Custom welded steel base for small bandsaw mill

[Permaculturist]

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  We're getting more snow/rain today, so I'm spending more time specing out my new sawmill.  At this point I am looking at SMG Champion.  I figure I can buy their Econo 13S mill without the base, and save money by building my own 20 foot long 2"x6"x.125" base on concrete posts. 

I am looking for ideas for the base.  I'm thinking of keeping the log bunks independent of the tracks so there is no chance of anything moving out of alignment over time from bouncing heavy logs on the deck.  I'd also like to add the best log dogging setup, and a hydraulic jack toe board.  I will be using this sawmill as an edger too so I need the right dogs for securely holding lots of boards together while I edge them.

If anyone has pictures of their custom sawmill base, I'd like to see them.

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[thecfarm]

I just posted about my Thomas in another thread. My bunks are independent of my track. I can move them anywheres I want,I can cut a piece about 2 feet long,if I wanted too.


 

Click on to my gallery icon under my user name and go to my gallery. I have bunches of pictures from past post.
Hard to see what is really going on with pictures and the typed word.

[bandmiller2]

PC, what does the champion mill carriage ride on, angle iron.?? You say your going to have a stationary mill well supported, why not build it on timbers and screw the metal track to it. For many years circular mills were built on timbers and they had much more weight to contend with. I 'am not up to speed on the picture thing. I made a screw type clamp with the acme thread rod leveling jacks used under metal staging. I cut one of the nuts in half, welded it on the back of a handle, I can slide the clamp into the wood drop the nut into the thread and give the crank a turn or two to lock it. Frank C.

[Ljohnsaw]

PC, what does the champion mill carriage ride on, angle iron.?? You say your going to have a stationary mill well supported, why not build it on timbers and screw the metal track to it. For many years circular mills were built on timbers and they had much more weight to contend with. I 'am not up to speed on the picture thing. I made a screw type clamp with the acme thread rod leveling jacks used under metal staging. I cut one of the nuts in half, welded it on the back of a handle, I can slide the clamp into the wood drop the nut into the thread and give the crank a turn or two to lock it. Frank C.

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Please figure out the picture thing :D  I can't quite "picture" it, but this sounds interesting.
Thanks

[drobertson]

I'm figuring if you are building a base, why not build an edger, one less option to worry about, and make the saw do what it is intended for,   I edge on the mill, but it is way slower, really,   

[Permaculturist]

I'm figuring if you are building a base, why not build an edger, one less option to worry about, and make the saw do what it is intended for,   I edge on the mill, but it is way slower, really,

Yes, an edger is on the to do list too.  One machine at a time ;-)

[Permaculturist]

I just posted about my Thomas in another thread. My bunks are independent of my track. I can move them anywheres I want,I can cut a piece about 2 feet long,if I wanted too.


 

Click on to my gallery icon under my user name and go to my gallery. I have bunches of pictures from past post.
Hard to see what is really going on with pictures and the typed word.

I like the idea of movable bunks, but yours attach to your rails.  I'd like to have my bunks attached to the cement posts but not touching the rails, so no mater what I bounce around on the deck I'm never going to worry about throwing something out of alignment.

[Permaculturist]

PC, what does the champion mill carriage ride on, angle iron.?? You say your going to have a stationary mill well supported, why not build it on timbers and screw the metal track to it. For many years circular mills were built on timbers and they had much more weight to contend with. I 'am not up to speed on the picture thing. I made a screw type clamp with the acme thread rod leveling jacks used under metal staging. I cut one of the nuts in half, welded it on the back of a handle, I can slide the clamp into the wood drop the nut into the thread and give the crank a turn or two to lock it. Frank C.

Yes, the SMG rides on angle iron.  I was thinking of using timers for the frame, but I have none that are dried, I am concerned with them twisting or warping as they dry if I work with green wood.

Wouldn't mind seeing that clamp you made.  Adding pics here is a bit of a chore, but feel free to email em to me if you're feeling ambitious ;-)

permaculturist@outlook.com