Homebuilt Bandmills

[bandmiller2]

Many of us have built mills, I was wondering today how many are used regular, or just tried out, and ended up rusting behind the garage. I built my bandmill before I knew of this forum a dozen or so years ago for $500.00. Still using it, paid for itself many many times over. I took my time building and engineering it and there are few things I would change if I built another, but not much. My biggest expense was the two Browning 19" Vee pulleys. This is one place were you get out what you put in, carefull build with good and heavy duty materials long usefull life, cobbled togather junk, not so much. Are you guys happy with your builds.?? Frank C.

[BCsaw]

Mine is used on a regular basis. With a large property, there is always something to saw. I go from one project to the next. Currently, it is a small shop for my son.......will post pics when complete.

This is a tool that was needed. ;D

[dustyhat]

Yes, i use mine pretty regularly ,and its 15 years old, just wished i would have went longer with the frame.

[Den-Den]

I do woodworking (and like building things); built my mill to feed the woodworking hobby.  In a little over a year that my mill has been operational, I have cut enough to supply my hobby for several years and don't seem to slowing at all on the milling.  My mill started as completely manual, I have upgraded to a powered and automated vertical movement of the saw-head and improved the band tension system.  Don't saw every day but do use the mill quite a bit.

[Herb Brooks]

Still building mine.

[Joe Hillmann]

I finished mine last summer and other than the end of January/beginning of February when it was breakdown after breakdown after breakdown.  I would say mine gets used 8-20 hours on a average week.

[gww]

I don't know about pullys compared to tires and cobled together mills cause my experiance is with cobbled together and tires.  It might break tommorrow but today it is cutting the greatest of boards.  No speed demon but if it does hold up like it is starting to look like it will, I will take it any day.  The motor is my biggest concern but that is $160 to replace.  I didn't cobble together the blade guides.  leggman made and gave them to me and they are professional and made a professinal differrance in my cutting. 

I would not be putting down some one who does the building like I do cause in the end for my needs it is doing well enough.  If their needs are simular and they are not out to produce for money but for projects, I say go for it.  I have twelve acres of woods and mostly the trees that are good for milling are far and few inbetween.  Unless someone starts bringing me logs, I believe the mill will out last the woods.  I could have added 4 times what it cost to build the mill and bought a nice used mill that might do better but the need didn't justify it. 

I do however believe you should be proud of your mill and the improvements that it is over mine cause better is better.

I don't know how long I will use it and know when it gets hot I won't.  Will I pick it back up after the weather cools.  I don't know for sure. 

I do know it is the neatest thing to cut my own boards and have them come out really good.

Cheers
gww

[Kbeitz]

I'm still building mine.
Can't wait to get it done.
It sure turned out to be much more time and work then I expedited.
I think I can blame this forum for that.
Every time I think I'm about finished someone comes up with another attachment to build.

[stefan]

I built my mill in 2001 i belive. Hm... time really flies, dont it.
Since then it has been upgraded from time to time with more hydrualics.

I dont use it regulary, but last weekend i helped a friend saw some lumber for his house and i actually remembered to take a few pics.

First one is some of the logs that he brought, i think it was 22 of them.
The one on the mill and two others were a little longer about 6,5m or 22 feet. The rest was around 5m or 17 feet long.

Second pic is from the cab.
Third pic is most of the boards i think?

And the last is when i helped him load the slabs on his little trailer.

A couple of years ago i modified a old grapple from a log crane so i could put it on my wheel exavator although i have not used it very much.
But, when you are handling stuff like this it is very useful.


  

  

  

 

[Jeff]

I would have never guessed that was a home built mill. Nice!

[stefan]

I would have never guessed that was a home built mill. Nice!

Thank you very much!

[Wisconsintimber]

I built my mill about 5 years ago and it was used heavily the first 3 years while we were building our home.  The last 2 years it has seen little use and I am in the process of replacing the main engine.  I do have some sawing to do this summer and plan on using it more in the future.  I have been mostly happy with it's opperation and accuracy, but there are a few small things I could have done differently.   It does need paint :'(  and more hydraulics would be nice too...

  

  

  

 

[valley ranch]

Greetings guys, Couple things to do yet on mine. I'm at the lower ranch so can't work on it till we're back on the mountain. Looking forward to milling. Magic Man, a regular on this forum sent me a couple guides, a big help, haven't installed them yet.

Wisconsintimber, I have a question: How has that rear BEARING in front of the pulley that drives your blade held up? I see you have a bout 6" or more between the bearing and the drive pulley. {I've done mine the same way} Thanks

Richard

[Wisconsintimber]

Valley ranch,  The bearings have held up great on the drive wheels.  I used 1½" shafts/bearings and they seem plenty strong even with my driven pulley being that far from the bearing.  When I was building, guys were saying that you would want 1 7/16" shafts or heavier but I think that was especially for a cantelevered drive system where both brearings are on one side of the band wheel.  Anyway, to make a short answer long ;D  it has worked great so far.
Peter

[Ljohnsaw]

Still building mine...

[Ox]

I hated my first build which basically didn't cost me anything but time and welding supplies.  I lost interest but did accomplish the fact that I could build a mill from nothing and have it saw a board, which it did.  Just the one.  :D

Second mill is much better.  Just recently finished it at the beginning of May.  It's basically a Linn Lumber 1900 with my own twist on it here and there.  I'm happy with this one.  Smooth, accurate, better than I ever thought it would be.

I'm glad I did it this way the second time but I don't ever want to repeat the build process again.  If I had to do it all over again I would have bought an EZ Boardwalk 40.

[bandmiller2]

A fella really needs to build two mills, one to learn second to incorporate everything that should have been on the first. Frank C.

[bandmiller2]

On the same note almost all bandmill manufacturers started off in their garage building themselves a mill. Only difference they didn't stop at one, every later one had improvements, until they reached what they considered best. Then all that was left is how to build it cheaper. Some did the legwork others just copied. Frank C.

[Ox]

What bandmiller2 wrote x2.  Well said.

[redprospector]

I was going to start building my first mill in 1995, but funds were short and bill's were long. A guy in town made a deal with me that he would buy all of the materials for 2 mills if I'd build him one. Well, that didn't turn out so well.  : I got the first mill about 2/3rds done when he just hooked up to it and took it. All I wound up with out of it was a good deal of experience, and ideas.
I finished my mill enough to use in 1997, and it has been used as our sole source of income a few times since then.
On the first mill we used 6" Channel Iron for the main frame...My mill has a 3" x 6" x 1/4" rectangular tubing main frame. My head is 4 post made with 2" x  2" x 1/4" square tubing. I used a worm drive and chains for the head lift, powered by a hydraulic motor. I also used a hydraulic motor for the drive, but the return has always been painfully slow (I have parts on order now to remedy that  ;D) I used a 1600cc Volkswagen engine to power it, and that (in my opinion) was a very good choice at the time. I put hydraulic log stops, and dawgs on the bed, but I used quick couplers to connect the hydraulics every time the head was back. Proved to be more trouble than it was worth.
My mill has been the "never ending project".  :D Always something to fix, or make better.
I have the parts and materials for a chain turner, new improved dual dawgs, and log stops. I also have a 50 horse Mitsubishi diesel engine from a fairway mower I bought last year. Those projects are scheduled to start in August or September (I'll document it when it happens). But for now I have to make hay while the sun shines (old saying). I've got a fence to build, and some acreage to clean up to fund my lavish lifestyle.  :D