Sawmill

[RivennHewn]

The job is over and i wasn't there … so i’m qualified to be an armchair quarterback. For moving the crates into the garage, might have made it easier to put a couple of pieces of conduit or pipe under it.

I was just looking for an excuse to play with my new winch set up!

 

[Kscardsfan]

Very cool. Decades ago in forestry school, I remember being taught that the entire success of a mill depended on the head sawyer's skill (before computers, lasers, etc.). The pressure is on now, LOL.

Lots to learn, for sure. Have fun. Watch for nails!

What I remember from my Dendro class as well.

 

[RivennHewn]

I, do solemnly promise, to not post every nut and bolt I install on this project.

I do, however, like that pics posted here give me a status/time stamp. Otherwise I just may end up never finishing the damned thing.

Sometimes I need the public humiliation to keep me motivated to produce.

According to the instructions, you use the shipping crate as a work platform.
I took the time to level the crate prior to placing the first two components.

The clock is officially tick’n!

 

[LXCam]

Is it done yet??

 

[RivennHewn]

Is it done yet??

Thank you for that. Just the kind of thing I was talking about!

 

[glennm]

Look forward to your progress! We are playing as well, big job putting it together.

 

[RivennHewn]

Look forward to your progress! We are playing as well, big job putting it together.

Glenn,

looks like you made it through the assembly process! Did you have any issues, or did it go pretty smooth?

Have you gotten to use it much?
Would love to hear any insight into fine tuning that you’ve learned.

I’m also a little bit jealous of all the room you have there.

I’m tripping over everything, and having to relocate most of the junk in my garage in order to get enough space.

 

[ive]

Very cool. Decades ago in forestry school, I remember being taught that the entire success of a mill depended on the head sawyer's skill (before computers, lasers, etc.). The pressure is on now, LOL.

Lots to learn, for sure. Have fun. Watch for nails!

There a actual trade called a sawfiler specifically for maintaining saws. I believe there’s only one university in British Columbia that offers the course nowadays.

 

[LXCam]

Thank you for that. Just the kind of thing I was talking about!

How bout now??!! You keep up this snail pace and you’re knot gonna beat Glen ya slacker.

 

[PoorUB]

I like your anchor in the floor. And the fact that you could drag you pickup across the snow with it.
There was another thread talking about putting an anchor in the floor for dragging vehicles. It shows you don't need much!

 

[RivennHewn]

I like your anchor in the floor. And the fact that you could drag you pickup across the snow with it.
There was another thread talking about putting an anchor in the floor for dragging vehicles. It shows you don't need much!

That’s a Hilti 1/2” x 3-1/2” wedge anchor.

It remained rock solid!

 

[RivennHewn]

Had a friend over to help get this thing moving.

He has ulterior motives, as he has a number of logs at his place, ready to go.

It was great to have help, as some of this isn’t a one man task.

 

[RivennHewn]

Just checked my overall length on each side.

585.5 CM on one side, 585.4 on the other.

I can live with that.

 

[RivennHewn]

Lasering the rails.

My New Years Eve light show!

 

[glennm]

Glenn,

looks like you made it through the assembly process! Did you have any issues, or did it go pretty smooth?

Have you gotten to use it much?
Would love to hear any insight into fine tuning that you’ve learned.

I’m also a little bit jealous of all the room you have there.

I’m tripping over everything, and having to relocate most of the junk in my garage in order to get enough space.

Yes, my son put it together, took quite a while, we do have a 30 x 40 heated garage as well as a 40 x 40 outbuilding so it was a nice comfortable project for him (I was in Florida on vacation )

We have cut up quite a bit in the last 10 days or so, we had some logs waiting for it. Works really well, we cut 6x6, 8x8 pine. Bunch of lumber (pine, poplar, ash, elm, cherry). Now we are trying to figure out a system for storage and sorting so we can find what we want.

So far no real tips on tuning, etc but be very careful of clamps, etc. we took out a blade on the second cut and didn’t have any replacements. I was able to get a box of 15 blades from wood miser so we’re back in business. You may want to order some spares, they are in low supply right now.

looking forward to seeing your progress.

 

[Ton ton]

Those lasers are neat. I have helped run a portable band saw mill years ago.

 

[brianh]

Nice I have a guy in town that has a band mill when I need a lot of wood. I mill with a more primitive setup the Alaskan chainsaw mill it works great for custom cutting and getting to a hard to reach spot I just mill on the spot and load the truck, it is hard work though.

I dry my wood in a dehumidifier kiln for my furniture.

 

[Plastikosmd]

Nice unit

my only advise is be careful about “donated” logs along a fence line or driveway/road etc

they seem to have a much higher chance of iron content!

I got a metal detector as cheap insurance
It sure saves me blades

mine is a swingblade mill so the blade is more costly than the smaller bands

 

[alinc100]

I;m going to assume it holds true with bandsaw mills. I've found for my 18 inch Jet bandsaw ,I put a 1 inch x 3 tooth resaw blade on it. It was cheaper at an industrial house that makes bandsaw blades to order than from a woodworking supplier. If you know the size,tooth count,etc seems it should be rather simple. https://www.detroitbandsaw.com/

 

[RTM]

Like Alinc 100, wonder if you can outsource. Here are the blades I run on my 14” bandsaw. Not sure if they carry them big enough for your saw.

