Which sawmill can do 1/4 inch thick cuts?

bkellyvtme · July 16, 2006, 03:37:51 PM

Is there such a sawmill that can do this?

Dan_Shade · July 16, 2006, 04:07:51 PM

there is a post on here from a few years ago where the guy's had a contest who could cut the thinnest.

I seem to remember somebody taking a picture of their computer monitor through a translucent "board"

a well setup bandsaw will saw very thin.

I did some digging, but I couldn't find that thread, maybe somebody else can remember enough specifics to find it.

mike_van · July 16, 2006, 04:33:40 PM

My home made one will, but like Dan said, got to have a good blade at the time -

WH_Conley · July 16, 2006, 04:47:49 PM

I just cut 100 1/4"x8"x10' boards for a customer a couple of weeks ago on a LT40, I imagine any bandmill could do it. We'll have to hear from the swinger crowd, I don't know what they will do.

johnjbc · July 16, 2006, 04:50:42 PM

How is this for thin?

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=2187.msg28297#msg28297

Snag · July 16, 2006, 05:06:57 PM

my peterson wpf does it just fine.....

Bibbyman · July 16, 2006, 05:26:35 PM

I think this is the thread you're looking for...

SHOOTOUT

brdmkr · July 16, 2006, 05:27:54 PM

I can cut 1/4 inch (or less) all day, but with a circle blade you loose too much with the kerf to do this 'for real'. I don't think, however, I could get anywhere near as thin as some of those pics in the thread posted by Bibbyman.

Fla._Deadheader · July 16, 2006, 05:50:38 PM

That was fun, re-reading Arky's challenge. I shaved a thin slice on them 40'ers the other day. Probably 1/8". I was taking a "cleaning" cut, to flatten the face from some tension. ;D

Fletch · July 16, 2006, 07:01:30 PM

Any good mill should be able to cut 1/4 in. I often cut a 2>3mm X 200mm board to demonstrate the accuracy of the Ecosaw. But it is preety wasteful with a circular blade.

treecyclers · July 16, 2006, 07:41:06 PM

I have a couple slices of maple burl that I took off that are about 1/8" thick to be used for a jewelry box lid.
does that count?
SD

bkellyvtme · July 16, 2006, 08:41:27 PM

Thanks for the replies. I am looking to mill my own hardwood flooring and then then next thing I would like to get a kiln.

Furby · July 16, 2006, 09:32:34 PM

Are we talking about making laminated flooring ???

UNCLEBUCK · July 17, 2006, 12:12:30 AM

I can saw paper thin if needed and 1/4 inch would be no problem except the blade is 1/4 inch thick so you would lose 50% of your log to sawdust . Those bandmills are really slick machines

fat olde elf · July 17, 2006, 12:55:56 AM

Any bandmill with a sharp band should be fine........I cut lots of 1/4 cedar for Christmas ornaments. Also cut walnut for veneer...............

Bibbyman · July 17, 2006, 04:47:11 AM

One other thought... If you're planning to do a lot of thin cuts on a routine basis, then maybe you'd want to look into what's called a resaw. Wood-Mizer makes an attachment to their bandmills that will make making thin cuts more productive and and precise. They and many others make dedicated machines that do nothing but resaw a squared out cant into boards.

Here is a picture of a WM resaw attachemnt.

It bolts to the bed of the mill and cants are fed through it.

Here is Kevin-H looking at a single head resaw. You can't see much of the saw but if you do a search on 'resaw' in the sawmill section you'll get a lot more info. Also, you could go to the WM and Baker web sites to see what they offer. Both have single and multiple resaws.

NZJake · July 17, 2006, 06:05:09 AM

Bet ya I can cut the thinnest sliver with the SKILLMILL

!
Who's on?
Got my vernia awaitin.
hehe 8)

Jeff · July 19, 2006, 12:00:10 AM

I aint got access to the circle mill any more Jake, but In the thread linked to earlier, I have the bench mark for thin with a 60" circle saw. You can use that for a goal to start. ;)

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=2187.0

NZJake · July 19, 2006, 03:59:10 AM

Your on 8)!

Seriously though, some of the timber thats been coming off the SKILLMILL is the best finish I've ever seen from a mill. Something to do with the small blade and electric? Some of the boards you actually have to study carefully to see the tiny score marks!

Will post pics tomorow of my thin attempt!

NZJake · July 19, 2006, 09:23:47 PM

Ok, here is my entry.

1/32" or .8mm (almost transparent! 8))

DanG · July 19, 2006, 10:35:26 PM

Not bad, Jake. Not bad at all.

Jeff · July 19, 2006, 11:32:00 PM

Jake, All I gotta say is you got mighty pretty hands.

Hammy · July 20, 2006, 12:21:26 AM

Come on Jeff, stay focused on the point at hand ;) What did you think of that for thiness?

NZJake · July 20, 2006, 12:30:55 AM

My boards still thinner than yours hehe ;D.

Jeff · July 20, 2006, 12:35:56 AM

Yes, nice thin hands. Beautiful. If not Jakes, whose are they? Dont tell me thier yers Hammy, I've shook your hand before and those aint yours.

Jake, ya beat me. I gotta say, you whooped my record. I may lodge a protest though. I think it was the manicure that put ya over the top.

NZJake · July 20, 2006, 01:07:06 AM

Policy, manicure after every job :

.

Your absolutely right I've been spending way too much time at my computer desk lately! I gotta get those hands dirty again, I'll work on it tomorrow.

Bibbyman · July 20, 2006, 03:31:40 AM

How wide and how long was the strip? The original challenge was 6" wide by 8' long.

Quote from: ARKANSAWYER on January 19, 2003, 08:14:46 PM
No! not with the Wiggins again. But the Sawmill Shootout. It seems while reading a TFG article that in Japan they have a compitention to see who can shave the thinest shaving with a plane. I think it would prove who could cut the most accurate lumber if they could make a shaving say 6" wide and 8' long as thin as possible. I have made some as thin as a 1/16 but I think with a good adjustment and blade could do better. Swingers would have to put up or shut up about accurate lumber. ???
What do you guys and gals think about going thin for bragging rights? It would be a real test as to how good one could slice.
ARKANSAWYER