Fox Universal Trimmer

Screwdriver · Sep 29, 2015

I must admit, I bought this because it's a lovely flat surface and would make an awesome welding table.

But it seems a shame to chop it up when I could easily refurbish it and get it back to new. Thing is, I really don't need one! So I guess it would be restored for sale.

In which case, what sort of budget should I be looking at? How much time and effort to spend will depend on its potential resale value and I am struggling to find one for sale in the UK.

Here's a few more pics.

It's all there except for one broken part which I can repair.

Then it's just a case of trying to strip it apart and get those seized threads removed without destroying it.

Blades are present and look sharp but I have to wonder how well they will clean up.

Probably have to have them reground etc.

Interested to hear any opinions on the matter. it would make a brilliant welding fab table, even has some super accurate 90 degree and parallel surfaces...

Screwd.

jakemac · Sep 29, 2015

I can't tell you anything about the resale value, but your best bet for a good sale would be with a custom frame shop or a contractor that specializes in moulding work.

mbatarga · Sep 29, 2015

It would be a shame to turn that into a welding table. I'd restore it and sell it - likely to a framing shop. Probably too heavy for a trim carpenter to haul around.

HeelSpur · Sep 29, 2015

Sweet find, making into a welding table would be sin

Screwdriver · Oct 8, 2015

It has lived most of its life outside and the moving parts are seized solid. One of the locking handles had been snapped off and I finally persuaded the seller to post the missing bit just last week.

Super simple mechanism, everything is solid cast iron or hand made bolts (!)

You can see why it would make a great marking out or welding table.

I think you stick a rough cut mitre into the blades and shave the ends to perfection with a pull on the lever.

Getting it apart was a matter of patience, a bit of heat and gentle persuasion with a lead mallet. This sliding part was jammed solid into the rail.

But it finally came out and the cast iron still looks perfect.

Getting the legs off was easy enough but I am left with a problem.

That bolt in the middle of the V is stuck solid.

It's the other end of the locking handle and I assume it should just go through a hole without any unseen fixing. Put a load of heat into it, tapped it gently with a hammer etc but I've just had to leave it overnight soaking in oil. If I can get it out, I stand to make a fair few quid off of this. If not, it will be a nice table!

Screwd.

Screwdriver · Oct 13, 2015

More pics from the disassembly...

I've been playing with electrolysis for the cleaning. It takes off the rust beautifully but also strips paint.

Parts come out lovely.

Not just clean but it also keeps the original underlying patina.

So I'm going big!

These parts stripped, cleaned and degreased ready for the dip.

Only drawing 4 amps because I am reusing my old dip but I'm hoping that will be plenty.

We'll see tomorrow. Seems to be bubbling up ok. I used this tank for my wood stove but mistakenly allowed the anode wires to touch the water. They dissolved and the connection was interrupted. Stove still came out ok (after a bit of paint)

Before:

After: Here I am just firing the paint (Halfords Barbecue).

Screwd.

Screwdriver · Oct 14, 2015

Here's what it looks like this morning.

Paint falls off and the black stuff wipes off.

Cleans up nice too.

But it will rust in front of your eyes! You have to dry it as quickly as possible though the new rust is just a dusty cover you can wipe off with your hands.

I am using an old crude battery charger. For smaller tanks I get up to 8 amps before I start thinking about turning it down, for this big tank I am getting about 4 amps which a bit low. I may rethink my anode solution. Big flat plates are much better than the bent rods I am using but I have about a hundred four metre lengths of the stuff so I need to get rid of it somehow.

S.

Screwdriver · Oct 14, 2015

I am expecting a spectacular result for the table, which is the main event so today I built a tank for it.

Little bit concerned about using a galvanised screen for the anode but we'll see what happens!

It was just a nice easy build using that large flat screen.

...and it's certainly pulling amps!

The charger overheats, switches off, then switches itself on again. I'm happy with that.

These bits were only in the tank for a few hours.

More than happy with the results.

Looks like some of the paint had been applied over caked on grease and where that happened, the paint stayed put. The rest just fell off in the tank.

