Sawmill Build - Chain Slabber & 90deg Circle on the same tracks

TJB · March 26, 2010, 08:57:20 AM

Yup, that has been know to happen lol I am building a second mill a lot like pitotshocks so I am trying to find out what works and what doesnt.

TJ

pitotshock · March 26, 2010, 09:02:13 AM

No, you heard right, 5 hours of work, 25 minutes of actual saw blade making chips and 4.5 hours of

take the tractor get a log off the wagon with the log tongs and place it onto the mill
look to find the 6x6 inside it, turn it a few times
turning the logs for each cut
redogging the log down
adjust the blade height
restart the engine make the cut
then move the cant and put it on the truck

This was the first time sawmilling and the first time for me even to be around a sawmill. Definately a learning curve thing here. The last log went a lot quicker than the first one did.

TJB · March 26, 2010, 09:36:15 AM

That sounds good pitotshock, you did a great job on the mill!!! I have been around mills and chainsaws my whole life and you sould have seen me on the first log, nothing wanted to go right. Thanks for the info

TJ

okie · March 26, 2010, 10:32:05 AM

As time goes on and your experience level grows, you will learn tricks to cut your grunt work time down considerably. You will also learn tricks that will save you several hundred steps/ day and that will equate to more lumber.
I too am impressed with your success on your first sawing experience. good job. 8)

okie · March 26, 2010, 10:43:01 AM

Hey, I wanted to say something in regards to your 90 deg saw blades you are making yourself. It looks like you are making swingmill / MD style blades, and since youre obviously quite handy, you would be miles ahead if you made the blades insert tooth rather than brazed in style. Just my opinion for what it's worth.

Hilltop366 · March 26, 2010, 11:01:46 AM

You got a good start Pitot, like I have said before I spend way more time messing with the log and setting up for a cut than cutting. things should smooth out a bit (you may also find yourself looking at lots of hyd. pics and videos soon) as far as the lack of bar oil and being on the edge of the limits for a single belt it all sounds very fimiliar to me. The 10° cut chain may not garb as bad as standard cut chain and I also found that a hand crank feed allows me to keep a smoother feed rate which helps from the cycle of over feeding and then backing off to let the engine recover, makes it a lot eaiser on gear.

I got a idea that when you get the other saw head rigged up and working good you may not use the csm very often.

jdrum · March 27, 2010, 12:26:15 AM

for the csm, have you looked into the belts that they use on bikes?
that or go with chain drive.

jim

okie · March 27, 2010, 09:27:39 AM

I've wondered about the bike belts too. I think the main reason for belt drive is that it is easier and cheaper to replace smoked belts than sheared engine components. ???

pitotshock · March 28, 2010, 07:42:22 AM

Quote from: Hilltop366 on March 26, 2010, 11:01:46 AM
I got a idea that when you get the other saw head rigged up and working good you may not use the csm very often.

I have the same feeling, but I still think it will be the powerhead of choice when I need to make a post or beam. I don't see myself cutting too many wide slabs for woodworking

As for the motorcycle belts or chains, the electric clutch I am using (which is really handy!) from the lawnmower has an integral pulley and moving over to something else would require a different design. My suggestion for others would be to use an industrial 2 belt centrifugal clutch, or put the engine on a pivot and use the belts as a clutch, but still have 2 belts to take the hp. Otherwise you will have to reduce your speed of feed to keep the belt alive.

pitotshock · September 15, 2010, 09:00:22 PM

Hey guys, in case you are wondering, I am still alive and well; the circular saw is still a go; I just own a horse farm and the summers around here don't leave any time to spare. So where I left off in March, is exactly where the project has stayed.

I plan on getting going again in the next month or so and hopefully get this thing done so I can get to cutting this fall/winter.

Hopefully, it won't be too long before I start posting some updates again...

fishpharmer · September 15, 2010, 09:04:38 PM

PS, glad your back, I was just wondering about your whereabouts the other day. I look forward to your posts.

Hilltop366 · September 16, 2010, 08:13:17 AM

Quote from: fishpharmer on September 15, 2010, 09:04:38 PM
PS, glad your back, I was just wondering about your whereabouts the other day. I look forward to your posts.

Me too

Tim · September 16, 2010, 12:34:30 PM

I'm about a half hour up the road from you pilotshock. I'll trade you tours. Show me yours and I'll show you mine. I'll even throw in some bedding for your horses.

pitotshock · September 16, 2010, 09:04:30 PM

Tim

QuoteShow me yours and I'll show you mine. I'll even throw in some bedding for your horses

Now that sounds like a plan, although mine still looks like a pile of parts...

and how did you know horses go through a pile of bedding? :D

hobbytrucker1966 · January 03, 2011, 01:43:09 PM

great looking mill mine has a 16 hp b&s with a 20 inch bar its setup pretty simple have fun and keep your fingers safe

fishingmike · August 03, 2012, 12:14:37 AM

I would like to hear more about this mill! How has it been coming along?

pitotshock · October 23, 2012, 07:07:23 AM

Not too much to update here. The circle mill is still in the same spot I left it a couple of years ago - half built. The big problem is the job I needed it for got done by a mobile Woodmiser so the big push is off and I have 1,000 other projects around the farm that are higher priority... Ah such is life.

I still do plan on finishing this project in a few years, as I hope to buy a bush lot in the next couple of years and build a small cabin out of local materials.

The journey getting there is more important than the destination.

kguger · February 19, 2013, 04:07:25 PM

Hey,

First post - And let me start with a big Forestry Forum Plug! This site is awesome. I found pitotshock with a " 'two blade' sawmill" search. And with a little browsing I've also found pineywoods solar kiln with planmans additions (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=50281.0) and a log cabin thread to boot. Every half baked idea that's bouncing around in the back of head is already here with pictures.

And the reason I'm posting:
Pitotshock: You're sketch of the 2 blade saw mill looks like a cad. Could you post the file? I'm building one this spring and that's what I have pictured in my head already. I'll post back any changes / progress so you can see my mistakes for when you get back to yours.

5quarter · February 20, 2013, 12:29:09 AM

Kguger...welcome to paradise... ;) Pitotshock is building one heck of a saw. He needs to dust it off and get back to work on it. 8) 8)

pitotshock · December 08, 2015, 09:03:41 PM

Anybody remember this old post? Hah!

Well after sitting for 6 years in the back corner of the shop, I'm going to try and complete the 90 degree circular saw build this winter. I layed out all the parts tonight and tried to make sense of all of the stuff.