Frustrating day milling

[ChuckinVa]

I had a pretty frustrating day milling today. I went through and checked my set up on my mill as far as the rail, blade tension, I put a new drive belt on.. Every thing checked fine. Level, I took a string and ran it from end to end and it was dead on, no waves or dips. I was cutting a large pine ( for me) and as long as I cut 2" or more everything was fine. when I tried to cut 1X material, the band would dip. I thought it was a dull band, but I went and changed the band and it still did it. I didn't have ay problems with the thicker material but man I hate it when the board looks like a taper. I finally just put everything up and went back in the house. I think I'll leave it for a few days and go back and check my set up again. Not much fun when you don't get the results you want.

[zopi]

Bandwheel belts?
Were you sawing knotty crap?
I get one dive in a big pi.e knot every so often..

Maybe have guidewheel bearing going?

[Bill Gaiche]

Be sure and check that blade tension. bg

[ChuckinVa]

It was pretty Knotty. I just replaced the band wheel drive belt today. Hadn't thought about the guide wheel bearing. I'll take a look at that. I have replacements that I bought when I first bought my mill.

Bill I checked the tension and it was right at 34 LBS.Would the blade dropping down indicate it was too loose? Maybe I need to check my torque wrench.

CHUCK

[kderby]

How wide are you trying to cut? 
Dry logs?
Big knots?
Feed Speed (mill power)?

If you are milling medium logs, your problem does sound like blade sharpness or tension problems.

When you get it figured out, put a notch on the grip, like a gunfighter in days gone past. smiley_horserider smiley_horserider smiley_horserider

Then make some sawdust 8)

Kderby

[kelLOGg]

The difference in densities of the annual growth ring (spring and summer wood) escpcially in pine can cause that if the band is not very sharp and not set perfectly. I had a beetle-killed SYP give me wavy/tapered boards and a lesser infested portion of the same tree sawed perfectly. I think the density variation was greater in the first one.
Bob

[DR Buck]

What kind of mill are you using that blade tension is set at 34 lbs?    I usually run my Wood-Mizer tension up over 3000 lbs.

Where are you located in Central VA?

[ladylake]

It's 34# on a torque wrench on a screw.     Steve

[ChuckinVa]

These logs were cut last winter and have set off the ground all summer, but they did seem to have a lot of moisture in them still. They are what I would consider medium logs(18-20" at the butt and 16-18" at the top.) And I was sawing about 14 foot logs. Not too many knots but some. My mill is small so it only has a 5.5HP motor. I have a 11HP to put on it but have not done it yet because it will require some frame modifications.
Yes the nut is tightened to 34LBS on a torque wrench and I have a second nut to lock it in place. I live just northwest of Charlottesville, Va.
CHUCK

[ladylake]

Are you keeping the RPM's up and the drive belt tight, every time my band slows down either by pushing it to hard or a loose drive belt it cuts wavy.   Steve

[LeeB]

Try another log. Some logs just cause problems.

[ChuckinVa]

The RPMS were the most I can get. ;D With putting the new belt on , it could have stretched or It could be I needed to adjust the pulley more. I will look at that as well. It seems like the belt would have slipped and I would have noticed the band slowing down. I was just creeping through the log though, so maybe I just didn't notice it. I will definetly try another log !
Thanks for all of the ideas. Gives me lot's of things to check that I hadn't thought about.
CHUCK

[Jim H]

You've got a lot of good ideas on what the problem could be. If you continue to have trouble I could probably take a look at it with you, two heads being better than one . I actually drove past your place today on the way to a job.     Jim

[woodmills1]

why or how would any band mill know the difference between a one or 2 inch cut?

[ChuckinVa]

why or how would any band mill know the difference between a one or 2 inch cut?

Good point. I'm sure it doesn't but it wasn't happening when I cut the 2X material.

You've got a lot of good ideas on what the problem could be. If you continue to have trouble I could probably take a look at it with you, two heads being better than one . I actually drove past your place today on the way to a job.     Jim

Thanks Jim. I hope to get a chance to look at it before the week end. Sounds like the rest of the week is going to be somewhat rain free. If I can't figure it out I'll send you a PM and maybe we can put our heads together and figure it out.

CHUCK