The Forestry Forum

I'm having the wild idea to try and build a sort of edger/resaw. I was thinking about putting multiple blades on it and having them be adjustable so I could cut different size boards. 

I want to make sure I'll have plenty of hp because I've read the more blades and thicker the cut, the more hp you'll need. So I thought, can I use an old car engine for a power source. I didn't know if anyone had any experience with setting up the engine to drive my pulley.

The other thing I'm slightly held up on is how I can design it to adjust the blades individually to cut different widths.

Thanks in advance!

Sounds like you want a gang edger.  This would be a double bay, heavy mandrel to support board edger blades on one side and a gang bank on the other. Although it would need lots of power, that is the only simple part.  I suggest that you go to whatever means necessary to find and inspect one of these machines.

Thanks for the lead. Definitely think I have something in mind that is a little bit outside the box but I figured if anyone would know anything, it would be here!

Ive been thinking along the lines of logosol frame saw. Which is basically a small sash mill so power need would be less

Like moodnacreek said your lookin for a double bay gang saw.

Rule of thumb is 5hp per inch of wood sawn per saw. So if your using 4 saws cuttin 4" stock at 100+- fpm you need about 80hp, 80 electric hp or 120dieselhp.