Spectrum Supply

When you need less waste when cutting.

www.spectrumsupply.com

Lenox Diemaster 2 Bandsaw Blade | Engineered for Contour Cutting - Spectrum Supply

Engineered for Contour Cutting

www.spectrumsupply.com

 

[RivennHewn]

Nice I have a guy in town that has a band mill when I need a lot of wood. I mill with a more primitive setup the Alaskan chainsaw mill it works great for custom cutting and getting to a hard to reach spot I just mill on the spot and load the truck, it is hard work though.

I dry my wood in a dehumidifier kiln for my furniture.

I used an Alaskan mill a number of times. We got good results with it, but it is a workout!

 

[RivennHewn]

Yes, my son put it together, took quite a while, we do have a 30 x 40 heated garage as well as a 40 x 40 outbuilding so it was a nice comfortable project for him (I was in Florida on vacation )

We have cut up quite a bit in the last 10 days or so, we had some logs waiting for it. Works really well, we cut 6x6, 8x8 pine. Bunch of lumber (pine, poplar, ash, elm, cherry). Now we are trying to figure out a system for storage and sorting so we can find what we want.

So far no real tips on tuning, etc but be very careful of clamps, etc. we took out a blade on the second cut and didn’t have any replacements. I was able to get a box of 15 blades from wood miser so we’re back in business. You may want to order some spares, they are in low supply right now.

looking forward to seeing your progress.

I ordered a 10-pack of blades with the unit.
We’ll see how fast I burn em up

 

[RTM]

Here is Spectrums Sawmill blade page, even allowing a test pack.

Spectrum Supply

WOODMASTER® blades are engineered for long life and consistent performance in a variety of wood cutting applications. The blades are built to wear evenly and deliver straight cuts at extreme band speeds. These products cut faster and longer, which increases productivity and provides exceptional...

www.spectrumsupply.com

 

[RivennHewn]

Here is Spectrums Sawmill blade page, even allowing a test pack.

Spectrum Supply

WOODMASTER® blades are engineered for long life and consistent performance in a variety of wood cutting applications. The blades are built to wear evenly and deliver straight cuts at extreme band speeds. These products cut faster and longer, which increases productivity and provides exceptional...

www.spectrumsupply.com

Thanks for the link. I’ll be needing a good source soon.
I have a metal detector, but I’ll be cutting some suspect logs.

 

[RivennHewn]

Lesson # 1 learned.

Fully read, and understand the assembly instructions prior to starting.

We mounted up the guide rails to the trailer rails per the instructions on the first couple of pages.

Then, on page 18, there is a note with the minimum offset being 3/8” - 1/2”.

I’m assembled at 5/16” offset. Why would WM put such an important note on page 18? Shouldn’t it have been on the first page where you are putting the two components together?

Not 10 pages later?

Now I’m going to loosen a couple hundred nuts and micro adjustment it all 1/16”.

Good thing I don’t have a deadline .

 

[RivennHewn]

Well that didn’t go to bad!

Micro adjustments made, and a bit more QC for straight, level, and all components equally spaced.

Time to break out the torque wrench and follow the sequence and specs.

 

[RivennHewn]

Didn’t get much time this weekend to assemble much, but sometimes it’s good to just drink a beer and assess your project.

decided to double check a few things, and found the slightest of bow down the overall length.

Most likely wouldn’t be a problem, but I have the time to make an effort to make it better.

A strap and a block, then retighten the lock-nuts to spec. I had already torqued the nuts, so I replaced the ones that needed to be removed, with new ones.

Think I’ll sleep good tonight.

 

[Sumboodie]

How are you going to move logs around without a skid steer, tractor, fork lift, etc?

 

[Crabman]

RH

sometimes it’s good to just drink a beer and assess your project

Always a good time to do this. Also helps with the sleep!

 

[RivennHewn]

How are you going to move logs around without a skid steer, tractor, fork lift, etc?

That’s the fun part - it’s a challenge!

That’s why I put the hitch mount winch together, and I have a log arch for dragging them with the truck.

I also use the truck bed crane on the flatbed.

Maybe someday when I get a cash infusion, I’ll pick up some real equipment.

 

[PCustoms]

Did I miss what brand this is?

I've got a lot, I mean A LOT of sawlogs here. Pained me to turn 36" dia, 12' clear logs into firewood but couldn't get them sawn onsite.

Looking into mill options before I drop anymore of the good trees.

 

[RivennHewn]

I went with Woodland Mills.

But, there are a number of good brands to choose from.

 

[RivennHewn]

A bit of progress.

I got all the undercarriage/trailer cross supports installed, along with the jack mounts.

I raised it up enough to remove the shipping crate/work platform.

It is now a free standing unit!

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Is that a Newfie?

 

[RivennHewn]

Is that a Newfie?

Yes!
He’s got his own Instagram @ ranger_the_newfie.

follow his zany antics !

 

[Crabman]

It is now a free standing unit!

Nice! Like your shop too!

 

[RivennHewn]

Axles going on!

 

[RivennHewn]

Sometimes ya just got to say “Screw the torque wrench “!

 

[RivennHewn]

 

[Ton ton]

Nice dog.