DIY sawmill using bandsaw

[Burt Shaver]

Hey, I’ve often thought about trying to build my own sawmill, it doesn’t have to be able to handle big logs, 8” diameter would be fine. I was thinking something along the line of a cheap bandsaw from canadian tire or princess auto, basically mount the saw horizontally sliding on some rails similar to a sliding mitre saw. Then build a table for beneath it, square up the log, simply use lumber to raise the log, example, if you want 1 1/2” inch boards just shim you the log with 1 1/2 inch shims and slide the bandsaw through the log. After the cut, now have to shim the log up 3” to get a 1 1/2” board. Anyone ever build there own sawmill? Any suggestions? Not something I would be tackling right away, possibly never but I’m interested to see if anyone has made there own.

 

[southalabama]

I’ve used a table saw to cut up some firewood.

Not as big as you are wanting to do. Screwed a board to it to get a straight edge. Made some decent small pieces of Ray flake oak from a tree that went down in a hurricane.

 

[The Cobbler]

not sure where you are, but I have a 4x6 Princess Auto Bandsaw , missing the base that needs to be repurposed

 

[Burt Shaver]

I’ve used a table saw to cut up some firewood.

Not as big as you are wanting to do. Screwed a board to it to get a straight edge. Made some decent small pieces of Ray flake oak from a tree that went down in a hurricane.

I’ve used my table saw to make some boards but the widest I can make is about 6 1/2”, 3 1/4, flip and cut from the other side. I found it pretty slow going and I worried about the stress I was putting the table saw through. Band saw blades are super thin kerf so should’ve much quicker and less work for it.

 

[The Cobbler]

you've got me thinking of making it into a resaw for wood. Hmmmmm

 

[Old Man Roger]

I’ve seen sawmill jigs for chainsaws on tv.

 

[Burt Shaver]

not sure where you are, but I have a 4x6 Princess Auto Bandsaw , missing the base that needs to be repurposed

Thank you, iI’m in Eastern Ontario along the St. Lawrence River ( not waterfront unfortunately) in between Cornwall and Brockville

 

[Burt Shaver]

I’ve seen sawmill jigs for chainsaws on tv.

I’ve seen those as well, super cheap to buy and easy set up. Only downfall is need a special chain, 2 stroke chainsaw so engine life is limited and the chain has a super thick kerf so lots waste, but it’s something I would consider giving a try.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I would think a small bandsaw, like the harbor freight one, would have too much flex in the blade for a long cut like that.

 

[The Cobbler]

^^^ yes. I was just thinking the same thing. resawing is a tough job on a small saw with lots of flex.

 

[Burt Shaver]

I would think a small bandsaw, like the harbor freight one, would have too much flex in the blade for a long cut like that.

You could very well be right, I don’t think I’ve ever used a bandsaw for anything but I believe most of the cheap ones are 9” , so if it’s 9” of blade showing It might not flex to badly. I only want to make boards out of 8” diameter logs or less. I know sawmills that you buy are basically bandsaws, although much better quality I’m sure.

 

[Burt Shaver]

How much worse could it be than the lumber at the lumber yards?

 

[Old Man Roger]

High speed and an aggressive tooth configuration would probably help. When it comes to wood band saws, size matters too.lol

 

[The Cobbler]

the blades tend to be alot wider on bandsaws cutting thicker wood . there's a lot of flex in a narrow blade and once it starts to wander, it seems to progressively get worse

 

[Old Man Roger]

the blades tend to be alot wider on bandsaws cutting thicker wood . there's a lot of flex in a narrow blade and once it starts to wander, it seems to progressively get worse

Ya, it takes a good amount of manipulation to cut a straight line on mine. I made a table that screws on in the upright position, never tried a fence though.

 

[The Cobbler]

I've actually read or seen on You Tube, it's better to have a pivot than a fence for re sawing , so you can manipulate the board and cut on your line .
but a thin blade will also let the cut Bow and cause one side to be convex & the other side concave easier

 

[ksp683]

I have always been frustrated with my mastercraft bandsaw and how much flex is in the blade. I would be suprised if you are able to have a decent amount of accuracy with your cuts. But, take it with a grain of salt because as my wife always says "You aren't a wood worker, youre too damn rammy" So maybe i'm pushing the machine too fast lol

 

[Old Man Roger]

I have always been frustrated with my mastercraft bandsaw and how much flex is in the blade. I would be suprised if you are able to have a decent amount of accuracy with your cuts. But, take it with a grain of salt because as my wife always says "You aren't a wood worker, youre too damn rammy" So maybe i'm pushing the machine too fast lol

Reminds me of the tv show shameless, the girlfriend said he was too pokey..lol

 

[jar944]

I think you will be severely disappointed. The cast iron 14" saws have 6" capacity and are painfully slow when cutting at full height.

