Home Built Sawmill Count

[Left Coast Chris]

This was a fun build...cantilever head, 24 hp Honda

 

[bandmiller2]

Drifty, that looks like a world class bandmill, well done. Do you sharpen and set your own bands.??  Frank C.

[bandmiller2]

Chris, you have one of very few cantilever homebuilts I've seen. I considered it buy wimped out and went four post. Good looking mill. Frank C.

[Larry]

Welcome Driftless.  Impressive machine.  Bet there are lots of hours in it. 8)

[m wood]

Driftless, that there is a thing of beauty! well done and welcome.
mark

[thecfarm]

Left Coast Chris,guess I missed yours, I think that is the only homemade one like that. Good job.

[Left Coast Chris]

Thanks.  It is fashioned after an LT30 but modified for higher head lift and slightly wider throat.  I can cut a little over 27" wide.  One lesson learned is the cold roll steel for the track that is welded to the frame that the head bearings travel on should be harder than mild steel.  Mine developed a flat spot but if I keep it pitch free it will travel just fine.  Only had a problem with pitchy cedar once.

[Red Good]

I am still in the collecting parts stage but have the motor I will be using complete with good rad and carbs and fans andsensors . Looking at the Linn mills 19 " wheels and  thier band cover setup/ guards  Priced track and 3/8 angle and bunk material this week  while picking up our laser order . 2 in square tube heavy wall we have in stock . Suppose I could  make all my motor mounts . Moving along just not much to show for it yet . Red

There are some serious pro looking homebuilts in this list , congrats to everyone .

[bandmiller2]

Red theirs nothing wrong with 19" wheels, if you get short bandlife with them theirs something else wrong. If I were building another bandmill I think I would make it a self propelled unit with a drivers seat. The track could be angle iron, wheels "V" and long track.  If it will be stationary you could use angle iron on wood to support track. A rolling log turner like Elk 42. Frank C.

[Driftless]

Thanks for the comments.  I attached some more pictures.  I got the idea for the log loader from another user here (can't remember the name).  So I can't take credit for it.  It works well, but it is heavy and can be hard to load at the end of a long day!  I saw mostly for myself, but lately have been sawing more and more for other people (mostly neighbors).  I sawed some large and long burr oak last year that really pushed the limits of the mill.  I am in process of designing a sharpener now and just started making parts for a setter.  I have more hours in this rig than I care to add up.  But it was a great experiance.



 



 



 

[Hilltop366]

Some really nice looking home built mills!

Thanks to all who shared.

[Peter Drouin]

I must say we have a bunch of talented people here, Heres to you all.
smiley_clapping smiley_clapping smiley_clapping smiley_clapping smiley_clapping

[drobertson]

I agree with Peter, outstanding show of talent, and design.  Very impressive work,   

[Magicman]

Hello Driftless, and Welcome to the Forestry Forum.   

Your sawmill as well as Left Coast Chris' are very innovative to say the least.  Both of you have demonstrated exceptional talent.   

[Buffer]

17' long 31" wide bandmill still in the imagineering stage , photos will follow.

[MikeZ]

 

  Homemade 36" x 20' Still have hyds and hope to be portable some day, just can't keep from sawing like it is. Picture taken on very first(attempt) cut.

[arnold113]

I'm very surprised to see so many shop built mills. I was beginning to believe they were few and far between. My mill is still in progress. I've been working on it for 2-3 years off and on  when I managed to get a few $$ to work on it. It has been built out of repurposed material.  36" x 18'. 18 hp Wisconsin. hyd pineywoods log turner, log loader, two roller toe bds. Hyd is by way of 24 vdc motor driven hyd pump. 4 post design with rack and pinion on all 4 corners driven by worm gears with wheelchair motors. Still have to fab my log stops and sheetmetal guards. 

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

[bruce29]

a few pictures of my home built sawmill

  

  

 

[Magicman]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Buffer.  I look forward to seeing your pictures.  I am really enjoying some of these latest ones.  Very innovative to say the least.

Hats off to you guys. 

[thecfarm]

Some of the "home made" mills you guys build look impressive. Best word that I could come up with. 

[5quarter]

Amazing work guys! Needless to say, I won't be posting pics of my mill next to any of these great saws... :-[ ;)

[stefan]

I like seeing pics of other homebuilt sawmills, its great to have so many good ones in one place!
I´ll add a few of my own mill.

Old pic before cab

  

 
Newer pic with cab. (cab could use a coat of paint)
 

 
Inside cab.
 

 
Old log clamp/turner, turner didnt work to good.
 
New chain turner test, much better.


  
Paint is nice.


  
A couple of pics from the drivers seat.


  

 

[Red Good]

Stephan , nice mill , your chain turner is that just 50 chain or 530 with nubs welded on to turn the log , or is that bought some where .Cab looks very good and needed ! Red

[stefan]

Thanks Red!

I am using a standard 80 chain (one inch pitch) with some u-channel iron welded to it.
Although it works fine, i think i am going to replace the u-channel with solid bar bits maybye 3/4 inch thick
shaped as an "M" as i have seen on other mills.

That would hopefully give me a little sharper edges with more grip in thick bark,
and still dont damage a sawn cant if flipped with the chain turner.

Yes, i really like that cab, that was something i wanted to add to the mill for years.
It is nice to be warm and seated.

[5quarter]

Stefan...awesome mill. Could you give some specs on it? Also, is there an advantage to using round stock for the bunks instead of flat stock? How difficult was it to get them level?