Ideal layout for a sawmill barn

[bmurphy96]

I'm going to be building a new barn in the next couple of weeks and one of the primary functions of the barn will be to house a band saw. The barn will be either 20 foot wide by 36 feet long or 30 feet wide by 36 feet long with 12 feet between trusses. The mill itself will be 24 feet long. 

I will most likely put one or two lean to portions on the barn to widen it later  - especially if it's 20 ft wide.  That way I can put the mill "sideways" if it makes sense and only have a few feet of track out in the open. I can cover it with a tarp as needed until I add the lean to.

Any input is appreciated!!

Keith

[Hot Shot Rob]

Keith, awesome to hear about wanting to build a barn to cover your mill. Nothing is better than knowing your investmestments are protected. We are also looking at building a "MILL BARN" in the next few months. The following is a list of things that our crew have been considering when designing our cover (In no particular).
1. Flow of logs/lumber
2. Length of mill and the length of logs/lumber we would like to get in and out of the barn.
3. Is the mill going to be mobile at times.
4. Height of machinery used to move logs in and out of mill.
5. (Location) sun rise and set to protect not only the mill but anyone who will be operating the mill during the day.
6. Building for the possibility of expansion. Will there be more equipment added and can the design function after expansion.
7. (Maybe to much thought, however rain diversion has come up.) You don't want rain water from roof to accumulate in front of mill.

I am sure there are other (probably very important thoughts to consider, however this is what we have been considering). Space is valuable so make the best of it. Time is money and money is time. Our current thoughts are truss design to cover our approx. 20 foot Lt 35. With the possibility to add cover for air dry storage. The initial design would span long enough to allow 16.6' logs/lumber in and out ( that's the maximum bed length), 12' clearance to allow our forklift in and out with ease. Single pitch roof to divert rain water toward rear of mill. Most of mill will be heavy treated timber with either metal or fabricated wood trusses. The footprint we have been considering is roughly 20' deep 40' long with 3 support posts front and 3 rear. Hope some of these thoughts spark more responses and your imagination. I would love to hear your thoughts and see your design. Good luck. Keep posting.

Robert (Hot Shot Rob)

[ljmathias]

I built mine with access from both sides for loading/unloading logs and beams. Best decision I ever made on the sawmill. Can't tell you how many times I've had logs lined up on the loader side but needed to either put a different one on the bed or take a clunker off using my backhoe. Plus, I just lower the bucket a little on the off-side, scoop up sawdust into the bucket and then pile scraps on top to haul to the burn pile. I built a little extra room on the ends but it's clear to me from how I use the sawmill shed that it's a single purpose building. I made it just wide enough and long enough for my mill (takes maximum of 20' logs) with room at the operating end to keep it and me out of the weather. Wear and tear on the mill is enormously less than when I had it out in the weather.

If you need a barn or shed or other building for other stuff, I'd recommend building those separate. I tend to have multiple projects going at a time, sometimes cutting lumber on the mill that I immediately take into the adjacent barn to build something with.

On another note: leave room on the front and back to pull in a trailer or truck to off-bear lumber onto. Did this with all the live-edge pine siding I just cut for my daughter and SIL's new house. Worked great: with two trailers (neither very good or useful but oh, well) I would sticker and stack onto one trailer, let it air dry for a couple months, then stain as we either put up on the house wet or onto the other trailer to dry for a few days before putting up. In summary, having moving space around your mill shed/barn is very, very important.

LJ

[bmurphy96]

Thanks guys!

Some of those I have considered, some i haven't though of..I really appreciate it.


Keith

[Grizzly]

This is an idea I have that I'd like to hear critique on. Attached pdf.

[PAmizerman]

2 things.
I assume you will have a sawdust blower hooked to the mill and edger? Cause there's not enough room for a machine to fit in. And the post that is in the middle of the bump out.... I'd either slide it or the green chain  so you can back out with lumber without having to remember to miss that post. Other than that looks good. Do you already have the equipment or just planning ahead?

[Southside]

Two things that jumped out at me and they are related to each other are the placement of the filing room.  Will that limit your intake log length to less than your mill can handle?  Also, what are your handling plans for long beams - will you need equipment to lift them or will your flow to the green chain be able to deal with them? 

[Grizzly]

-I was thinking conveyor or chain for sawdust removal but blower would likely be simpler.
-I'm not sure whether lumber is going to come off of the end of the green chain or off of the sides. I'm not obligated to close in that end of the shed and might use that space for lumber piles. I'd also have to think of how to support the roof if I take out or move that pole. Ongoing puzzling there.
-Conveyors or roll cages are some of the next things on my list (which seems to be getting lengthy). I have to get away from lifting the wood and letting equipment do the job. My helpers are smarter than I was and don't seem to want to ruin their backs. I want to copy a members trim table where he uses 2 or 3 carpenters chop/miter saws for the job. The edger is here.
-My log intake door is 20ft because the longest log I get is 18ft and with this mill I have no interest in milling longer stuff. So the filing room does not limit that.
-I very seldom get orders for long beams but I expect the offtake conveyor to be capable of moving those to the green chain.
What else?
I love sawmillexchange! I just gotta find some $$$!!