Wadkin wistfulness

[Bill Houghton]

Wadkin machines are uncommon in the U.S., and I always read y'all's posts about various Wadkin gems with a certain wistfulness. I had the chance one, but failed to follow through, to look at a Wadkin table saw; but my shop is so small that it likely wouldn't have fit anyway.

My only-if-I-stumble-over-it quest list includes what I think is the prettiest Wadkin bandsaw, the MZF (plus it might fit in my shop):
Wadkin MZF bandsaw.jpg
At any rate, keep the posts coming, so I can enjoy Wadkin gems vicariously.

[Charlie_6ft]

I love this saw - Login • Instagram it's by far my most favourite saw I have seen!

I have a Wadkin DN (https://www.woodworkforums.com/f299/...ight=wadkin+dn) that is in storage at the moment which I really need to pull out and finish!

[Bill Houghton]

That one's not bad, either, although I doubt it would fit in my shoplet (11x11 feet). Those are called "ship's saws" in the U.S., because one of their major uses was in the sawing of planking for wooden ships, where the bevel on a plank might change continuously over its length and, even if it was constant, the plank was so large that trying to keep it balanced on a tilting table would be...taxing. Presumably, for the first application, someone would be assigned to twist the tilt handle as needed while someone else ran the plank through and apprentices served as infeed and outfeed tables.

[clear out]

Not really Wadkin although the last made were probably badged Wadkin Bursgreen.
Ive seen Jacks in Ontario when we drove across from Alberta.

If your into Wadkin you should see if the ‘Great Canadian Rust Junky Fest’ is on this year.
Jack Fosberg holds it at his workshop in Richmond Ontario just out of Ottawa.
H.