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Thread: Wadkin MA
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29th June 2021, 04:44 PM #1SENIOR MEMBER
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Wadkin MA
I have wanted a Wadkin MF, ME or MA ever since falling in love with old vintage machinery. My issue previously was not having 3-phase. The new place I've just moved into fortunately does! I came across a Wadkin MA and on inspecting it I bought it. I had it delivered by a crane truck last Saturday as I was short on time & it weighed 700kg so for $150 it was worth it for me.
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One crucial part that is missing is the block that attaches the breaker for the chain mortising function (thanks Matty for the reference pictures). There is zero chance of finding one of these unless I can locate a scrap machine (I know of an MF but I doubt the guy will sell it for what I'd be willing to offer him). Having a chat on the FB Wadkin Group there is one guy who had the part made up for £120 and another guy who hasn't taken ownership of one he's bought which also has an aftermarket part - so not impossible to make which I'm glade about. Welding thick pieces of steel together will need a high amp welder. It'll also need shaping. I'll jump on the metal working forum to see if anyone is up for the task.
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The other components that are missing is the sprocket & sleeve for sharpening the chains & the grinding wheel.
20210627_132618.jpg 20210627_132737.jpg WadkinMA-Grinder01.jpeg WadkinChainSharpener01.jpeg
There looks to be options for sprockets - I just need to do more searching. This is what came up if I Google 'chain sharpening pilot sprocket'
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To date I've not found anyone who has the grinding wheels in stock. There is one place (http://www.workmate.com.au/) that has advised they could make it up, Matty on here sent me the particulars on the grinding wheel, per the last pic below. I'll keep trying to see what I can find.
PART_1624878593137.jpeg Wadkin-Ma-Mf-Morticer-Mortiser-Chain-Grinder-Wheel-_57.jpg Wadkin-Ma-Mf-Morticer-Mortiser-Chain-Grinder-Wheel-_57.jpg PART_1624797830893 (2).jpeg
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29th June 2021, 06:00 PM #2
Well done on getting the MA .
Unfortunately your first 8 photos aren't showing. It would be great if you could try again - before 24 hours are up and you can no longer edit. Looking forward to seeing ALL the pikkies.
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
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29th June 2021, 08:39 PM #3SENIOR MEMBER
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Thanks Vann, Odd - had to delete them and reload them. All good now
Going to soak the tooling in some Evapo-rust - hope to get some good results.
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29th June 2021, 10:11 PM #4SENIOR MEMBER
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I got a grinding wheel of ebay not so long ago
Wadkin Ma Mf Morticer Mortiser Chain Grinder Wheel | eBay
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30th June 2021, 06:39 AM #5GOLD MEMBER
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That part looks to be cast steel, then machined off and drilled and tapped. Relatively simple if you could borrow a part to mould off.
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30th June 2021, 09:16 AM #6SENIOR MEMBER
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Thanks Wallace - I've messaged the guy selling on eBay BUT it does say he doesn't ship internationally ... grr - lets see what he come back with.
Riverbuilder - I don't think casting will see me with much change from $300 - $400? It doesn't look like a complicated part as you say though. If it is cost effective I wonder if bronze could be used - that would look cool polished up!
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30th June 2021, 09:31 AM #7
Hi Chas,
Thats definitely a cast iron part.
It could be made from 3 pieces of steel bolted rather than welded together.
The largest back piece may or may not need the clearance milled into it.
Depending on what it seats on.
The top piece would need to be milled.
Glad hear you now have 3 phase.
Is this a permanent move or are you still looking?
HJimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)
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30th June 2021, 10:08 AM #8SENIOR MEMBER
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One other component I am missing is a set of sprockets that are fixed to the motor shaft which transmits the rotary movement to the chain. These seem to be available from India with prices ranging from $7 - $28.
50 HRC Mortising Chain Sprocket, Industrial Chain Sprocket, चेन स्प्रॉकेट - New Dashmesh Mech Engg Works, Yamuna Nagar | ID: 22935284373
MortiserSprocket02.jpg
Alloy Steel Mortising Chain Sprocket, Rs 1500 /piece New Dashmesh Mech Engg Works | ID: 22922404012
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I've come across very good info on all things chain mortising here: Mortise & Slotter Chains & Parts which I'll transpose in the next post for reference.
