The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: ozarkgem on June 18, 2016, 07:02:42 AM

Title: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: ozarkgem on June 18, 2016, 07:02:42 AM
I haven't seen any post or pics of members with a mill using a 2" band. Just curious as to why or why not.
Title: Re: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: bkaimwood on June 18, 2016, 08:53:54 PM
Considered it for the home made mill...only reason was for straight cuts in wider cuts, 36" and beyond....never got that far, but should take 50+ hp to turn that band effectively.... curious why you ask?...
Title: Re: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: ozarkgem on June 18, 2016, 08:59:49 PM
just going over my mill build in my head. I have a 60 HP diesel engine I plan on using and want to get max production out of it. I have found a vertical band saw that uses 2" bands and he wants to sell it. Thinking of the using the wheels. I want all the production I can wring out of the engine.
Title: Re: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: sandsawmill14 on June 19, 2016, 09:44:18 AM
We have a brewco  re saw that runs 2" bands with a 50 hp electric motor its fast it will cut 10 mbdft  a day real easy
Title: Re: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: Ludo on June 19, 2016, 07:05:15 PM
I run a 2" x 24' blade on 30" wheels I think they are 30"...  I have a 36hp Briggs gas engine and have cut up to 60" wide with no problem.  If the bade is sharp it will cut flat as a pancake!

Last week's 52" x 12' walnut

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25940/IMG_4368~0.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466377832)
Title: Re: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: ozarkgem on June 19, 2016, 07:42:11 PM
Quote from: sandsawmill14 on June 19, 2016, 09:44:18 AM
We have a brewco  re saw that runs 2" bands with a 50 hp electric motor its fast it will cut 10 mbdft  a day real easy
If you are using 50 HP electric I wonder if 60 hp diesel would be enough?  10mbdft a day now that is what I am talking about. Course I wouldn't get that sawing logs by myself.
Title: Re: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: ozarkgem on June 19, 2016, 07:44:56 PM
Quote from: Ludo on June 19, 2016, 07:05:15 PM
I run a 2" x 24' blade on 30" wheels I think they are 30"...  I have a 36hp Briggs gas engine and have cut up to 60" wide with no problem.  If the bade is sharp it will cut flat as a pancake!

Last week's 52" x 12' walnut

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25940/IMG_4368~0.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466377832)
How much does a blade cost for your mill? I like the 60" wide cut. I doubt that I would go that wide but maybe 48 . We don't see many walnut that big.
Title: Re: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: Ludo on June 19, 2016, 08:36:46 PM
$42 shipped for a Woodmizer Silver tip.
Title: Re: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: ozarkgem on June 20, 2016, 05:25:36 AM
Quote from: Ludo on June 19, 2016, 07:05:15 PM
I run a 2" x 24' blade on 30" wheels I think they are 30"...  I have a 36hp Briggs gas engine and have cut up to 60" wide with no problem.  If the bade is sharp it will cut flat as a pancake!

Last week's 52" x 12' walnut

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25940/IMG_4368~0.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1466377832)
Is your mill homemade? any pics of it?
Title: Re: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: JB Griffin on June 20, 2016, 09:06:04 PM
At work we have a 2016 Baker Dominator 3650e, 50hp 3ph, running 1 1/2" x 20ft .055 turbo 7s. We routinely cut 7mbf in oak cutting ties and grade and 10mbf in pine sawing bridge timbers out of pine. That's runnin a 3 man crew.
With some fine tuning and pushing a little harder I think we could routinely hit 9mbf in oak, but everything would have to go SMOOTH.
Title: Re: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: sandsawmill14 on June 20, 2016, 10:58:56 PM
Quote from: ozarkgem on June 19, 2016, 07:42:11 PM
Quote from: sandsawmill14 on June 19, 2016, 09:44:18 AM
We have a brewco  re saw that runs 2" bands with a 50 hp electric motor its fast it will cut 10 mbdft  a day real easy
If you are using 50 HP electric I wonder if 60 hp diesel would be enough?  10mbdft a day now that is what I am talking about. Course I wouldn't get that sawing logs by myself.

It would be a little slower but would pull it fine just  little slower feed rate
Title: Re: Anyone running a mill with 2" bands
Post by: Horselog on June 21, 2016, 07:36:58 PM
Quote from: JB Griffin on June 20, 2016, 09:06:04 PM
At work we have a 2016 Baker Dominator 3650e, 50hp 3ph, running 1 1/2" x 20ft .055 turbo 7s. We routinely cut 7mbf in oak cutting ties and grade and 10mbf in pine sawing bridge timbers out of pine. That's runnin a 3 man crew.
With some fine tuning and pushing a little harder I think we could routinely hit 9mbf in oak, but everything would have to go SMOOTH.

I am very interested in your experience with that setup. How long do your blades last on average?  How many sharpenings are you getting per blade? 

What diameter oak logs are you sawing that give you 7mbf/day?

So you're running Wood Mizer blades?

I'm considering this particular mill, and looking for real world experience with it.