Wadkin RBD planer

[guineafowl21]

Does anyone know details of the motor fitted to these? I’m looking at one for sale, which appears to be unmodified, and three phase. I have three phase, but it would be a lot cheaper to run it from a VFD.

I’ve messaged the seller about the motor rating plate, but as with 50% of these cases they haven’t replied.

Is the motor dual voltage, or otherwise convertible? What hp?

 

[heimlaga]

I don't know that particular motor but I just wonder why a VFD would be cheaper than using the three phase supply you already have?

 

[guineafowl21]

Yes I didn’t quite make that clear. There is a large 3 phase board actually in the workshop, but it requires MCCBs (not MCBs) due to the prospective short circuit current at that point, then a sub-board, breakers and sockets. One suitable MCCB is more expensive than an inverter, let alone the other stuff. Also, I get soft start, speed control and other benefits with a VFD.

 

[Vann]

Does anyone know details of the motor fitted to these? I’m looking at one for sale, which appears to be unmodified, and three phase...

Is the motor dual voltage, or otherwise convertible? What hp?

The motor on an RB should be 2hp. This one has been modified by fitting a new motor at some point, as an RBD was originally a DC machine (that's what the "D" at the end of RBD indicates).

Have you considered the single phase RB that wallace is selling?

Cheers, Vann.

 

[guineafowl21]

Wow, a DC machine. That explains a lot, for example, here is the machine plate:

Machine: RBD 212
Test no.: 700
Voltage: 460
Phase: D
Cycles: C

I didn’t twig what Phase D and Cycles C meant, and now it’s obvious! Any idea how old it is? I’ve worked on some 1940s valve radios that were DC.

It’s listed as three phase and GWO, so I assume as you say the motor has been changed. I’ve bought the thing now, with the idea that if it’s sitting in my shop I’ll get it working somehow.

 

[Vann]

...Any idea how old it is?...

88 years old. Completed (tested) July, 1932 - according to the people who hold Wadkins records.

You've bought it 8) . Well done. Welcome to the Wadkin RB owners club :wink:

Cheers, Vann.

 

[guineafowl21]

Thanks!

Strange to think that the people who made and tested it were likely born in the 19th century.

It should be here Monday, so updates to follow...

 

[guineafowl21]

I’ve just found Wallace’s RB for sale. I had assumed that with all the time that goes into these things, the price would be out of my reach, but at the moment it’s surprisingly low. I will be extremely miffed if it goes for anywhere near what I paid for mine...

 

[Vann]

I’ve just found Wallace’s RB for sale...

...I will be extremely miffed if it goes for anywhere near what I paid for mine...

Everybody needs two surface planers... :wink:

Cheers, Vann.

 

[guineafowl21]

Don’t you start that! There’s already a spindle moulder in my shop that a certain Mr Trevanion is responsible for. By chance, I find it extremely useful, but still...

 

[Trevanion]

 

[guineafowl21]

Wood machine sirens, the lot of you.

 

[guineafowl21]

I am extremely miffed. I thought that machine would go for twice that amount.

 

[guineafowl21]

It’s finally here!

A quick look in the junction box reveals only three connections:

This means the motor is wired in permanent star. Since I want this to run on either three or single phase, I need to extract the star point to enable delta configuration. So it’s off with the motor front cover:

Someone obviously enjoyed greasing this one...

 

[guineafowl21]

Cleaned up the grease using WD40, then meths:

Having unpicked the thread holding the loom together, I found a likely candidate - three wires coming together from places about 120deg apart on the windings:

After separating them, the resistance between each wire and one of the original connections is about half of what I measured between the original connections. In other words, I was measuring two windings, now only one. We’ve found our star point!

 

[guineafowl21]

After a tidy up with heat shrink, and scraping off the insulation...:

... I was able to extend the wires out to the junction box. I used some excellent heat shrink crimp connectors with sealant added, then repaired the threading using butchers’ twine, and soaked in some varnish:

I added some extra terminals for the new winding ends, and configured in delta. Now I can buy an off-the-shelf VFD for it.

I could do with some advice on how to use/set it up, and where to get knives (there are none). Hopefully someone from the RB owners’ club can assist!

 

[Vann]

Nice work on the electricals. You're more proficient than I am.

...and where to get knives (there are none). Hopefully someone from the RB owners’ club can assist!

I looked long and hard for slotted knives. I even bought some for a 12" Wadkin, hoping to cut them down to length. But the position of the slots varies with different length knives - and in the case of the 12" knives is too close to the ends. The plan had been to either get a second slot cut, or to use just one slot.

In the end I found someone selling new 9" slotted knives on eBay. I bought two pairs. He sold at least one other pair, but I think that was all he had. That was in June 2018.

Of course you can retract the adjusters and use non-slotted knives that are easily available - but the slots are an important safety feature. My earlier RB is pre-slot and relies solely on clamping friction to keep the knives in place

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Trevanion]

I bought a 1936 Wadkin Catalogue recently and saw this in there and I thought you'd like to see it.

 

[Vann]

Interesting graphics.

The right-hand picture shows the second type of infeed table with a groove for the first style of fence - which is longer and lower. This fence is attached by a wedge that runs in a dovetail in the table (same as the ripping fence on a PK dimension saw).

Whereas the left-hand picture shows the second type of fence - which is shorter and higher, and has that distinctive slotted piece sticking up. This fence is attached via a round rod through the bracket bolted to the infeed table (third type) at the back.

Cheers, Vann.

 

[guineafowl21]

Yes, the machine on the right has a handle sticking up from the fence, and doesn’t appear to have a motor.

Re knives, what rough dimensions am I looking for? The cutterhead is about 9 1/4” wide. I can measure the pitch of the slots from the adjusters.

I might be able to slot some plain knives with a small cutting wheel, or failing that just clamp them in as you suggest. The cutter speed isn’t ridiculously high, and the clamping mechanism looks very robust.

I got it running last night, piggy-backed onto the VFD I already have for the Multico morticer.