Baker mill breaking bands?

[logger79]

I recently bought an older baker sawmill to have some work when weather keeps me from logging. I am breaking bands more often than I think I should. Today I cut about 15 or so hickory logs sawing ties and pallet cants and broke 2 bands and changed one that I felt was dull. Is there anything I can do to prevent them breaking that fast?  Guide adjustment, change bands sooner, saw something other than hickory??

[dgdrls]

Welcome aboard Logger 79,

Well, lots of questions will be asked, but rest assured you will get great response from the crew,  so...
Where specifically are the bands breaking? same place on both?
New or resharpened bands?
mill alignment set good?
Proper band tension?

As many here point out Hickory can be the

best DGDrls

[scully]

I have heard that some of the older thick bands had problems like that they were to brittle . usualy they break on the weld ....

[beenthere]

From what I read on this forum, if the band breaks on the weld it is a bad weld. Not something wrong with the mill in particular.
But the OP didn't say they were breaking on the weld either.

Tuning the mill to specs would be important, along with the right tension and guide wheel alignments. And sharpness and set of bands. The more info supplied, the better to figure it out for you.

Welcome to the Forestry Forum too.

[stavebuyer]

Hickory can be a challenge. I'd try a few logs of a different species before looking too hard for blade or alignment issues. Fresh logs and lots of lube can make hickory behave a little better.

[bandmiller2]

Many things can play a part in band breakage.Myself I believe too much tension is the biggest cause,with alignment,poor guide adjustment close behind.Allowing the band to spin wile log loading and turning can also shorten life due to flex.[don't know how to spell fatigue] Frank C.

[Peter Drouin]

Well come logger 79. I can't help I have a Wood mizer, but  the mill you have are good mills, good luck 8) 8)

[ladylake]

 
  Go over the adjustments

Guide wheel flange 3/16 to 1/4 behind the band
1/4 " down pressure
blade level with the deck
no bad bearings
the bades should track the same if you turn it backwards by hand
If steel wheels is the crown still there
If belted wheels put new belts on
                                        Steve

[t f flippo]

logger79,   Welcome to the Forum.I'm very glad to have another 'Baker' on the FF.

All good posts above.

I need more info on the blades.Type,kind,condition,ect.

I've been having some serious tension issues n problems lately.Rebuilding the spring tension mechanism,but just found out that it's designed for a certain type of blade.I'm using a different type of blade and need to compensate for that.

Be glad to share what I've found out n done so far.

Tc

[Quebecnewf]

I run a Enercraft same as Baker (Baker bought them out then used their design) . On my first mill I ran the tightener right to the mark as it said in the instructions with no problem. When I bought my second mill (same type in all ways except this one had hyd drive on it ) I found if I ran the tightner right out to the mark I broke bands. I now run my bands on this mill about 1/8" sllack of the correct tightness mark and this has solved my problem.

Give it a try.

Quebecnewf


 

My Mill

[thecfarm]

I saw one of them Enercraft for sale. Just a phone number was on it,no one to talk to about it. Took me some searching to find out what it was.

[mikeb1079]

quebecnewf you always post pics of the nicest roundest logs.   :D  how come none of mine look like that?   ;D

[logger79]

Thanks for all the info guys. These are all new bands lenox woodmaster C 1.5 wide .42 thick. I will do some checking on the wheels as I haven't really looked them over good.
Thanks again

[thecfarm]

logger79,did not notice you was a new member. Welcome to the forum. You been around a mill before? You mentioned logging,have a crew,equipment? This link is a fun one,
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,13313.0.html

[Quebecnewf]

Not all my logs are this nice . My logs are mostly small I am sad to say.


 

These are logs i cut this winter and as you can see they are not real large.

We make do with what we have

Quebecnewf

[logger79]

Logging is my day job. Mainly cut hardwood and a little erc when I have to. I do not have a crew work by myself. Run a 540b cable and have a 440b when that one goes down. I have been around a couple of circle mills mainly offbearing. Don't have any experience with band sawmills.