wadkin pillar drill

[wallace]

Hi all, I have the chance of getting a big old freestanding pillar drill by wadkin. The plunge is operated via a foot pedal lever mechanism. Do you think this would be better or a worse than a normal hand operated one. I like the thought of haveing the big lump of cast in my workshop. All I have at present is a benchtop clarke jobby which is a bit puny.

 

[tekno.mage]

Foot operated pillar drill sounds like a good idea to me - leaves both hands free for a start (although you will of course have clamped the work in any case before drilling?) Might take some getting used to if you normally use the hand-operated variety.

 

[9fingers]

I think JonnyD has one of these drills. I've ripped one of his photos below
If you have the space, then it sounds like a useful acquisition as well as feeding your Cast Iron habit!!
Make sure the motor is good as I believe these are direct drive and integrated into the design and not readily replaceable by any old motor.

They are also fixed speed so unless you are going to run on an inverter, large diameter cutters will have to be TCT.

Good Luck

Bob

 

[wallace]

I think I may as well get it, if notheing else it will be fun to restore.

 

[Guggs]

If its got Wadkin on it then buy it ! Solid reliable and no plastic to break ,top machine ! Look no hands !

 

[JonnyD]

Its a great drill with the footpedal being very usefull as you can have 2 hands on the part being drilled. Slight downside as Bob mentioned is the single speed mine runs at 2800 rpm i think as its single phase but im pretty sure the 3 phase ones can run at 1400 or 2800 rpm. In reality its not much of a problem as long as you run tct bits for larger diameters. I bought mine cheap £60 from the bay but found out it needed rewinding which added another £180 to the price. So it came in at under £250 for a fully reconditioned drill it was still a bargain. Nothing much else on it can go wrong due to the cast iron and wadkin engineering.

cheers

jon

 

[wallace]

I picked up the drill last night, quite an ordeal with just 2 of us. I have noticed it has an isolator box and from this comes the 3 phase feed to the motor and another feed to a work lamp which says 240v, does this mean there is some kind of converter inside?

 

[9fingers]

Nice solid machine!
No converter needed. The lamp should be wired between any one phase and neutral.
Is it a two speed motor?
Bob

 

[wallace]

No its just one speed 2800 rpm.2.5hp Bob, I have a chance of a transwave static converter of 5.5kw for a reasonable sum. £230 I would prefer a rotary converter but they seem a bit more expensive. I dont need one this big but I thought you never know the way I seem to be accumulating old iron. One question, the converter is rated at 5.5kw does this mean it will draw said wattage when used or is it proportionate to motor being used at the time. Also is it pheasable to plug differant machinery in when required or does the converter need setting up/configuring to be used.
ta very much
Mark

 

[9fingers]

Most transwaves I've seen have a switch to set the nominal power for the load so it is just a case of remembering to switch it to the right setting according to which machine you are running at the time. You will find starting performance to be poor if it set too low and the motor will make a grumbling noise if it is too high.

You won't need a rotary converter for the drill but if you have another machine in the future that does not want to start properly (especially multspeed motors) then just connect the drill up as well, switch it on first and you have a home made rotary converter. Set the converter to the next setting up from the reluctant load rating.
The converter will only draw the power needed for the load plus a little bit.

If you also look out for a voltage step-up inverter (240 single in - 440 v 3 phase out), you will have the makings of a superb variable speed drill.

Bob

 

[wallace]

Thanks Bob, I do have one of these kicking about ( ABB ACS150 1.5kW (2HP) Frequency Inverter Drive) would that be any use.

 

[9fingers]

Most inverters do not step up the voltage. They come in two different types, 240 in three phase 240 v out OR 440 three phase in - 440 v three phase out.


There are a few on the market now that step up from 240 volt to 400 as well as producing 3 phases. I think that you will need 400v three phase for your wadkin as it is unlikely to have a dual voltage (star delta) motor. Reference to my motor paper will explain how to check this.

According to the ACS150 manual I have here dated 12/9/2007, they don't offer a voltage converting inverter in the range. Also the power rating of yours will be too low for the Wadkin which by your own admission, is 2.5HP.

hth

Bob