 

[Burt Shaver]

Thanks for all the replies, it seems to be a unanimous decision that a cheap bandsaw will not work for me. I think I will consider the chainsaw sawmill or purchasing a small portable sawmill which can be bought for around 4500.00

 

[66Caprice]

There are alot of good informational videos on youtube about the good the bad and the ugly of milling your own logs. It's a worm hole to go down. But it may help in making a better decision on which method you choose to go with.

 

[HoosierMark]

Keep working on your idea. i knew the inventor of wood-mizer band saws. He saw a need and just kept refining it till he got it perfected. You might check them out to learn some tricks. They are pretty slick. I have had numerous logs turned to lumber by one. . Keep experimenting!

 

[Stuart in MN]

It may be possible to find a used bandsaw mill for sale - I don't remember where it is but I happened across a website some time ago that was a forum for bandsaw mill owners, and if I remember correctly there was a for sale section.

For that matter, if your needs will be only occasional you could check with Woodmizer owners in your area. Chances are that paying to having a log or two cut up every so often is still a lot cheaper than buying your own mill. https://woodmizer.com/us/Find-a-Local-Sawyer

On the other hand, if you're thinking about it because it would be fun to build a mill, check out Matt Cremona's YouTube channel - he built a gigantic bandsaw mill that he uses for cutting slabs, and he has a playlist of videos showing the construction. https://www.youtube.com/@mcremona/playlists

 

[racecougar]

It may not fit into the "cheap" category, but I've used this 20" bandsaw to turn manageable logs into boards. Mostly Eastern Red Cedar from around the property to be used in closets and chests. You may be able to find a larger saw for a reasonable price on FB Marketplace or Craigslist, especially if you're willing to convert it from 3PH.

 

[Pen & Wrench]

Man ya'll struck a nerve with me! I've wanted to build or buy a portable sawmill but haven't yet. I also use a regular band saw to make boards out of Eastern Red Cedar from our farm. But my bandsaw only has a 6 inch throat, and it doesn't have nearly enough capacity for making boards. There is a man in the town near our farm land that has a small Wood Miser mill, and to be honest, I could pay him to mill logs, or just buy milled lumber from him and it would probably be less expensive than me buying my own mill. If you get a mill built I'd love to hear about it.

 

[DennisK59]

Try the "Forestry Forum" online, there might even be a Sawyer near you. A 14 in. bandsaw can barely saw a 4x4 length wise.

 

[Zeke]

Yeah, I think you'll work a shop BS to death quickly. They don't come with a lot of HP. Like 1/2 HP motors. Wet logs would be a nightmare.

 

[Burt Shaver]

Try the "Forestry Forum" online, there might even be a Sawyer near you. A 14 in. bandsaw can barely saw a 4x4 length wise.

Really, that really surprises me. I’ve never used a bandsaw, I’ve used many many tools as I’m a contractor but never a bandsaw. I would have thought with that thin kerf it would be like a hot knife through butter.

 

[rkevins]

Wood Mizer is building a more entry level model, $3295

 

[Burt Shaver]

Wood Mizer is building a more entry level model, $3295

They seem pretty reasonably priced, is that price in US Funds? I would think if it’s taken care of, I could use it for 10 or more years and maybe sell it when I’m done using it. I will have to do a little cost analysis to see what works best for me. I live in on old stone house built in 1840 surrounded by many out buildings that could use some repair or the one should probably be replaced, and thinking I would like to rebuild little cabin in the bush so I have lots of work for it. But have to see

 

[bbxlr8]

I cut a lot of firewood and have a lot of high-quality premium wood going into the stove which bugs me. I have been looking at this for a while, but have not bit the bullet yet. There are smaller cheaper versions ( search "Alaskan mill") with various levels of features that would do the job you are talking about. Mostly chainsaw powered though but not as hard to get into as you think.

