Bandmill construction

711ac · April 19, 2018, 08:54:05 PM

Where would you guy's send me to find some basic guidelines. Horsepower, blade speed, wheels, etc. I've been around & run Woodmizers so I'm not totally "green". I'd just like to get it as close to being a "real good saw" on the first crack at it.
There must be a rule of thumb for FPM of the blade and HP for a reasonable travel speed for 6", 12", 18" cut in hardwood. Bigger wheels advanage? etc.

JRWoodchuck · April 20, 2018, 01:10:16 AM

I can think of no better place to learn any question you might have about sawmills than right where your at. The search box is real handy around these parts.

longframe200 · April 20, 2018, 04:28:39 AM

As above, but there is also a lot of concentrated knowledge on Cooks site.

Articles & Helpful Hints

CooksSawmills - YouTube

JB Griffin · April 21, 2018, 10:42:18 AM

Bigger bandwheels act like a flywheel and store momentum and flex the blade less, so bigger is always better.

Can you really have too much hp? Yes, you can, if it doesn't put out enough torque (think 2 stroke gas engine). Torque is what you need to pull a blade through a log.

I would recommend building a 4post mill as the fab and engineering would be much simpler than a cantilever.

Also keep in the front of your mind weld pull and stresses, as it would be easy to build a warped twisted useless frame if you don't plan out a weld pattern.

Go with a bigger engine and drive the hyd pump off it and you will much better off than the elec/hyd pumps.

711ac · April 21, 2018, 07:55:22 PM

Thanks for the feedback, that Cooks site is great. I've "been there" before just looking at their parts, never saw the chat side.
I have lots of reading to do, esp for the details like I would have never thought of the height of your "bunks" and reading where someone was comparing 2 mills and one of them was able to be fork loaded because the rails were lower. Those little things, through out the mill add up to a big difference, and just because I've seen a few band mills sure doesn't mean I can design one, well one that makes sense and features that are just ccommon sense to an experienced sawyer.
That (Cooks) HD3238 sure looks sweet..... if I had $30k for another hobby. ;D