Richland's Homebuilt Mill/pictures/first cut!!!

RichlandSawyer · January 09, 2006, 12:33:22 PM

I now have a rolling trailer for the mill head and was all excited about getting the head up on it.
Then i realized that if i put it on i cant get it back into the garage to work on it. The head is about 2 inches too tall to fit back in. Between the holidays and work seems like i've passed myself on the highway a time or two. I have to tell you i'm really starting to develope a complex over this mill building project. Almost everyone that comes by and sees it says the same thing ( You built that yourself?!?!?).
Just what are they trying to imply? Anywho,

Waiting on parts right now Harbor frieght had leveling jacks on sale but they sold all but three the day the sale started, guess theres a lot of trailers being built around here, suposed to get a new batch on the shelf tomorrow so i'll swing by the store and see if they aint pullin my leg. The wife says hey to everyone, she enjoys reading the banter between everyone. And for some reason she seems to have a thing for Bibbyman, not sure what thats all about, she says he reminds her of Red Green.
Well i really have to go the sun just came out and i'm gonna run outside and stand in it. havent seen that big fireball forever.

woodbowl · January 09, 2006, 01:05:31 PM

Quote from: RichlandSawyer on January 09, 2006, 12:33:22 PM
......... if i put it on i cant get it back into the garage to work on it. The head is about 2 inches too tall to fit back in.

Did you try letting some of the air out of the tires, just to get it in and out? ................... We're still waitin' for pics................ at this point we'll take any pics, even a flat tire. ;D

Murf · January 09, 2006, 02:52:56 PM

Quote from: woodbowl on January 09, 2006, 01:05:31 PM
Did you try letting some of the air out of the tires, just to get it in and out? ................... We're still waitin' for pics................ at this point we'll take any pics, even a flat tire. ;D

Or run the head to one end or the other an tip that end of the trailer down so the head clears the door frame?

RichlandSawyer · January 09, 2006, 03:44:43 PM

Hey Fellars!!

I pulled the trailer outside and took some pictures for ya.
Got some good closeups of the logdogs.

Here is the trailer

This is the first log dog i installed

This is the second log dog its still laying on the bench waiting to be installed

customsawyer · January 09, 2006, 06:49:53 PM

Welcome to the forum.
I am getting a little jealous though as you seem to be moving right along with that mill and I can't seem to make any head way on the projects that I have going. Seem to be spending to much time making sawdust. Then again theres no way you can spend to much time making sawdust.

RichlandSawyer · January 24, 2006, 03:58:49 PM

Hello to all!!

UPS guy just came and he left me a brand new set of blade guides!!!(finaly something i didnt have to build myself) tomorrow its off to the steel supplier to get tubing to make slides for them bad boys. I finaly settled on a design for log clamps and gonna work on those at the same time as the roller guides. I like to keep two projects going at once that way when i get stumped on something i can walk away clear my head while doing other things. All the leveling jacks got welded on and in my spare time i'm still trying to come up with some earth shattering new invention for getting logs up on the bed. i'll be sure and snap some pictures as the blade guides go on. I'm planning on using UHMW polyethelene for linear bearings on the roller guide adjuster, hopefully it will slide easy with no side movement, keep your fingers crossed.

I would also like to say that with all the comments flying around about MD I personaly would like to give a big pat on the back to the fine folks at Cooks Sawmills, They have done me well with bandwheels and blade guides and have been very kind and helpful. A real class act, the cook boys should be proud of there operation. I'm not sure if they ever read this forum but if they do you folks should consider a sponsership.

One last thing, I would like to thank Jeff and all the members of this message board, I could have spent a million dollars on books and never gotten the amount of information i have received from you folks. I dont know how someone could ever say thank you enough. I have been reading old posts and archives on here for about a year now and still find something new and interesting everytime a do a search.

RichlandSawyer

Grappletractor · January 25, 2006, 11:15:59 AM

RichlandSawyer ,

Any guess yet as to the material cost you'll have in it when finished ?

Grappletractor · January 25, 2006, 12:24:19 PM

Is this your motor ?

http://www.sunrental1.com/honda/engines/html/vtwinengine.htm

RichlandSawyer · February 12, 2006, 09:35:46 PM

Hey Folks,

Got them new blade guides almost on so i thought i'd share some pictures.

