The Forestry Forum

Guys I need input , I work alone a lot on a circle mill, does any one have pics or ideas on a belt or roller system to help offbear or something to help keep boards out of the way, any help or ideas greatly appreciated.

By the way I have access to unlimited scrap steel and I have a lot of rollers

I worked at a factory that had a walking off loading table ...
I would think that would work for you.

Check out Lyles' sawmill from Canada. He has a cool setup.

   circlemiller  lets his drop off on a ramp...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4CX17glU7g

Many mills have a belted offbearer.  Basically, there's a belt that runs next to the saw and takes the boards and slabs away.  My suggestion is that you want belts and not rollers.  Slabs do not run well on rollers as they normally fall bellyside down.  You may also want to have several short belts instead of one long one.  If you have hydraulics, you could put dumps in to separate slabs or heavy timbers out from the other material. 

If you are looking to saw some volume before stacking, then you need a surge area.  You could build yourself a green chain.  Run your material from the belts directly onto a set of chains.  Have your stop switch in your sawyer area.  When your pile gets full, advance the chains.  When you want to stack, go out and separate things.  If you use circle millers set up, your chains would be right where his slab falls. 

I would also have an edger out in this area that would bring the boards back to the green chain.  It all depends on how much you saw, how much you want to invest, and how efficient you want to be.

I'm near Summerville/chas. area. I work maint. @papermill...found conveyor on scrap pile w/ frame rollers belt and gear box ...if you go on my profile you might can get an idea ..works good for me ..if you come to chas. sometime be glad to show it..Richard