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wadkin RS lathe restoration

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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby Mike G » 22 Mar 2015, 19:41

When you look back to what this looked like before any work started it is truly amazing. Beautiful restoration. If I were into lathes, I would want a big old lump of restored cast iron like this rather than a new machine. I love it.
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby wallace » 22 Mar 2015, 22:35

Thanks Mike a lot of people still don't realise what you can get for such little money. To buy a lathe with the same capacity as one of these you would have to get something like a VB which costs around £5000. This lathe was the 15th RS made way back in around 1936. I cant imagine you can purchase a machine nowadays that will last 79 years and still be useable.
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby wallace » 24 Mar 2015, 16:54

I got the last of the spraying done

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I decided to pimp out inside the headstock

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I then prepped the lettering on the headstock and motor, I later found out that the green frog tape is not as good as the yellow for this use. When I removed the tape it brought some of the paint with it.

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Heres the motor ready all done

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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby Robert » 24 Mar 2015, 23:40

very nice.

Can't wait for the final reveal now :)
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby Rob » 25 Mar 2015, 00:44

Looking at those fabulous old Wadkin's gives me really mixed emotions. The sheer British staggering high quality over-engineering and use of cast iron says so much about our history as a Nation of world class engineers. Then you juxtapose it with where we are now versus the Germans, Japanese and the Far East in general and I get all depressed at what's been lost.

I reckon I've got one more workshop in me and when (if) I get round to building and equipping it I plan to go the whole hog with 3 phase because those beasts have really earned the right to be used and used and used. As you say, they're also stupidly cheap. Absolutely gorgeous. Well done again for breathing new life into the noble Waddy :-)
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby Andyp » 25 Mar 2015, 08:34

I've just gone back to the original post to see quite how much of a transformation there has been. Excellent.
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby tracerman » 25 Mar 2015, 10:01

Wallace - I have decided that I am a Castoferrophile , whether its the connecting rods of the Flying Scotsman , the great flywheel on a Thames pumping station or my 1947 Multico mortise , its the solidity and the " proving its still got it " . Absolutely wonderful and especially after a coat of new paint . Great stuff .

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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby wallace » 25 Mar 2015, 16:37

Steve I know what you mean, when I first started messing with wood I soon realised that modern hobby machinery was pants so went down the old pattern makers machine route which is cheaper than the stuff from axminster or even B&Q.
I put the tailstock together, the RS tailstock can be slid sideways for off centre turning.

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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby wallace » 26 Mar 2015, 19:46

I managed to get the motor plate and motor fitted.

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I got the belt changer assembly put back together and the spindle

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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby wallace » 27 Mar 2015, 18:16

As I mentioned earlier I have been black oxiding some of the parts to help stop future rust. All you do is clean and degrease the part and then stick it in the solution, take it out and use a water dispersant like 3in1 or wd40 and then wax it.

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I needed some brass washers so I marked some squares out with centres

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Drilled some holes

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Cut the squares out on the bandsaw and then mounted them together on the lathe

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Heres a clip of the spinny bit

http://youtu.be/XyTN5r3JnA4

And the finished washers

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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby Andyp » 27 Mar 2015, 18:28

The noise your lathe makes is awesome :D
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby tracerman » 29 Mar 2015, 10:01

Wallace - I have watched the latest thread and the workshop tours , incredible .

How would you describe your main activity ? are you restoration carpenters or are you making furniture as well ?

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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby wallace » 29 Mar 2015, 11:14

Steve I would describe myself as a wannabe hobby woodworker who very occasionally gets some paid work for very basic joinery. When I first started playing with wood I soon realised that modern machines for my budget weren't up to much which frustrates a person starting out. I have always liked restoring things, I did a MG car restoration at 19 and used to like messing with old stationary engines. Doing wadkin machines is a very slippery slope and quite addictive. But I have accumulated quite a few machines for a small price. My ultimate goal is to do bespoke stuff but I will freely admit my skills with wood are very limited. At the moment I am more comfortable taking a machine to bits than doing a dovetail joint.
A bit long winded but it describes me pretty well
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby 9fingers » 29 Mar 2015, 11:55

wallace wrote:I am more comfortable taking a machine to bits than doing a dovetail joint.


+1! Dovetail joints are what dovetail jigs and router were designed for. :lol:

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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby wallace » 29 Mar 2015, 17:48

It just so happens I got this wadkin dovetail jig a while back. You can use it on the spindle moulder

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I managed to get the bed attached

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And made some more brass washers

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I'm not very happy how the black turned out on some of the items

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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby wallace » 31 Mar 2015, 19:19

I'm doing all the little bits now and I'm very nearly finished.

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I have made it so the VFD can be unclipped and moved to the outboard end

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Heres a clip of the lathe running for the first time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ckvCjD ... drLoCMqmqg
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby Robert » 01 Apr 2015, 09:54

Very nice :)

I've enjoyed following the progress on this. Thanks for posting.
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby wallace » 01 Apr 2015, 15:50

I made a spanner for the tailstock bolt today, well just chopped an old spanner up

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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby Andyp » 01 Apr 2015, 16:06

Now that spanner is just showing off! :D

Great thread as always, thanks again for sharing.
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby Rob » 01 Apr 2015, 17:18

Lovely.....the spanner is the last delicate little dusting of icing sugar just before the cake is served.

I think you should be knighted for this thread....it's just so fabulously British :-)
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby tracerman » 02 Apr 2015, 09:46

Wallace - if I had a hat I would take it off to you . This thread is enjoyable , instructive and inspiring .

Thank you .
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby Rob » 02 Apr 2015, 10:02

Also, the poetry of finishing with an item that required a turned handle wasn't lost on me :-)
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby firedfromthecircus » 03 Apr 2015, 11:27

What a fantastic restoration and thread documenting it.. 8-)
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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby Rod » 03 Apr 2015, 11:58

That's a nice touch - "icing on the cake"!

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Re: wadkin RS lathe restoration

Postby Andyp » 03 Apr 2015, 18:19

I've only jus noticed your addition to the makers plate. Another nice touch.
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