Wadkin RZ

[hpl]

Hi,

Just found this site while trying to find out a little about my Wadkin RZ planer. I would like to know roughly how old it is but haven't come up with anything in my searching on the history of wood working machines. Could anyone point me in the right direction please?

Enjoying the site so far.

Johnny.

 

[Blister]

http://www.wadkinmachinery.co.uk/Wadkin ... laner.html

http://www.focusonics.com/woodworking/w ... anuals.asp

Hi

nice bit of kit :wink:

 

[DaveL]

Hi Johnny,

If you look here you can down load a manual for free from the Wadkin site. I have an old AGS and think its the best thing since sliced bread, some pictures and details of your beasty would be good.

 

[hpl]

Thanks for the replies. I have downloaded a copy of the manual, both for the RZ and also the RS lathe that I have, but I am looking for when and where the machines were made, that sort of thing.

As for pictures, I will try and remember to take my camera to the workshop on Monday although the RZ may be in pieces as the motor has just stopped working. I have a friend who used to be an electrician and he is coming to look at it Monday morning and test the motor for me.
I have mostly old machines as they seem to me to be much better made, and they are usually cheap!!

Johnny.

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi Johnny,

Wadkin are or were I should say, a Leicester based firm - Probably one of the best things ever to come from Leicester!!! :lol:

What is the Serial Number? A friend of mine told me they used to put the date into them, I think the last 2 numbers are the year?? Maybe someone could confirm this??

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Scrit]

The serial number doesn't necessarily indicate anything about the date. The Test Number gives you a date within about 3 to 4 years of the date of build, but not really much better than that.

Scrit

 

[hpl]

I have managed to upload my photo's to photobucket and so here goes to try to add them here. There are quite a few so for those who are interested I will try to link to photo bucket so you can see them all.

Here is the RZ as it now is.

I had a problem that I thought was the motor but an electrician friend came to help me out and it was only the fuse wire that is in the isolator - I'd never have thought of that one!!
I thought I would have to turn it on it's side to get at the motor so removed the tables. While they were off we gave it a good clean.

Here are my other old cast iron machines

My main machine is an RS Lathe. I spend about 50% of my time turning mostly spindle work but the pictures here are after turning a small batch of curtain rings to help a customer out who had a supply problem.

My third and last Wadkin machines is a CC crosscut. I made a hole in the wall to try to lose as little space as possible behind the beds. There is usually timber racking behind the beds but this has been removed at the moment, should go back in next week. I use this for all my general cutting, but have a Festool Kapex for anything that has to be very acurate.

I also have a Wilson Thicknesser. I went to look at a morticer and came back with this as well, the guy only wanted £100 for it. I know nothing about this apart from it is 24" wide, is pretty accurate and is so old that it has a square cutter block on it. Anyone knows more please let me know.

My last cast iron machine is a large Bandsaw. It is made by Dankerat (not sure on the spelling there) Again know nothing about it apart from that it has a 17' blade and it is so much easier to rip timber down than using a circular saw. I'm using an 1.5" blade from my nearest supplier but after reading on the forums it looks like I need to try some different makes of blade.

This is my collection I have built up over the last 6 years. I work full time with these so they are all in regular use. They are mostly in great condition as well. I also have other machines, a table saw being the most important but this is quite a bit little newer.

I can't get the link to work to the album so here are the pictures if you want to look.

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... G_0208.jpg

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... G_0205.jpg

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... G_0204.jpg

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... G_0201.jpg

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... G_0200.jpg

We stripped the beds right down removing them from where they slide, cleaning the height adjuster thread etc. Should help it to all run better.

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee33 ... G_0198.jpg

 

[Sawdust]

Crikey!

You don't bugger about do you! Some really lovely toys there - I am VERY VERY jealous.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Grinding One]

It seems you have an apprentice problem,a tip here do not let him go home till the work site is cleaned up....
Nice set of tools tho :wink: