Photo Index - Alexander Dodds Co. - 15 Spindle Automatic

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Alexander Dodds Co.
Grand Rapids, MI

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Other
Machine Size:	15 Spindle
Submitted By:	Chuck Hess

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	15 Spindle Automatic
Date of Manufacturer:	1964
Serial Number:	# C1467
Last Updated	9/13/2008 10:37:51 AM

Comments:

Dodds 15 Spindle Automatic Dovetailer. Serial # C1467, 1964. 9/7/08.

Hey,
This little jewel was an IRS auction purchase that we picked up in Vincennes, IN on our way to Arnfest ’07. Now that it’s almost time for Arnfest ’08, I just got around to setting this up and using it for the first time. The machine was in good shape but had some electrical issues that took me 4 days of work to finally get it to cycle. I could have easily hand chopped the dovetails in way less time than that, but “setup” is not about the first time. All the 120 Volt control voltage circuits only had a hot wire and the neutral was the frame of the machine. My electrical mentor encouraged me to run a neutral to all the solenoids and relays and bond the ground only to the machine frame. In the mean time it forced me to make a schematic just so I could converse about it with my lectrcian guru. I had never done a drawing like that before and am so proud of it that I have included a scan of that in the last picture. Not too bad for a woodworker, yea? Another big learning experience.
I have heard over and over that the oil mist spindle lubrication system is very important on these and that is the first thing I made sure was working properly. I also added a set of coke machine castors, as a mobile base wouldn’t work very well with the way the side doors open on these.
Anyway after all the delayed gratification it was very exciting the first time it finally cycled. I was not going to take no for an answer because I had already milled the parts for 24 drawers so I had a lot of time and material invested in that already. But then……I still had to figure out how to setup the darned thing. It really wasn’t too bad, even though the Dodds manual is pretty lame, with a little help from my machinery mentor I was making chips fly pretty quickly. I was chomping at the bit (dovetail bit…ha ha) and didn’t have time to think about dust collection; that will be a future project. The cams I got with the machine are for 5/8” thickness drawers, which I have been told is standard and luckily also my personal favorite. So the 24 drawers came out well and I am very happy with the results. I learned a lot and made some notes for adjustments for the next round of drawers.
I have put some finished drawer shots up on this thread;
http://www.owwm.org/viewtopic.php?t=44142
if you care to see the finished product.
See yall later.

Photo 1:

Comments: Left Quarter
Source: My Nikon

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Photo 2:

Comments: Behind left door
Source: My Nikon

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Photo 3:

Comments: Behind Right Door
Source: My Nikon

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Photo 4:

Comments: Front Side
Source: My Nikon

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Photo 5:

Comments: Backside
Source: My Nikon

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Photo 6:

Comments: Parts
Source: My Nikon

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