The Great PortoBrit Wadkin Restoration Project

[JohnerH]

Sooooo...

Anyone ever heard of that phrase when diving into something dive in head first?

What did I do you may ask,

I got not 1, not 2, but 4 pieces of Wadkin all of which I intend to strip and restore down to the last bolt and crank

All whilst redoing my garage and building an outhouse to house these beauties.

So this is the thread is where I will attempt to record the whole process... Advise, opinions, guidance, anything, I thank you in advance, now let us begin.

 

[imageel]

Ooh this will be interesting - I look forward to watching your posts!

 

[Yojevol]

What sort of projects will they be used for when  restaurated?
Brian

PS you should be able to edit the title

 

[JohnerH]

What sort of projects will they be used for when  restaurated?
Brian

PS you should be able to edit the title

Anything and everything? From furniture, to doors, to carpentry items to joists?

Quite frankly the lathe is for the Mrs to start making her bits

Thank you for the heads up.

 

[Spectric]

There is enough metal in those four machines for the asians to build a hundred sheet metal machines but I know which ones I would want and it will be interesting to see progress, you will find some good advice and info on these forums as some members like @deema restore such machinery.

 

[SammyQ]

Jeez. So....you are becoming a Wadkin monk for the next two years (at least?) during which, you will not go out, do any other job, and spend a considerable part of your non-mechanical.time chasing John Bradfast ( and, possibly, deema) for an ever - diminishing pile of Waddy spares? Blessings be upon you, my son.

Your wife may have to wait a little to get "her bits" rotated....

 

[Blister]

I think if it was me I would assess each machine one at a time and decide if it needs a full strip down and re build , Each one will be very time consuming

 

[JohnerH]

There is enough metal in those four machines for the asians to build a hundred sheet metal machines but I know which ones I would want and it will be interesting to see progress, you will find some good advice and info on these forums as some members like @deema restore such machinery.

That's just LOL

Jeez. So....you are becoming a Wadkin monk for the next two years (at least?) during which, you will not go out, do any other job, and spend a considerable part of your non-mechanical.time chasing John Bradfast ( and, possibly, deema) for an ever - diminishing pile of Waddy spares? Blessings be upon you, my son.

Your wife may have to wait a little to get "her bits" rotated....

Nooottt really... I'm thinking of family heirlooms and a 2nd career, I've always had a passion for old machinery that I could understand and given the almighty Wadkin temple I thought I'd join the train and try and restore and preserve these wonderful pieces of history.

As for parts, I'm a patient man, everything comes to those who wait and persevere

Worse case scenario, I'll find and buddy up with a machinist and push comes to shove I'll get those pesky ridiculous hard to find pieces made...

My wife will be helping with the restauration, her college engineering course from the 90's might come in... Between me and her we'll be rotating our bits in no time

I think if it was me I would assess each machine one at a time and decide if it needs a full strip down and re build , Each one will be very time consuming

Agreed, but a good close friend of mine (expert carpenter) if something goes, you'll be wondering if it's your shabby use or the machine was in a bad state. As I mentioned above the goal is preservation and I want to know these machine intimately... Yes, both myself and the wife are prepared for the time commitments... With kids gone and all the rest (and we don't have that puppy yet!) this seem like a worthy endeavour.

And thank you all... at least for taking the time to read and reply on here...

 

[JohnerH]

The journey has began...

1.1 - Wadkin RS Lathe ¦¦ Elephants Foot + Tool Rest