Check this out as well:
https://www.arboristsite.com/forums/milling-saw-mills.62/

I picked up a lot from the firewood/heating group over the years

 

[racecougar]

Really, that really surprises me. I’ve never used a bandsaw, I’ve used many many tools as I’m a contractor but never a bandsaw. I would have thought with that thin kerf it would be like a hot knife through butter.

The issue for a small bandsaw is twofold, it doesn't have the power and it doesn't have the throat and resaw capacity. That 20" bandsaw I posted above has the power, but it's limited in its resaw capacity. IIRC, it's around 12"-13". You're not going to run a 18" diameter log through the thing.

 

[Jackfre]

Woodmiser will refer yoo to a local owner whom you can contact to see if it is something you are willing to throw the dough at. I’ve hired a WM guy to cut up some 3’ white oak years ago and in ‘22 took a 3’ walnut on my property. A friend has a mill and we shared the wood. I have a Laguna 14BX. it is 2hp. I run a 1/2” 3tpi blade on it and I think the biggest resaw I’ve done on it is 10”. The fence, in/out feed has to be right. Otherwise it is like a clown car. Trust me, I know. Trying to do to much with an underpowered saw is the ultimate exercise in frustration.

 

[legenddc]

This is Garage Journal isn't it? Clearly you should build your own with a massive amount of capacity. Full plans are even available to buy.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Remember when I said size and speed matters? Lol

 

[nateo]

You could very well be right, I don’t think I’ve ever used a bandsaw for anything but I believe most of the cheap ones are 9” , so if it’s 9” of blade showing It might not flex to badly. I only want to make boards out of 8” diameter logs or less. I know sawmills that you buy are basically bandsaws, although much better quality I’m sure.

I think you've reached this conclusion already but wanted to address this. Bandsaws are rated by throat depth, i.e. a 9" bandsaw generally has 9" between the blade and the vertical frame member. The maximum height of cut is always much less. I have a cheap little 9" and it can saw something up to around 3" thick.

The other thing to consider is that resaw blades are generally much wider and require a whole lot more blade tension. A cheap little saw just doesn't have the frame strength to properly tension a wide blade.

I'd keep my eyes out for a small bandsaw mill on the resale market. The pandemic led to a hobby boom and YouTube is full of guys finding "gold" with their mills. I figure there must be plenty of folks who thought a mill would be a great side business before realizing that cutting the logs into strips is only about 10% of the actual work to sell wood for profit.

 

[Burt Shaver]

The issue for a small bandsaw is twofold, it doesn't have the power and it doesn't have the throat and resaw capacity. That 20" bandsaw I posted above has the power, but it's limited in its resaw capacity. IIRC, it's around 12"-13". You're not going to run a 18" diameter log through the thing.

Hi, what is resaw capacity? And what is IIRC? I would be happy if I could do 8” diameter logs. I’m just mulling different ideas, not in any real hurry unless I run out of things to do and we all know the list never gets done, lol. Keeps us out of trouble. Yea, if I could do 8” diameter with a bandsaw saw mill, I might consider getting a chainsaw mill as well, since they are relatively inexpensive. I could then handle larger diameter logs by squaring it up a bit with the chainsaw down to 8” . We burn wood here at the house so nothing would go to waste. I will try and find your other post and have a look at that link.

 

[Burt Shaver]

This is Garage Journal isn't it? Clearly you should build your own with a massive amount of capacity. Full plans are even available to buy.

Wow, this guy is a serious DIYer, I was thinking of something much more red neck than that.

 

[Burt Shaver]

Remember when I said size and speed matters? Lol

Damn, size does matter then?

 

[Burt Shaver]

I think you've reached this conclusion already but wanted to address this. Bandsaws are rated by throat depth, i.e. a 9" bandsaw generally has 9" between the blade and the vertical frame member. The maximum height of cut is always much less. I have a cheap little 9" and it can saw something up to around 3" thick.

The other thing to consider is that resaw blades are generally much wider and require a whole lot more blade tension. A cheap little saw just doesn't have the frame strength to properly tension a wide blade.

I'd keep my eyes out for a small bandsaw mill on the resale market. The pandemic led to a hobby boom and YouTube is full of guys finding "gold" with their mills. I figure there must be plenty of folks who thought a mill would be a great side business before realizing that cutting the logs into strips is only about 10% of the actual work to sell wood for profit.

That’s some great advice, Thank you