Thinking about making a big slabber

paul case · January 05, 2013, 10:10:12 PM

I have gotten a few big logs here lately and they have got me thinking about building a big slabber. I am thinking bandsaw, Probably will be powered by a Kohler 25 and run on trailer tires. I am actually thinking about running it on my concrete floored shop, Which is pretty smooth. I can move the log in there with my forklift and set it on a cradle so it cant roll.

I am just thinking a plain and simple sawhead that I can push by hand and that would run on steel wheels and raise up and down. I am looking to make at least a 60'' cut.
I am looking to split big logs so they will fit the LT 40 or make slabs for table/counter tops.

Is anyone out there doing this or am I going to be the ginnie pig?

PC

mikeb1079 · January 05, 2013, 10:25:48 PM

i think it's a great idea. 8) one (of several) mistakes i made when i built my mill was that i made my upright posts only about 24" apart. with the larger bandwheels i used i probably could've gotten close to 36" of cut if i would've built it that way. now granted that's not as big as your thinking but it would've been nice.

besides, unless you're customsawyer it's really hard to freehand quarter giant logs. ;D ;D mine always turn out terribly and i end up wasting a ton of wood. :embarassed:

Meadows Miller · January 05, 2013, 10:42:40 PM

Gday Paul

I reckon It will work I have thought of the Same thing over the years for busting up bigguns using steel wheels But I have always had access to a 3120 with 4' bar or a Lucas though . But the tires should work just as well Id plan on running a heavy gauge band like 2" x .055 or something like that on the wide cuts though Mate ;)

Yes you are the Gunnie Pig from the looks of it but I have seen pics of similar mills running over the years with the track on the concrete and WM Big Boy does the same Mate ;)

Regards Chris

JustinW_NZ · January 06, 2013, 05:18:55 AM

yeah, the WM1000 does 67" (1.7m for us metric folk) which is pretty huge.

Perhaps go have a look at one if you can to get some ideas?
Videos on youtube otherwise...

Cheers
Justin

Meadows Miller · January 06, 2013, 08:01:58 AM

Gday Justin theres a Forester 150 in you neck of the woods BIG 1.8m x7.5m or 6'x25' log capacity with 120hp ford diesel motor 6" band dogging the rest for $55k i think we have a member here Building them of the original plans in the UK again there is still alot of big logs out there aint there Mate

;) :D ;D ;D ;D

shelbycharger400 · January 06, 2013, 11:45:20 AM

I built a chain bar slabber 27/28 in dia, planning on building a bigger one, planning a 7 foot bar. One tree would pay for the home built mill. The holdup is no cashflow for it right now. The tree is standing still. More are around too.

Those 24 in dia good steel wheels for a bandmill cost a fortune! I cant imagine the bands are cheap either.

paul case · January 06, 2013, 10:24:36 PM

I was actually thinking of it rolling on steel wheels on my concrete floor. The band will probably run on belted wheels or pneumatic tires.

I am a cheapo. PC

VictorH · January 06, 2013, 11:25:38 PM

I could be wrong but I think you will need some kind of guide bar attached to the floor to keep the blade from pulling the sawhead into the log. Just a thought.
Victor

Satamax · January 06, 2013, 11:45:34 PM

Yes Paul, prety sure you need a way to counteract the cutting drag. And besides, running on your shop floor has another downside to it, you will have to brush your "track" after every cut.

Cypressstump · January 08, 2013, 08:17:26 AM

There are various types / sizes of tracks and rollers that can be used cost effectively.
On my little 1220 mill I have a rolling frame/hoist that I use to turn larger logs and cants using the winch instead of my back.

You could even make your base track frame to where it would not necessarily have to be bolted permanently to the shop floor, or even use drop in type anchor bolts that can be removed if the mill is not used and not interfere with the floor surface.

pineywoods · January 08, 2013, 11:23:03 AM

Hey Paul, just stretch the head on the mizer ;D There's a post on here somewhere with pics of a guy who did that. Opened up the throat on an lt40 by another couple of feet. That was posted right after I opened my big mouth and said anything that could be done to an lt40, I had done. It looked like a fairly easy mod, everything is still the same, just longer.. He just spliced the beam that supports the idler wheel and the square bar for the guide roller.

hackberry jake · January 08, 2013, 12:48:31 PM

I have thought about building a chainsaw slabber before. I was thinking of building one as a trailer. Two ibeams about 7' apart that the carriage rolls on. The ibeams would be about 7' above ground level. That way you could just back it over the log and start cutting. Hardly any set up. Just a wild imagination and not enough time or $ to see it happen.

Al_Smith · January 08, 2013, 07:30:28 PM

Somebody makes a big slabber with a saw bar and a 10 HP three phase motor .Forgot who it was .

On that ripping down Gerry B. talks about ripping down big coast redwoods with a chainsaw that were too large for a west coast mill so they had to be absolutely huge .I can't imagine ripping a 10-12 foot diameter log with a chainsaw .What a miserable job that must have been .

paul case · January 08, 2013, 08:42:16 PM

I thought about stretching the head on the old LT40 but I really like it just the way it is. :

I have never been around a chain slabber but I did quite a few big slabs on the EZ Boardwalk and they were 30'' to 36'' and it did real well. That is 1 reason I was thinking bandsaw instead of chain. The other is speed. I know a chainsaw ripping a 30'' oak is slow butI could do it with some speed on the old boardwalk at only 20 hp.

Still just thinking. PC