Wadkin Radial Arm Saw 14BRA675825

[jasonb]

I'm asking this for someone I directed here but they seem to be having problems registering, probably one scrit knows off the top of his head

"Please can someone tell me the depth of cut for the BRA. I have just bought one and I am awaiting delivery. I understand that this is a 14" blade. I am aware some of the BRA's were a 16" blade. Do you know if these blades are interchangeable? I want a cut of 130mm and I know the 16" will do it but not the 14".

Any help, can the 16" blade go on the 14BRA or is it a different machine altogether? "

The person is intending to use it to crosscut oak sleepers.

Thanks, Jason

[jasonb]

I've just done a quick google and DOC is 108mm, and I have said its unlikely a 16" blade will fit, unless you know otherwise.

J

[Scrit]

Hi Jason

According to Wadkin's own literature the 14in BRA has a depth of cut of 4-1/2in (110mm), whilst the 16in one has a depth of cut of 5-1/2in (140mm). If your friend's BRA is a standard length arm then it will have a crosscut capacity of 14 x 4-1/2in (350 x 110mm) - the standard 16in machine was 12-1/2 x 5-1/2in (320 x 140mm). Note that Wadkin offered longer arms with an extra 5in (127mm) or 8in (200mm) of crosscut respectively. Special order BRAs sometimes come up with up to 24in of crosscut, although those ones normally have a 12in blade fitted.

As to the blades being interchangeable, they are, sort of, but only if you happen to have the appropriate guard! A 12in guard will not accommodate a 14in blade, a 14in guard is too small for a 16in blade. The only commonality is that the arbors on mk.1 BRAs were all 1in diameter. the other difference is power - many 14in BRAs came with a 3HP motor (5HP optiional) whilst the 16in machines were supplied with a 5HP motor

Personally I'd have thought that one of the heavier duty crosscut saws, such as a Wadkin CC or CD, Robinson EX/E, etc. often seen in older timber yards might have been a better option



because they run 16in blades (therefore 5-1/2in depth of cut) as standard and come with 5 or often 7.5HP motors. They are also a lot more robust than radial arm saws and thus make better machines for heavy cutting and trenching. There was even a portable version:



On thing which does concern me is the number times people enquire about sticking larger blades onto machines which are not designed for them, having neither the power nor the requisite guarding. A 3HP 14in BRA will run a 14in blade and cut to 4-1/2in depth, to get a 16in blade onto the machine even Wadkin reckoned that 5HP was needed

Scrit

[jasonb]

Thanks for that Scrit, not a friend but someone on SF. He's asked in the passed about ways to cut the sleepers.

Jason

[Scrit]

The old railway workshops used to favour pendulum saws, although to be frank the old style machines with minimal guarding scare the cr*p out of me!

Scrit

[jasonb]

I did suggest a pendulum saw when he was asking a few months back, think the price of the one I linked to from Scott & Sargeant put him off ,that and the Stromab CT800 Cutting center Nice video of it in action

Jason