Euro Butterfly underpinner

[Nearlygotitright]

I've just bought a one owner Euro butterfly underpinner. It actually came with 2 boxes of wedges dated 1997. Unfortunately it did not come with any operating/maintenance instructions. I'm managing to join things quite happily except for a tendency for the round pressure pad to crush mouldings, presumably because I've not got the initial clearance correct. Is there a way of determining what the clearance should be? Therer is a tapered pin that i've deduced is for fitting in the holes on the moulding guide, presumably to set a production stop. It also comes with a spare, (new) gismo that seems to be the guide that the wedges run against on their way into the moulding.

I've just got this so the first operation is a good clean up and lubrication because it obviously has not been used for some time. If someone has a book of words that they could copy for me that would be great, (happy to pay costs etc). If not are there kind people with experience of this machine who would jot down some general guidance on use and housekeeping?

[prospero]

I'm still using my 8000 series model that I bought about 1983. This is the basic floor-standing model, but the business end is the same as the butterfly. Just the pedal linkages are different.
I've used it virtually daily since I got it, but still does good joins. The only thing I have replaced is the main return spring at the back and the hammer spring. It does have a few foibles, but over the years we have reached an understanding.

The original pressure pad, as you correctly observe, is next to useless. I use a triangle of 1/2" timber faced with a chunk of 1/8" cork tile to spread the load on corners. It makes things bit fiddly as you have to position it manually, but it means you can place it in the right place on big mouldings to get the pressure on the right section of the moulding. This would be more slightly more fiddly on the butterfly as you have to reach around.
On smaller mouldings a bit of cork (neoprene is better) tacked to the pressure pad will help a lot. Make it a bit bigger than the pad to cushion the corners. The only thing with cork is that it gets gunged up with hard bits of dried glue if you tend to be a bit generous with it.

I might have the original instructions somewhere if I look hard enough. But the mechanism is quite simple once you get to grips with it.

btw. The Cassesse 'Universal' wedges work great with it.

[Nearlygotitright]

Hello Prospero

Thank you for your reply. It's good to know that these things are durable. If you do have instructions I'd be very happy to get a copy. I've spent the afternoon cleaning and getting to know mine. Whilst doing this I have stumbled across a fix for the useless pressure pad. I bought the Euro to replace a Charnwood M1, and I have found that the threaded bar on that is the same size and thread as the Euro. The Charnwood comes with interchangeable right angle and round pressure pads with a 12mm neoprene buffer on them. They work like a dream on the Euro. I've just ordered the 3 parts from Charnwood for £17.65 inc. vat and delivery. The Charnwood also has a feature that I'm looking at to see whether it is feasible to retro fit it to the Euro. Instead of having to screw the pressure pad up and down it has a quick release lever that allows you to just slide the rod up and down which is obviously quicker and easier, but that's another day's task.

[The Jolly Good Framer #1]

I use the PTU wedges made by Alfamacchine in my Euro underpinner.... better than any other wedges... even the orginal Euro ones.
Lion sell them - 10mm and 7mm.

I still use the original round pressure pad but I stick squares of Fast Mount to the under side. I can then easily replace it when it gets dried up glue on it.

[Nearlygotitright]

Thank you - that's 2 recommendations for wedges when my euros run out.