help needed with a Wadkin 12" BRT Wadkin saw

[markanderson]

Hi Chaps

I'm new to your forum. I live in Johannesburg, South Africa.
I recently picked up an outstanding Wadkin Bursgreen 12"BRT saw from a good friend of mine, who happens to be my personal GP. He bought the machine about 15 years back from a bloke who was a lawyer. I wonder if the machine has even seen 300 hours of work?

my question is (and maybe "Misterfish" -who also has a Wadkin BRT- can assist here.? the sliding table is a "different" idea..... not sure how well it was accepted out in the market.
Mine has a lot of "play". ie, its not smooth and fluid like the saw fence is.

are any of your BRT's the same? Any suggestions to improve the fit on the slide rail?

btw. Mine is a 3phase, 3 Horsepower unit. All parts including the motor are original. The saw has stood idle for the past 5 years. Just replaced the 3 V-Belts today..... the vibration is now a thing of the past .

Mark Anderson
Johannesburg
South Africa

 

[misterfish]

Hi Mark

You called? When I first got my saw I did have the sliding table set up but found it took up too much space in the workshop and removed it and replaced it with a homemade fixed lefthand extension table.

I think that my saw has only had very little use - it was originally bought and installed in a school woodworking department and then sold when the woodworking department was closed.

The sliding table seems to be fairly basic, sliding along the substatntial metal bar which needs to be kept lubricated (I used PTFE spray). I don't think there was any substantial play in the system and was quite impressed with the fact that the length adjuster extends to nearly 3 metres.

I suppose that if you have a lot of play in the bits where the table slides the best solution would be to get the 'bushes' in the sliding table re-engineerd to be a tighter fit on the bar - I guess you'd need to take the table and bar to an engineering workshop to get it done accurately.

When I bought my saw there was no mention of the sliding table, it was only when I went to buy and collect it that the sliding table was mentioned.

I'll have a look at the sliding table bits I've removed when I next go over to the workshop and see if I have any further thoughts.

The biggest failing/disappointment of the sliding table to me was that there was no angle adjustment, it would only cut at 90 degrees to the blade.

Misterfish

 

[houtslager]

photos - or it never happened or even exists

k

ps; you jammy begger

K

 

[markanderson]

Thanks Misterfish.

I'm thinking to wrap my wadkin in a portable or moveable table. Thus, eliminating the need for the sliding table totally.
I will post some pics of the saw and solution soon.

 

[merlin]

Hello Mark and Misterfish,

I have been using my 12" BRT now for a year (with help from Misterfish) and it has been great, the sliding table has been used to help with panels and plywood and has been good.

There is a bit of movement in the slide but plenty good enough for the ripping that I do, when I got mine it did not have the end fence so I made one out of 1x1 ally.

It only had one raill so it could not cut very big panels so I found some on ebay and rigged up an end support, this all un bolts and is stored in the corner, the table then folds flat out of the way

Cheers, Merlin
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