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30th June 2021, 10:09 AM #9SENIOR MEMBER
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Anatomy of a mortise chain
1. Chain pitches
The pitch is the distance between one pin in a link and the third successive one, as shown in the image below at right.
Standardised mortise or slotter chains are produced in the following three pitches:
- A pitch (22,6 mm or .89"). Used for routine carpentry work.
- B pitch (15,75 mm or .62"). Used for work requiring high levels of accuracy and precision.
- C pitch (13,7 mm or .54"). Used for extremely precise work.
Other variations are possible.
Choose "A" type chains for most applications of routine mortise work with North American timbers.
Choose "B" pitch chains for work of higher level of accuracy and precision. This chain is less aggressive and susceptible to breaking under duress.
Choose "C" type only for extremely precise work.
2. Guide bars
The guide bar is the part of the set on which the chain glides as it penetrates the wood.
Our guide bars are of a length that allows the mounting of chains with a standard number of links.
All guide bars come with an unique, patented bar end, which is supplied already assembled and tested.
We supply guide bars of all shapes and sizes for stationary and portable mortising machines, for special applications with 1, 2, 3 and 4 bearings, and to fit the major automatic processing centres (Hundegger, Essetre, etc.) which make use of guide bars that can make mortises 500 mm deep, or even 600 mm and more.
3. Sprockets
The sprocket is the third component part of the set. It is fixed to the motor shaft of the mortising machine and transmits the rotary movement to the chain. It is manufactured with specially formulated hardened steels.
Sprockets are available for each pitch of the chains:
- for A pitch with 4 and 5 teeth (mortises 1-1/2". 40 and 50 mm long);
- for B pitch with 6 teeth (mortises 30, 35 mm long);
- for C pitch with 6 teeth (mortises 20 and 25 mm long).
The inner diameter of the sprockets is typically 16 mm (5/8") on heavy-duty portable or stationary mortisers, but on (Mafell in particular) it is 14 mm.The teeth of the sprockets are arranged on one, two or three ring gear crowns, depending on the thickness of the chain with which they have to be combined.
To find out which sprocket has to be used with a specific chain, you have to know the dimensions of the mortise to be made and the inner link size of the chain. The figures show the differences between the sprockets generally used for the different chain pitches.
In Praise of Cutting Chain Technology
Unfortunately, few wood-cutting chain makers are left in the world, as industry deemed this technology obsolete. But how else do you cut mortises into timber frames or mortises for making windows and doors? Or mortises into fence posts? Or even holes into solidly frozen ice?
While routers are often used, the are noisy, and produce a lot of dust. That is why we are seeing a resurgence of cutting chain technology.
Properly sharpened mortise chains outproduce any router or milling function.
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30th June 2021, 10:26 AM #10SENIOR MEMBER
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Yes - here is a picture of a machine where they have had this part made up (not a great picture).
MortiserBlock.jpeg
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6th July 2021, 09:01 PM #11Intermediate Member
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- Dec 2020
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Congratulations on the find mate. The MA is such a good looking machine and I know its one you have wanted for a while.
I'll have to check mine and see if its got that attachment for the chain, I can't remember seeing it amongst all the bits and pieces I got with the machine. Did you get any tooling with it?
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6th July 2021, 10:14 PM #12SENIOR MEMBER
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Have bought a couple of things off Andrew Hill (Login • Instagram) over in the UK (thanks Wallace and Auscab for directing me to him).
Grinding wheel:
Screen Shot 2021-07-06 at 8.56.57 pm.jpg
Chain sharpener sleeve with sprocket (.89 pitch which is most popular).
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6th July 2021, 10:24 PM #13SENIOR MEMBER
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Thanks - yes got a fair amount of stuff with the machine, I'm about to clean it all up - lots of chains and breakers, I've been really keen to getting into make traditional benches with traditional joinery methods like mortice and tenon joins so the MA will do the job nicely especially the thicker chains when using thicker stock.
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7th July 2021, 08:52 AM #14
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7th July 2021, 09:50 AM #15SENIOR MEMBER
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Ha ha ... nope - I don't mind that colour scheme but when I get around to repainting the MA I'll highly likely not go with those colours