Thread: New (to me) odd Biax scrapers

I just received my (own) Christmas present in the mail today:
I bought two Biax scrapers in Germany in a 'package deal'.
This was the result of me getting outbid on an eBay ad over there and asking the seller if he had any more.... sometimes it is useful to know another language...

Both were of unknown condition and that was obviously reflected in the price.
One is a 180W 7E, but designed to run on 42V (AC or DC). I guess for some kind of specialised power environment (maybe on ships?). I only had a 36V 3A DC power supply to hand to try it, and it works fine - albeit a little slow, as expected.
7E small.jpg

The other one is an identical scraper head, but driven by a compressed air motor - deignated 'Model PL' ("Pressluft" = Compressed air).
It also works, but VERY SLOW. I'll pull it apart after Christmas and see what's going on. My guess is the vanes are chipped, going by the large air volume throughput. THe gearbox and the nutation mechanism is fine. I've already checked that out.
So a little 'project' that one.
PL small.jpg

If anyone has a spare mains transformer with 42 to 48V secondary output at 4 or 5A handy, let me know for the E7

I bid on #2 out of pure interest. Dropped out real low. Hard to justify when one has a BL40 and an HM10. It sure is interesting though running on air. I had read about scrapers in factories running on air back in the day.

Hi Joe,

Nice find.

I have some 32VAC 10A transformers, you're welcome to one.

Stuart

p.s. Maybe I should add. Add a bridge rectifier and some caps should get you above 42VDC right??

Nice pick up Joe,
I am still kicking myself over a BL10 that was on eBay in the UK, I had a bid in but not at my max as I was waiting to see if Gixen came back up. Yep woke up at 3:00am, missed out and went for less than I would have gone to as I hadn't put in my max.
Regards Bruce

Originally Posted by variant22

I bid on #2 out of pure interest. Dropped out real low. Hard to justify when one has a BL40 and an HM10. It sure is interesting though running on air. I had read about scrapers in factories running on air back in the day.

#2 went for more than the electric one he advertised WITH the transformer. Neither of the two I bought were advertised, as he didn't know if they worked or not. I haven't taken any photos of mine yet, as they look pretty well identical to the two he advertised.
I will do so when I have them sorted and repainted.

A little update:
after a lot of further research to understand the subtle differences of construction of the models, it turns out that my compressed air one is actually a Type IV, not a type 7. That makes very little actual difference, but it emboldenend me to pull it apart. I still haven;t been able to dismantle the turbine/motor, because it requires me to make some special tools. But I pulled everything else apart. Turns out that this one - and maybe all Type IV models - do NOT have a fibre gear. The first reduction gear is in fact steel and looks and feels hardened and tempered. It runs in little magneto bearings, rather than in bushes.
IMAG2894.jpg
Makes me think it will last forever. The grease in the gearbox was barely discoloured and there are no signs it has ever been apart. It does however look like it had a lot of work and is gone through a lot of hands - many lots of initials are engraved all over it....

The 7EL (42V) is working nicely. I've used it for a few hours on my 1925 Van Norman cylindrical grinder to try it out properly. Once I get the power supply sorted, it will even be better....

I'll update again when I sort out the compressed air one.

What is the year of manufacture Joe? The serial number should end with a 6x or 7x. I am certain that is the year of manufacture, simply being I am yet to see one of the older ones whose S/N does not end with a two digit number.

My 7EL is an early 70's, and the 8E is a late 70's. Am I correct that your type IV is a 63?

Yes, Richard, you are correct: the IV/PL serial No ends in 63.

Oddly, the serial No of my 7EL (42V) is a completely different pattern and doesn't end in a 2 digit sequence indicative of year of manufacture:
IMAG2898.jpg IMAG2902.jpg

I was looking for some biax literature on my PC and came across the instructions for the HM2 like Phil has. It came out i three voltages, 220, 110 and 42.

Would I be right in assuming that 42V in Europe was like the old 32V we had in Australia?

Originally Posted by .RC.

I was looking for some biax literature on my PC and came across the instructions for the HM2 like Phil has. It came out i three voltages, 220, 110 and 42.

Would I be right in assuming that 42V in Europe was like the old 32V we had in Australia?

Dunno but since you live in Antiquaria the backward state, I know a man with a pile of 32V gear he no longer wants & would like to flog. Drop me a line if interested.

PDW

I've never heard of 42V as a 'thing' while I grew up in Germany. We had 220V single phase and 380V 3-phase from god knows how long ago. Certainly since before WWI. All rural areas I've ever visited (we have relatives in very rural Germany) always had mains powere everywhere. Some of the installations I've seen in remote farm sheds there would also have been there since before WWI (lacquered braided cotton insulation etc.).
I suspect the 42V has something to do with specialist industrial environments (e.g. wet environments) or seafaring perhaps.

Interesting, that 42V DC buss is the new automotive standard, works well with 36V lithium apparently.

I've seen contactors with 42V DC coils, so I assume it's a standard somewhere?

Anyone want some parts?

Biax Power Scraper Parts | eBay

Originally Posted by .RC.

Anyone want some parts?

Biax Power Scraper Parts | eBay

Just sent the seller a message. I really only need one of the 7EL motor casings but I'd happily buy the lot & on-sell anything I didn't need.

Contrariwise, I'd buy a motor casing or complete motor if someone else gets the deal done. Not fussed either way.

PDW

Originally Posted by PDW

Just sent the seller a message. I really only need one of the 7EL motor casings but I'd happily buy the lot & on-sell anything I didn't need.

Contrariwise, I'd buy a motor casing or complete motor if someone else gets the deal done. Not fussed either way.

PDW

How that lot hasn't sold already is beyond me. I don't see it as any big deal to repair/replace those motors and there's a tidy profit waiting there for somebody.