New User - New to me saw need help to ID it

KirkD · November 18, 2015, 11:09:48 AM

I have been absorbing the collective knowledge here for awhile and finally joined. Never sawn a log yet but I found a mill and drug home. I and am trying to figure out if it is home built or a older name brand.

The guy I got it from thought it was a home built copied off of Wood-Mizer. If it was he had a lot of fab tools and time on his hands building it.
I will try to get some better pictures when I get it off my trailer. It came with a 16hp Kohler that had been stored inside.

Magicman · November 18, 2015, 11:32:42 AM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, and congratulations/thanks for the pictures.

A Wood-Mizer clone was my instant guess before I read your narrative. Following your restoration will be interesting.

Chuck White · November 18, 2015, 12:43:52 PM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, KirkD.

The cantiliever design was the giveaway, initially it looked right, to be a Wood-Mizer, but the squared blade housing on the off-side said clone!

No reason it can't be a good mill for you!

customsawyer · November 19, 2015, 04:16:26 AM

Welcome to the forum.

5quarter · November 19, 2015, 09:07:54 AM

Probably a homebrew, but it could also be a really old 'mizer, although the way the saw head is mounted on the mast doesn't look quite right. nice catch.

KirkD · November 19, 2015, 05:01:12 PM

I read a good tread here about band wheel belts and there seem to be varying opinions on tight vs. lose this has B57's on it and they hang in the pulleys.
Question is how lose is to lose?

The next step after belts will be to determine length and size of blade to use on it.

I will attach some pictures of the belts and the blade guides.

Anyone have an ID on the type of blade guides being used?

Chuck White · November 19, 2015, 05:24:37 PM

The blade belt looks right!

The blade guide rollers look home made, or at least not Wood-Mizer!

Somebody did a lot of homework in designing and building that sawmill!

Nomad · November 19, 2015, 05:35:28 PM

The blade guide rollers look like something off a shop bandsaw to me.

KirkD · November 19, 2015, 05:37:02 PM

Quote from: Chuck White on November 19, 2015, 05:24:37 PM
The blade belt looks right!

The blade guide rollers look home made, or at least not Wood-Mizer!

Somebody did a lot of homework in designing and building that sawmill!

Thanks Chuck, I agree it has some good design behind it. He even did what appears to have used a standard blade size I just measured it @ 13' 2" or 158" and that would be about a 1/2 slack when slipping it on and there is plenty of adjustment to tighten it from there.

muggs · November 19, 2015, 05:58:07 PM

The guides look like carter guides for a vertical bandsaw. Muggs

KirkD · November 19, 2015, 06:13:24 PM

Quote from: muggs on November 19, 2015, 05:58:07 PM
The guides look like carter guides for a vertical bandsaw. Muggs

Muggs,

I think you win the cookie on that one. They are cast and I could not quite make out the name in the casting but after you said Carter I went and looked and I am sure that is what it says Carter and maybe 600 below it.

Kirk

redprospector · November 19, 2015, 08:29:11 PM

In the mid 90's I was running an LT30, that was probably sold new in the early to mid 80's. I remember it having guide wheels top and bottom, but I don't recall just what they looked like. That mill wouldn't cut closer than 2" from the bed, so unless you got real creative, every log ended with a full 2x.

KirkD · November 20, 2015, 11:54:26 AM

Quote from: redprospector on November 19, 2015, 08:29:11 PM
In the mid 90's I was running an LT30, that was probably sold new in the early to mid 80's. I remember it having guide wheels top and bottom, but I don't recall just what they looked like. That mill wouldn't cut closer than 2" from the bed, so unless you got real creative, every log ended with a full 2x.

This one came with a couple of fabricated bed risers that slip over the bed. I bet that is why they made them. It looks like they would raise the bed about 4" or 6"

KirkD · November 20, 2015, 11:58:30 AM

This came with no blades and since the original owner is diseased all I can do is hope I can get some guidance here as to what to start with. I have been looking at pictures online at different blade guides and the ones I have look a lot different. If I measure from the back bearing to the front of the two bearings it is only about 1/2 of depth. If I use a 1 1/4 blade that will leave 3/4" hanging out the front. Thoughts?

Ga Mtn Man · November 20, 2015, 12:21:43 PM

Get some Cook's or Wood-Mizer blade guide assemblies. Best money you will spend on that mill.

Chuck White · November 20, 2015, 02:19:29 PM

Quote from: KirkD on November 19, 2015, 05:37:02 PM
Quote from: Chuck White on November 19, 2015, 05:24:37 PM
The blade belt looks right!

The blade guide rollers look home made, or at least not Wood-Mizer!

Somebody did a lot of homework in designing and building that sawmill!

Thanks Chuck, I agree it has some good design behind it. He even did what appears to have used a standard blade size I just measured it @ 13' 2" or 158" and that would be about a 1/2 slack when slipping it on and there is plenty of adjustment to tighten it from there.

That's what the LT40 uses!