ediphone shaver help

[kirtley2012]

i recently bought a ediphone shaver (rather nicely mounted in a edison opera case) but the only problem i am having is that i dont know how to properly operate the depth of the cutter, it seems to either be out or in when using the lever, is there a way to finely adjust the depth?
i also need a ediphone motor
can you help?
Alex

[edisonphonoworks]

I have this same shaver, see the large screw on the chip chute, you need to move the chute so that more of the chute covers the shaving knife to act as a stop, so it does not cut as deep, to set the depth of cut. Be careful the sapphire knife is razor sharp and can cut you, this is a voice of experience, having spent many hours at this same machine. Most importantly never have anything metal touch the knife blade, it will chip it and cause it not to function properly, there is also a tension screw too on the top to add more or less pressure. The little knob coming off at an angle on the knife assembly changes the knife angle, you want to use a magnafine glass and make sure the knife is perfectly flat on the blank, and not either corner gouging into the blank.. There should be simple instructions stamped on a tag by the on and off lever, follow these exactly. This is supposed to be an automatic shaver. When working, you push the knife blade gently down to the blank with the lever, and it automatically sets the depth of cut and pressure, you bring the shaving head over to the right of the blank, and turn the shaver on, the right side of the blank, and it shaves one pass from right to left, and you pick it up and bring it back to the right side and push the lever up for the second final cut, it makes another pass and the shaver knife automatically should pop off the blank, and if you need some more passes, repeat the above steps.. keep your shaver well oiled and cleaned, making blanks I have to clean and oil my shaver daily, when you get the motor for it, which I do not have any spares, there is oil cups that should be filled with electric motor oil, the races should be cleaned with brake cleaner, and the oil cups before you fill them with oil the first time, to get rid of the old gunk, and let is sit for awhile, do this outside, and avoid the fumes, that stuff is bad for you. keep your top work clean, and oil often. These are high speed and if not taken care of can wear out quickly.

[kirtley2012]

thanks! i had no idea this was a auto shaver, i tried doing it by taking one of the springs out of the top and that allowed me to adjust it manually but now i know better! very interesting, i will try and get it oiled and working!, this shaver acctually has the original belts and probably rarer the original bulb in working condition for under the shaver arm but the cable has been cut under the bed plate so is unusuable unless it is re-wired.
i also think that a mechanism under the switch has been removed so i cannot use that unfortunately
could you do a video showing yours working just so i dont get it wrong?
thanks
Alex

[edisonphonoworks]

I will be able to do that when I go to Chicago to the Gallery I record at (Century Guild) as that is where the shaver is., I have it there because it make mirror finish blanks. I should be going there before the Union show. I think Rich Goodin actually has the repair manual for these shavers, he is on Phono-l. Yes if it is like mine, it is supposed to have a L shaped, round silver switch handle, and the mech trips when it reaches the end of the blank, that little bar under the pull down knife handle.

[kirtley2012]

yes that mechanism has been removed from mine unfortunately, i will have to operate that part manually and install a new on/off switch elsewhere, since this would have to have the speed controled to stop wax cylinders exploding i will probably use a light dimmer switch, the switch mechanism was probably taken out at the same time as the motor
does anyone have a ediphone that are parting out and you can supply that part and a motor?
Alex

[edisonphonoworks]

Even though the light dimmer, has an on and off switch, you will need to put a regular on and off switch before the dimmer and the dimmer before the motor, so no power is going to the unit when you are not using it the older motors, tend to have a jolt at start up so turning on and off with that portion of the dimmer burns then out quickly but will be ok with another on and off switch.

[kirtley2012]

would a sewing machine motor be powerful enough to run this shaver?

[edisonphonoworks]

I think it would and the foot switch is the speed control, very good idea.

[kirtley2012]

well, the shavers found a home in my bedroom!, i just need to find a sewing machine to salvage a motor from!
Alex