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General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: sst04 on January 30, 2015, 09:36:33 PM

Title: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: sst04 on January 30, 2015, 09:36:33 PM
Can anyone with an lt15 tell me how wide the bed is from outside to outside.

And possible take some close ups pictures of the head where band is tightened and bandwheels are adjusted.

Been thinking of putting one together, I have enough metal for everything and possibly a 22hp onan diesel, and a lathe.

I can't find the pics I'm looking for on google.

Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: WDH on January 31, 2015, 07:15:46 AM
Where in GA?  You can come see mine. 
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: sst04 on January 31, 2015, 09:40:26 AM
Milledgeville. I may do that. Sometimes I have to go through perry to work in hawkknsville.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: WDH on January 31, 2015, 11:11:55 PM
I live between Perry and Hawkinsville.  Halfway in between. 
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: Ocklawahaboy on January 31, 2015, 11:50:19 PM
If you have the materials and skills you need to build a mill, why not decide the best width for you and go with that?  Any particular reason for basing it off an lt15?
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: thecfarm on February 01, 2015, 07:01:53 AM
Make it long too. I have a mill that can cut 20 foot logs. Really helps on the 16 foot ones. The longer track gets the head out of the way and when I roll a 16 foot log on,I have 4 extra feet instead of inches. It's kinda hard to move a log length wise on a mill with no hyds.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: BmoreReclaimed on February 01, 2015, 12:08:25 PM
The Lt15 bed is roughly 30inches wide.  I have 36"timbers underneath and they protrude a couple inches each way.  The width between guides is about 24" (this 24" is offset over the bunk stop, so you aren't cutting 24" square stock) and the height scale reads 27" at the highest point.   
I respect you guys building your own rigs, but I am a tinkerer at heart, also have piles of random material and was all fired up to make my own, and the math didn't add up.  After buying my mill and doing a complete alignment for the first time, I realized that this thing is adjustable in every single way.  Almost every point of connection is adjustable for squaring the head/band wheels/blades/height adjustment in relation to the bed.  This adjustability would of taken me hours and hours to get right.   All of these points are what you are going to pay close attention to.   I am a furniture maker ripping boards out of timbers, so perfection is what I'm after.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: sst04 on February 02, 2015, 12:48:19 AM
I guess the reason for basing it off an lt 15 is that I use to have one and
I really liked it. Also I the size, if I do it the same I can use wm blades or similar. It will be 20ft long and stationary.

I have been looking at all the adjustments on the head and its going to be tough.

So far here is what I have come up with.

Band wheels from surplus center. The website only list a 1 7/16 keyed version. It looks as if I could bore it out to 2" and drive bearings in it rather than use pillar bearings.  So I could use taper roller bearings in the wheels or regular roller bearings.

For band wheel shaft, I thought about either a trailer axle stub that is square, fitted into a larger piece with adjustment bolts to adjust up down side to side.

The bed will be made of 2x6, I'm not sure on rollers yet. Either v type casters or bearings. I was thinking of getting a 20 ft piece of flat maybe .5 thick and bolting or welding it to the side similar to the wm design. Although the wm has a milled piece for this.

Ill just buy the kit that has the small wheel the band blade rides on, maybe a shaft from a long cylinder for the in and out movement. Even thought about linear guides, maybe put some metal rack on it and use a small 12v motor to move it in and out.

As for a motor, if I get this diesel going, ill use it. If not, I will probably get an electric.


Thanks for all the input.
Now, if a mill pops up somewhere for a very very good deal, ill get it. Haha

WDH, if I go to hawkknsville any this week, I will stop by if you are around. Pm me a contact number if you will. Trips are usually short notice for me.

Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: willmyers0169 on February 03, 2015, 04:27:00 AM
im just south of Greensboro, if you need to come look at mine.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: customsawyer on February 04, 2015, 04:58:46 AM
Welcome to the forum.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: Sixacresand on February 04, 2015, 08:05:46 PM
I hope you have Good luck on building your mill-or buying one.  I would like to see it when you are up and milling. 
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: WDH on February 04, 2015, 08:23:02 PM
John,

How is the Sawyer Hostel coming  ???.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: Sixacresand on February 05, 2015, 08:25:31 PM
Quote from: WDH on February 04, 2015, 08:23:02 PM
John,

How is the Sawyer Hostel coming  ???.
If I build sawyer Hostel before I finish the front porch, the wife says I may living in it.  ;D
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: sst04 on February 06, 2015, 06:57:02 PM
 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25413/image.jpg) Need opinions on this up and down design for the head.
Picture should be attached.

2 inch square for post and 5.5inch square for head to be welded to.
The piece of 5.5 would be about 12" long with sawhead welded to it.

There would be two sets of bearings on all sides, with 1/2 inch bolts going through the bearings. I would make some eccentric inserts for adjustment of bearings and getting it level.

Is this too much? I've been looking at designs and I have really liked what I found. I want it to be completely adjustable everywhere and stiff.

[img width=650 --Photos MUST be in the Forestry Forum gallery!!!!!--.com/albums/e288/SSTEASLEY/Mobile%20Uploads/78C3E4B0-6D20-489F-8F70-2B8F4ED91FC0_zps0gpn98o7.jpg[/img]




Pic didn't work. Will have to figure that out.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: sst04 on February 06, 2015, 07:17:59 PM
Ok, there is a photo of a drawing in my album. Couldn't figure out how to post it here.
If anyone gets a chance, take a look at it and let me know what you think.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: beenthere on February 06, 2015, 07:22:45 PM
You can post it here, as the hard part is done. ;)

Go to the post you want to put the pic. Click on "Modify".
Click on the blue hi-lited line below, it will take you to a new window. Click on "My Gallery" (not upload photo).

Your pics will come up, and just click on the one you want. It will enlarge.

Then scroll down that page and you will see the tab "Insert image in post".  Answer "yes" and your pic is in your edited post.
Title: Re: Woodmizer lt15 width?
Post by: sst04 on February 06, 2015, 08:17:38 PM
Quote from: beenthere on February 06, 2015, 07:22:45 PM
You can post it here, as the hard part is done. ;)

Go to the post you want to put the pic. Click on "Modify".
Click on the blue hi-lited line below, it will take you to a new window. Click on "My Gallery" (not upload photo).

Your pics will come up, and just click on the one you want. It will enlarge.


Then scroll down that page and you will see the tab "Insert image in post".  Answer "yes" and your pic is in your edited post.

Ha, thanks!