My other worry is that the large current draw is affected by the wooden supports which touch the water. Won't do any harm other than wasting electricity and probably heating the water. I may have overdone it with the secret sauce too.

Can't wait to see what the table looks like tomorrow.

S.

Screwdriver · Oct 15, 2015

Pulled it out of the green soup and it looks ok, I won't be using a galvanised anode again. Clearly it hasn't taken off all the rust but I am going to address the issues with anode and wood* then dip it again.

Just those few hours did pull off quite a lot of the rubbish though.

...and I can begin to see some of the etchings. This thing has survived virtually intact for 125 years!

Let's see if it can last a little bit longer.

S.

*I think the wood being in the dip is what is drawing the large current.

Screwdriver · Oct 15, 2015

I'm new here so hope you don't mind me asking; is this of any interest?

Feels like I'm talking to myself.

S.

Stuart in MN · Oct 15, 2015

Yes, very interesting.

Keep posting. You're getting good results with the electrolysis.

wbrian63 · Oct 15, 2015

Saving a quality machine like this is always of interest. Subscribing to this thread so I can watch you work.

gungatim · Oct 15, 2015

Screwdriver said:
I'm new here so hope you don't mind me asking; is this of any interest?

Feels like I'm talking to myself.

S.

yes it is very cool. I love ol' 'arn...

That is too big I think for picture framing, was probably for doing house trim.

you can still get them I believe there is a company making them new for woodworking.

404 · Oct 15, 2015

Wow great posts and pictures. :bowdown:

We colonials have been sleeping while you were posting.

That machine is amazing. Glad you are saving it. The stuck bolt may come out if you electrocute that assembly in your tank.

What did you use for your sauce?

Wow again and well done!

1949 caddyman · Oct 15, 2015

We are here.

notlob · Oct 15, 2015

Lovin' the trimmer...

Screwdriver · Oct 15, 2015

LOL. Cool, thanks for the replies!

I ripped out the galvanised grid and made up a new anode:

I put a couple more anode plates above the bottom of the table iyswim. Line of sight apparently works best :dunno:

It was drawing 10-12 amps at 12v (low!) so I stuck it on 6v for a more sensible current flow. 6v high charge is most likely 8v on this charger.

It's still sitting there happily bubbling away so I am going to leave it overnight. Nice to find there are still some etched markings on the surface, I can only hope there's more.

Screwd.

51cub · Oct 16, 2015

To be honest, I was so busy reading, with my mouth open, I didn't notice that nobody was answering you. As much as I like welding, it does me good to see a beautiful molding trimmer like that come back to life. I can remember when my father bought one so many years ago. Keep the pictures coming

gol4 · Oct 16, 2015

Keep the posts coming until we at least see you trim a miter with it.

Great job!

sha · Oct 16, 2015

Very cool Hope to see more progress :thumbup:

atthebeach · Oct 17, 2015

They do still make these trimmers, see link below. However, yours has wonderful old styling - nice find!

http://www.rockler.com/miter-trimmer

Screwdriver · Oct 18, 2015

I was a bit busy Friday/Saturday so this stayed in the tank almost two days.

This surface was up, away from the anode plate at the bottom.

This side was down, next to the large anode plate.

It seems the "line of sight" theory has some truth to it because the bottom washed clean off with a hose down.

This side needed more work. You can see quite a bit of paint still firmly attached but underneath is a thick black coating, probably the original protection (i.e. 125 years old!)

But it soon cleaned off with a wire brush.

As for the paint, well I had some strange brush cleaner from Aldi so I figure if it cleans brushes, it will soften paint :dunno:

...and it worked a treat. Glad I bought a couple of cans.

The front leg and top slide channel are the last pieces, now sitting in the tank. I'll start reassembly in the next couple of days. Once I finally decide how to paint it!

S.

octane_matty · Oct 18, 2015

Awesome work cleaning off the rust!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Screwdriver · Oct 19, 2015

...and again this mornings find.

This part of the leg was right next to the large anode plate.

And this side was pointing away from it.

Fox Universal Trimmer

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