Need advise on my sawmill project

[jpassardi]

You really should have a spring: air bag, coil or rubber. The problem with not running one is that as the band expands with temperature it grows in length and tension is lost. The spring maintains band tension. The wheel belts provide a minimal amount of "cushion".

[ladylake]

 Yes put a spring tensioner on your mill.  Steve

[Ken Malone]

I picked up a 1/4 hp gear motor that is rated at 18 rpm ratio 95:1 does this mean the shaft turns 1710 rpm? It is rated at 750 in lbs torque I'm hoping to raise and lower mill with it.Any thoughts?

[Ken Malone]

I have a 18 rpm dc gear motor.when I power it up with a car battery I get about 3 rpm.Any thoughts? It also says 90 v on the tag . What does this mean?

[Hilltop366]

I would think v=volts which would explain the low rpm at 12v.

[Ken Malone]

Do you mean it would take 90 v to get the 18 rpm?

[Hilltop366]

I think so.

It was likely made to run with a controller that converted 120 AC to 90 DC. 

[Ken Malone]

Yup your right.came off a treadmill.

[Ken Malone]

I'm now on to building blade guides. I've seen many different configurations  just wondering what is the best.Any ideas or pictures would be great. Thanks Ken

[Ljohnsaw]

Ken, Do yourself a HUGE favor and just buy the Cook's roller guides. That's what I finally did after having regular bearings lockup at least once a year.

I made my own drilled mounting bolts with a zerk fittings to grease them. That was mounted on a rod that fits in a square 2"X1/4" wall tube. Two bolts per side allow for full adjustability.

In retrospect, I should have just used a piece of solid square stock instead of the round, it would have been easier to fab.

This was after rusting all winter.


This also shows the supports for the adjustable arm.


The whole boring build thread

[jpassardi]

I agree with John, you can get the assemblies from them with adjusters and save some fab time.
I also suggest their felt/diesel dripper if you plan to mill pine. I retrofitted one to my Woodmizer. Buying the parts separately is nearly the same cost.

[Mooseherder]

I have a 18 rpm dc gear motor.when I power it up with a car battery I get about 3 rpm.Any thoughts? It also says 90 v on the tag . What does this mean?

This is the Dayton Gear motor on my mill for forward and back.

[fluidpowerpro]

I would say the 90v is the intended operating voltage.