small bandsaw mill

[mikeb1079]

Mike the frame is 1/8 in rectbuler tubeing 2 x 4 in 20 ft.
16 in tires on 8 in wheels on trailer hubs and spindles
frame , carriage and bunks are 24 in and the blade will cut a 18 in board and raise 22 in. 1/16 in. per click.
total weight is about 450 lb.
This little saw is solid doesn't shake or flex, it's a little 1 man pecker pole mill but will cut anything under 24 in, especially with a 13 hp. engine.
Gene

ok thanks gene! i'm looking forward to trying to build this. gonna be fun
i'll pm you my email if you get the chance send me your drawings. thanks again

 

[gene1605]

address

Tony I need A email address
Gene

 

[poleframer]

Hi Grampa (Gene). I like your setup, been running a chainsaw mill, but have a dandy 10hp air cooled yanmar one banger diesel that would power a band mill of your design well I think. Couple questions. What size tires, and what is the center to center measurement? I have a 30" parks bandsaw in my shop that takes 1-1/2" x 16' long bands, it would be handy to use the same bands on both machines.
Also, I see (I think) that you run the power belt off the engine wrapped around the tire, instead of a separate pulley. If that is so, I wonder if a flat, serpentine belt would work better.
Sure appreciate the pics, I do better looking at picture details than drawn plans, as I can build in my head better than from a print, if I know what I'm aiming at. Maybe you could post some of the belt drive.
Thanks again, Russell

 

[willbarryrec]

Rep sent to you Gene!

Thanks.

 

[gene1605]

some more pics, hopefully better

Here you guys goView attachment 168327View attachment 168328View attachment 168329View attachment 168330View attachment 168331

 

[betterbuilt]

 

[gene1605]

Heres a few more.View attachment 169010View attachment 169011View attachment 169012View attachment 169013View attachment 169014

 

[betterbuilt]

 

[Jredsjeep]

thanks so much for sharing, i can really appreciate the simple straight forward nature of the design. i copied all the pics and would like to see if i can make one of these guys.

edit, after looking it over a bit can you tell us what are the bearings used for the blade guides and carriage? thanks!

 

[poleframer]

Ah, I see. The idler pulley keeps the belt tracking on the tire next to the band. I love the simplicity of this build. Steel is pretty expensive, if I get around to it I think I might go with BCI joists again, I got two 26' BCI s for $72.
I have a thread somewhere in here about my CSM on them (maybe someone could find it and link it for me, dont know how to link a thread). The way I set them up, only the weight of the carriage rides on them, the log is supported on jacks in between. I like that their light enough that I can dismantle the mill, and load them on my lumber rack for transportation. Also, the mill can be set up around the log, if needs be.
That brings the steel needs down to the carriage, most of which is smaller pieces that are more scroungable than lengths. I made my carriage out of an old bent lumber rack.
Good thread! Thankyou

PS, does this work?
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=33784&referrerid=10520

 

[DRB]

PS, does this work?
http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=33784&referrerid=10520

Yes that works. I remember your mill do you still use it?

 

[poleframer]

Oh, yea. Actually what I made it for in the first place was for smaller stuff. I wanted to surface one side for rafters and such. Here it is doing that on a house I've been working on.
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww194/LogDork/025.jpg
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww194/LogDork/2007_0113Image0019.jpg
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww194/LogDork/sunroom1.jpg
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww194/LogDork/johns.jpg
After the spruce decking went over the pole rafters, the whole thing got boxed off with BCIs to fill with R38 insulation, then a ply deck for the steel roof
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww194/LogDork/9-28-1.jpg
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww194/LogDork/8-24-2.jpg
I'll post more if anyone likes

 

[DRB]

Nice work. Looks a lot like BC

opcorn:opcorn:opcorn:

 

[rarefish383]

Yes, please post more. The BCI on the roof is such a simple fix for getting insulation in the roof and I would have never thought of it. Thanks, Joe.

 

[Hillbilly Rick]

Gene, that is one fantastic build. I need on about 36" as I have some big logs. Some are 49" in diameter, many between 39"-16". I know I'll have to reconfigure myself. How well does blade stay on the tires and the belt?

 

[gene1605]

large band mill

Rick a small mill is wayyyyyy more forgiveing to build and run than a big mill, I'm sure that if you enlarged my little mill to cut a 36 in. log it would never work right. A larger mill with a larger motor, a longer band you will need more band tension and more band speed. the carrage must be very rigid, about anyone can run and maintain a small mill, the larger mills need more experenced oporators.
I have built and sold many mills and have built and thrown away several because the frames were to weak, its hard to build a large simple neet mill that works well. Gene

 

[Jredsjeep]

would you mind if i put together some plans for this mill? i am a CAD designer so this is second nature and i have been playing with modeling it up in some of my spare time.

i am simply using the 16 tires as a reference on the sizing of the rest of the system so it will probubly be somewhat close but not quite a copy.

 

[mikeb1079]

jred that's a great idea. i've drawn up some simple plans from gene's design. i ordered the spindles/hubs and i plan to start cutting and fabricating soon. thanks again gene.

 

[poleframer]

I think the size of it is right up my alley. In my 090 mill I cant go past 24" in the carriage, and often have to trim edges of on stuff less than that to fit. Really wouldnt run this saw harder than that.
Im probably still going to use the BCI rails. Do it a little different tho, think I'll set it up so the log gets bunked on the ground in adjustable jacks, then affix the rails to the sides, level them, and roll the bandmill onto the rails.
Any more pics you would be into posting would be appreciated,
Thanks, Russell

 

[gene1605]

building a small mill

Anyone out there that wants to build or copy my little mill is welcome to do so, just keep in mind that I have made many mills before this one, and a lot of my good ideas on the first small mill wasent bad but, not as clean and simple as this one. I know that it's more intresting to use your on ideas, and I encourage you to do so, but thouse of you that want to copy this mill if you will send me a phone no I will call you [ I get free long distance ] and can explain building it mutch bettor. Gene
ps the bearings
the 4 top wheels, are flanged hi speed sealed 1/2 in. x 1 3/8 x 7/16 thick
the rest 10 ea are 1/2 in x 1 3/8 x 7/16 thick sealed hi speed
I dont think that you could use these bearings for wheels on a wood frame