Photo Index - Central Machinery Co. - 284

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Central Machinery Co.
Lexington, NC

True Manufacturer:
Wysong & Miles Co., Greensboro, NC

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Mortising Machine
Machine Size:	1" Chisel Capacity
Submitted By:	Matt Tebo

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	284
Date of Manufacturer:	1997
Serial Number:	M2-531-97
Last Updated	11/30/2014 10:21:18 AM

Comments:

I acquired this mortiser from the Quantico Marine Corps base in Quantico, VA. It was on the govliquidation site, and this was the first machine I bought off that site. Like all their items, it seems as though some outside storage of all for sale items is mandatory. This machine was kept outside under a tarp for about a month. The rust is very light, and I started cleaning it off already. The pics of the rust look much worse than it really is. Pickup at the base was very easy and loadout went great. I wouldn't hesitate to buy something from them again.

This machine is a Wysong and Miles 284 mortiser, and was completely rebuilt by Central Machinery in 1997. Don Hege at Central Machinery said that the government had this machine rebuilt, and when they rebuild them, the machine is returned to exact factory standards, to the cost of $17,000. I am betting it has been used very little, and it is really in great shape. I ended up getting 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8" and 3/4" chisels and bits with it, and one bushing. Some of those are brand new, others are not, and some just need to be replaced.

In case anyone is wondering how to move a mortiser: I called Central Machinery and they recommended building the base you see in pic 1. It is just 4x6's, 4' long. I used 1/2" x 8" carriage bolts to secure the 4x6's to the machine, and 1/2" x 6" lag bolts to secure the other 2 4x6's together. This creates a very stable 4' square base for the otherwise smallish base to the machine. On the back side of the machine, there is a small removable panel, that allowed me to use a hook attached to a forklift to lift the machine onto the 4x6 base. This is the best way to lift these machines according to Central Machinery. You need a pretty large hook, because the cast iron is about 3/4" thick on these. I had a 5 ton hook available and it worked great. They said the thing that happens to these machines most often to damage them is people try to move them with forks directly on the bottom of the machine, creating steel on cast iron, and that is a slippery situation, and the machine tips off the forks, crashing to the floor. I highly recommend building a base like this to move the machine with. It trailered excellent for almost 500 miles.

The machine was wired for 480v. In order to switch the leads on the oscillating motor, you need to remove the motor from the base. Four bolts, and it slides right out for easy access to work on it. The motor overloads for both motors were sized for the 480v hookup, so I got new overloads for the motors and had to buy new fuses for the control transformer, and line side protection for each overload fuseblock.

With a little cleanup and greasing, this machine is practically new.

Photo 1:

Comments: On the Trailer on the way home
Source: me

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Photo 2:

Comments: Front of machine, need to reorganize my shop!
Source: me

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Photo 3:

Comments: This is the small access panel where I hooked the machine to pick it up. Should have taken pics of that.
Source: me

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Photo 4:

Comments: Electrical Panel
Source: me

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Photo 5:

Comments: With a few swipes of a razor blade, the rust was coming right off
Source: me

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Photo 6:

Comments: All cleaned up. Works just like New.
Source: me

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