I am part of the Muskoka Pioneer Power Association and we have a Waterous circular sawmill. There are 4 or 5 of us who operate the mill. We mill twice per year for 2 or 3 days. The mill was restored over the past 5-6 years and is now (sort of) in operation. We are still learning the science and art of the circular sawmill.
Thank goodness for this Fourm. You guys are all very good.
I hope to add more info as we learn more and become more experienced.
As this is my first post, I hope the picture stuff works.
miro
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33241/P1030810.JPG)
Welcome to the Forestry Forum.
Good job on the pics.
Where are you located? Interested to hear more about the sawmill and the activity of the Association.
Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Miro.
Congrats on the restoration, the mill looks great.
Welcome to the FF Miro, dandy saw you have there.
First time was a charm with the photo!!
DGD
Welcome to the Forestry Forum, miro. Hopefully you will share some more pictures of your sawing operation. :)
Welcome to the Forestry Forum. :)
That's an impressive-looking setup you've shown us. Those old saws hanging around are nice, too. ;)
Welcome to the Forestry Forum, Miro.
Looks like a lot of fun. Do you have any pictures of what you started with?
Allan
Welcome to the forum.
miro,welcome to the forum. That sure does look nice.Was the mill located there or did you move it there? Must have a festival each year to show it off?
Welcome :)
Useless fact of the day.
Miro is the name of a large forest tree here in NZ, so even your forum handle is forestry related, even if unintentionally :D
Ian
Welcome Miro and crew.What power do you have to run the mill.??The mill was probably made out in St.Paul MN. Waterous is still very much in business building fire pumps and fire hydrants.I went to school at the factury for a week a few years back.It almost seems that every foundry at one time cast sawmill parts and sold their own mills.Do you have one guy that's the sawyer or does everyone have a crack at it.With most circular mills the sawyer is the sawyer and loaths outhers messing with his mill.You could try to call Waterous for some history,I'am sure there mill parts are long gone,ask for Hintz Gee if anyone would know he would. Frank C.
Give us more . Looks like an on going project.
You asked for more - so here it is.
I shot a video of the mill today.
Here is the link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkDe_loUOW8&feature=youtu.be
I also took some still photos, which I wil post in the ext couple of days.
The mill ain't for production - that's for sure, but we are having a lot of fun, turning gasoline into noise, and making small pieces of wood out of big pieces of wood.
I saw somewhere that the Waterouss company is still in business although not making sawmills.
I wonder if they'd like to know about the mill. Has anyone got a contact there?
Thanks,
Miro
( and yes, I was pleased that my handle which is also my name - is a type of wood in New Zealand - and again - thank goodness for this Forum))
Miro
Welcome to the forum. That is a fine example of circle mill machinery. I love seeing the ways of the past in action. Good Luck and keep us updated on your progress. Andy
Welcome, nice looking old iron.
http://www.waterousco.com/
This might be the one you are thinking of, and a place where you can make contact and find out what their interest might be.
In the video, it was interesting to listen to the fellow trying to describe the lead in the saw. He had the general gist of it. :)
In case you don't have it, here is a link to a good circular sawmill booklet written by Stan Lunstrum.
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/misc/circsaw.pdf
Here is a video of the Waterous Sawmill in action today,
at the Bracebridge Fall Fair.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_OZTToMraA&feature=youtu.be
We're not milling for $$$ , but mostly for show, twice a year.
We're lucky that we've got a full building dedicated to the mill. It sure
helps keep the weather effects under control, although, moisture and subsequent rusting is a constant battle.
It's also great that visitors appreciate the volunteers who man the machine and keep it
operational.
miro
Thanks for posting the great video.
I think the guy stacking lumber would like a turn running the mill :D :D
well done project Miro, you guys did a good for that 'ol iron. welcome
mark
Miro,nice vid,what do you folks power your mill with.??Interesting to see the variable feed speed via the step pulley. Frank C.
that's a great project , everyone needs a turn at sawyer though . first time for me seeing a rack mill in action, do you have a problem with dust buildup on the gear or rack ?
Hi all,
thanks for the comments and feedback - this Forum is simply the BEST !
We use a Case Model D stationary engine for power. It runs at about 1100 RPM, and we run the saw at 475 to 500 RPM. Recently we took a good look at the governor linkages and discovered major slop, which we remedied. That help a lot to keep the saw running consistently.
We don't have any issues with build p of crud on the rack and pinion drive, because it is relatively well protected. We also make sure we keep the sawdust conveyor working and we clean up after each day of sawing.
And yes, we all take turns running the mill.
miro