became a limited company.





Mmm Hofman bearings



It must of been in the same company whenit got its coat of green paint, I found the same asset number underneath



I got back together and wired up and it works lovely, a quick lick of zinc primer



Just realised it might have to come to bits again because I will be fitting a VFD and this motor is not dual voltage, My motor man might be able to fiddle with the leads

 

[9fingers]

Just realised it might have to come to bits again because I will be fitting a VFD and this motor is not dual voltage, My motor man might be able to fiddle with the leads

Yes. To convert to delta, Connect A1-B2, B1-C2 and C1-A2. 240v 3 phase from an inverter to A2, B2 and C2
Jobs a good un.

Bob

 

[wallace]

I notice this motor has 6 leads coming out of the windings, can I alter the voltage like a modern dual voltage motor.

 

[9fingers]

I notice this motor has 6 leads coming out of the windings, can I alter the voltage like a modern dual voltage motor.

Yup. Remove the horizontal strap and add three vertical straps and connect power (240v 3 phase) to each strap.

Bob

 

[wallace]

This is the support for the motor pulleys, as you'd expect Hofman double row self aligning bearings.



The pulley spent the night in a bucket of solution and came out rust free



This is it after a while in the cold blackening solution, just spray with wd40 and then boeshield



The head spindle all cleaned up



The speed change handle is a week point on the RS, they usually get broken.

 

[wallace]

The carriage and compound tool holder is a tad rusty



But came to bits pretty easily

 

[Mike G]

Ooooh, the first shiny bits! This looks like it is in pretty good order compared with some you've done.

 

[wallace]

It is Mike considering its 82 year old. When I removed the tool holder underneath it was bright steel so I think maybe it just sat in the steel shipping container for too long. All of the important bits like the ways have a consistent surface rust with no pitting.

 

[fiveeyes]

Lovin' this..take care of that shoulder Wallace. There are times when a block & tackle would be handy to get my fat butt out of the chair! :lol:

 

[wallace]

Thanks fiveeyes I had surgery on the other shoulder a couple of years ago which fixed it but the recovery takes months so I am keen to hold off. I also need to move my fat but more, I finally brought my bike in that I bought 3 years ago and have not used and got one of those indoor trainer stands.

 

[wallace]

I'm not going to make everything all shiny, some bits are getting black oxided.



But theres still plenty to make shiny, this is the handle for the cross slide



Sanded to 400 grit



Then buffed with silverline red compound



The buffalo horn handle cleaned up pretty well, I just sanded it then used some T-cut



The handwheel for the carraige went on the lathe to get sanded and buffed

 

[Mike G]

This one is going to be a quick one. I can feel it in my bones.

 

[wallace]

I've done a few of these now so I am becoming quite proficient, plus I've got a commision to do a wadkin PK dimension saw for some one

 

[tracerman]

Mark - I nearly posted a message at Christmas to ask what you were up to . Having been really groggy over the festive period I feel my spirits raised by this . Thank you .
Steve

 

[wallace]

Thanks Steve, I've been having a bit withdrawl from restos. I've accumulated loads of browny points from the wife because I built a new kitchen and on new years day I started decorating the living room.

 

[wallace]

This big bolt is used as an adjustable stop for the pivoting motor mount, it was quite pitted



I cleaned it up on the disc sander and then glued various grits onto a board and went down to 400 before polishing







More blackened bits



I was surprised the tailstock was not seized





There must of been a casting cock up because this bit has been filled

 

[RogerS]

A fabulous thread, Wallace. Really enjoying it. :eusa-clap:

 

[wallace]

Thanks Roger
I made a bit more shiny



I think the carriage is a later addition to this lathe because of the aluminium handwheel, the tailstock has and iron handwheel which takes a lot of effort to get then looking good. I just so happened to have a spare aluminium hand wheel but it will need some work to make it fit





The plan is to turn the boss of the handwheel down.

 

[Robert]

The thread views count should let you know there are a few of us regularly lapping up the updates even if not commenting regularly.

With what seems like acres of dodgy plaster wall to sort out at my daughters place and seeing little change for the effort expended it's nice to see someone else making progress on something that is actually interesting

 

[wallace]

Thanks Robert, I know a lot of people enjoy this old stuff and understand theres not much to comment on.
My daughter recently flew the nest and I got a call to help with something, whilst there I noticed a plug that had been wired dodgily, on inspection I found the brown wire in the blue pin and blue in the brown. Her fiancé had wired it.

 

[Rod]

Bring back the old colour system! [emoji3]

Seriously I’m another who enjoys reading your stuff but doesn’t always comment.

Rod

 

[TrimTheKing]

Me too, I don't have much to add but love watching do keep them coming...

Cheers
Mark

 

[AndyP]

Thanks Robert, I know a lot of people enjoy this old stuff and understand theres not much to comment on.
My daughter recently flew the nest and I got a call to help with something, whilst there I noticed a plug that had been wired dodgily, on inspection I found the brown wire in the blue pin and blue in the brown. Her fiancé had wired it.

this is how I used to remember. second letter of the colour = first letter of plug position.
bRown - Right
bLue - Left

I enjoy your work too.

 

[9fingers]

Thanks Robert, I know a lot of people enjoy this old stuff and understand theres not much to comment on.
My daughter recently flew the nest and I got a call to help with something, whilst there I noticed a plug that had been wired dodgily, on inspection I found the brown wire in the blue pin and blue in the brown. Her fiancé had wired it.

this is how I used to remember. second letter of the colour = first letter of plug position.
bRown - Right
bLue - Left

I enjoy your work too.

Not heard that one before Andy. :eusa-clap:

I don't think I'll ever forget. We moved house when I was about 10 from a house with all round pin plugs to a "modern" square pin house. I was unwell as the time so as soon as I was installed in bed, Every portable appliance was brought up to me in my new bedroom to have the plugs changed. "Line on the right" was drummed in at that stage.

Bob

 

[AndyP]

Thanks Robert, I know a lot of people enjoy this old stuff and understand theres not much to comment on.
My daughter recently flew the nest and I got a call to help with something, whilst there I noticed a plug that had been wired dodgily, on inspection I found the brown wire in the blue pin and blue in the brown. Her fiancé had wired it.

this is how I used to remember. second letter of the colour = first letter of plug position.
bRown - Right
bLue - Left

I enjoy your work too.

Not heard that one before Andy. :eusa-clap:

Bob

Now if only you could come up with a mnemonic for relay wiring.