My Wallace Mortiser Restore

[David Gandy]

I thought I would post a few photos of a JD Wallace mortise machine I purchased from Craigs List for a hundred bucks a couple of months ago:

This is a photo supplied by the previous owner in his garage. The machine was left outdoors at a lumber yard in northern Oklahoma for some time. The owner told me he had owned it for the last 20 years and had never started the motor.
http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac14/rodeking2/The%20Woodshop/WallaceMortiser.jpg

This is a photo of the machine in my truck when I got her home.
http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac14/rodeking2/100_0894.jpg

This is a photo of the disassembly.....boy was it rough
http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac14/rodeking2/100_0924.jpg

This is a photo after I worked long and hard to disassemble and put back into service. I had to do some motor work but most everything else was ok, just rusted tight. I spent several days with several cans of penetrating oil to free the machine.
http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac14/rodeking2/The%20Woodshop/100_1094.jpg

Another photo of the finished machine
http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac14/rodeking2/The%20Woodshop/100_1086.jpg

Thanks for looking

David G....who is now working on an Oliver Lathe that looked nearly as rough

[Jerome Hanby]

Looks great! have you tried it out yet?

[Derek Gilmer]

That looks incredible. Great job on the restore.

[Bruce Page]

Awesome job of restoration! That's the first Wallace that I have seen, it looks like a very nice design!

[Frank Guerin]

Beautiful restore. I hope you spend many more hours using it than the restoration.

[Jonathan Spool]

Oh my that's sweet. Give me a call before you put it back on Craigslist!

[Neil Brooks]

Absolutely STUNNING job !!!!

Nice glimpse of the H-D, too !

[Matt Day]

That is very cool, well done! I look forward to tackling a restore someday after seeing pictures like these (yes, I know it's a LOT of work).

[glenn bradley]

A thing of beauty. Well done.

[Salvatore Buscemi]

Man, for 300 bucks you could have gotten one of these and saved yourself some aggravation.
http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/ac100/fishman76_2010/5ec8b3b9.jpg

Anon

[David Gandy]

Man, for 300 bucks you could have gotten one of these and saved yourself some aggravation.
http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/ac100/fishman76_2010/5ec8b3b9.jpg

Anon

Dog gone it Sal......if I would have only known and just to think, I have all of the agravation to contend with once again when I start on my Craigs List 160 dollar Oliver 159A lathe. Just last week I went with a friend of mine to Harbor Freight and they had their lathes on sale for about the same price. Well, out of money so I guess I will just suck it up and put up with the old stuff and finish the Ollie.

David G.....green bear shooter

[Salvatore Buscemi]

Dog gone it Sal......if I would have only known and just to think, I have all of the agravation to contend with once again when I start on my Craigs List 160 dollar Oliver 159A lathe. Just last week I went with a friend of mine to Harbor Freight and they had their lathes on sale for about the same price. Well, out of money so I guess I will just suck it up and put up with the old stuff and finish the Ollie.

David G.....green bear shooter
Ha! Hopefully you know I'm kidding. I was reading your post over on OWWM, and I figured I'd have some fun. I think you'll like the Oliver. I love mine! (thread hijack over)
Sal
http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/ac100/fishman76_2010/8652ea3b.jpg

[David Gandy]

I loved your post, everyone over at the owwm is taking it far too serious, I really thought that they would come up with some good funny responses, instead, they are takin up for the ones that eshew the old American stuff. Me, nothing but American and I can't afford new ones.

[Gary Herrmann]

You do great work, David. Don't suppose ya want to post a video link of her in action, do ya?

[Bruce Page]

You do great work, David. Don't suppose ya want to post a video link of her in action, do ya?

I would love to see that!

[Darin Kauffman]

Bravo! I'm waiting for a GWI DeWalt RAS, that I bought, so I can tear it down and restore it. It should be a blast....

[Don Morris]

When I saw the restore I said "Wow". Need I say more. Thanks for sharing.

[Kurt Cady]

How have we made it to page two and nobody has wanted to see that yellow thing poking out from the left side in one of the photos?!?

[keith micinski]

I can't imagine why anyone would want to use anything else after seeing that. It's a good thing projects like that don't pop up only local Craigslist otherwise I would have to quit my job to become a full time restorer. great job.

[Bill Huber]

That is a neat trick, go out and take some pictures of some old junk and then go buy a new one and take pictures of it and tell everyone you rebuilt it.:D:D

Oh, that's right, you couldn't buy a new one.

That is an outstanding job and it does look like brand new.

[Neil Brooks]

How have we made it to page two and nobody has wanted to see that yellow thing poking out from the left side in one of the photos?!?

I hinted at it.

He didn't bite.

[Bill Huber]

I hinted at it.

He didn't bite.

I think that is a Dewalt planner.....:D:D

[David Gandy]

How have we made it to page two and nobody has wanted to see that yellow thing poking out from the left side in one of the photos?!?

K, here it is. I am Harley poor. I did attempt to drill a square hole yesterday, however, the bit I have is the one that came with the machine and just spun and smoked. I sharpened the chisel but I think the bit is toast. Off to Forest City for a new one and then I will post a video if you like. Here is the photo you asked for:

Wow, look at the sawdust on her: You did want to see the DeWalt? Right?

http://i881.photobucket.com/albums/ac14/rodeking2/The%20Woodshop/100_1096.jpg

David G...who cannot go unnoticed on a yellow scooter

[Jon Grider]

Beautiful...almost too pretty to use.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Great job David! Looks as good as a new one would.

[tom blankenship]

So, how do you keep sawdust off the Harleys?

Beautiful restoration on the mortiser!

tom

[michael case]

Can you restore one for me? Nice!