RichlandSawyer · February 13, 2006, 10:41:57 AM

Hi Shawn,

I'd be happy to give out that info. The bandwheels came from Cooks sawmills, you can get there prices online, the wormdrive gearbox for raising the head came from ebay, i think it was around 40 dollars. the guides also came from cooks, trailer parts are Northern, and bearings and pillow blocks all came from a couple farm stores, also the weld on sprockets came from the farm stores. I could have gotten the bearings cheaper if i ordered them online but i really wanted to see them in person before i purchased. The steel for the project came from a farmer who sells steel seconds he buys from streel distributors. The 3x2 tubing cost me 40 cents a pound but it was rusty and took me hours with the palm sander to clean it up. The small pieces of steel and shafts came from a local steel supplier, Took me awhile to find one that actually wanted my business. since i was only buying $75 to $100 when i went in most where very nasty to me.
Finally found a small place that the ladies at the counter are sweet as cream and were happy to get a $100 steel order.

If you have any more questions just ask!!

RichlandSawyer

RichlandSawyer · February 13, 2006, 10:52:29 AM

Since this is my thread i decided to rename it to something more descriptive of whats going on in here.

The new roller guides need more welding they will be permanent. I have to say when planning this project the two things i was not looking forward to was the blade guard and the blade guides and i must say i was not dissapointed. The blade guides are hands down the most difficult pieces to attach to the mill. to get them rock steady while out in the middle of the balde is extremly difficult. If anything happens to the movable guide on there now i'm pretty sure i will change the design again. If you are building your own mill make sure you give this some serious thought and maybe start working on mocking it up before you actualy get to that part of the mill. The next challange is squaring arms and log clamps, i have a design for that just need some warm weather.

More in a bit.

Coon · February 13, 2006, 04:10:05 PM

8) 8) 8) Everything looks and sounds like they are coming in place. I thought about building a mill of my own some time ago. While thinking and trying to draw up some plans I found a second hand WM for a decent price. Had to buy it as I deperately needed a mill ASAP. Would still love to build my own though but it'll have to wait.. Keep those pics a coming and take your time building. Any project that large takes some major critcal thinking and will rely on that till the bitter end. ;) ;) 8)
Brad.

kelLOGg · February 13, 2006, 06:02:56 PM

I was impressed with Cook's mill, too - I added my own options but I did not have the oomph to build it from the getgo. Looks like you have done a fine job.

RichlandSawyer · February 21, 2006, 11:49:51 AM

Goodmorning all;

I was just stopping in to take a little poll, I was doing some calculating over the weekend and given the components i have on my mill i determined my blade speed would need to be 5300 fpm for minimum resonance. So i was just curious what other people are running for blade speed in relation to wheel size and guide type. Any information would be greatly appreciated for future reference. Thanks!

loudsam · February 21, 2006, 12:08:28 PM

Welcome to the forum Richland! ;D That is a nice looking mill, and it looks like very good craftsmanship. Everytime I look at my mill I wish I would have built it myself. I will build one someday. Maybe I can get the plans from you. Happy sawing!!! 8)

Doug

beenthere · February 21, 2006, 12:09:45 PM

Quote from: RichlandSawyer on February 21, 2006, 11:49:51 AM
....... for minimum resonance. ..........

Curious as to what this variable is? a frequency? I'll 'stay tuned' for some enlightenment.

RichlandSawyer · February 21, 2006, 12:43:32 PM

beenthere,

I'm using 1 1/2" drive shaft and double pillow block bearings, normaly rotaional speed of the shaft wouldnt really be an issue but because of the amount of side loading on the shaft from tensioning the blade i'm limited on rpm. I could run faster but above 1122rpm on the drive shaft the bearing life would be reduced greatly. If i would have used a larger shaft
i could run faster but bearings over 1 1/2" are not readily available localy. Well atleast not at a reasonable price.

loudsam, thanks for the kind words, There were a few times i thought i was crazy for undertaking this kind of project out of the home shop but i cant imagine not building my own mill. It has been quite the experience. I cant wait to get this one done and get started on a swinger. 8)

highpockets · February 21, 2006, 08:10:26 PM

Richlandsawyer, hang in there, it'll come together one day. When I built th mill in 1999, I thought I had it just right. What you'll find out is that you'll see little things you'll want to improve on. I spent 90 days building this one. One mistake I made was machining my 20 wheels, etc instead of buying them. My lathe would just swing the wheels. Ain't it fun ?

Norwiscutter · February 21, 2006, 09:24:13 PM

Just read through this thread and am very impressed with your progress. Keep the pictures coming, as well as the commentary. I can tell that you have really done your homework here as I was thinking of doing the same thing as you... although I don't think I could have made it look so easy. Great Work

RichlandSawyer · February 22, 2006, 01:25:59 AM

I appolagize if i have made this look easy :D it's anything but easy!!!

you fellars are right though i have already found problems, well maybe "problem" is to strong lets just say some small issues but nothin' that we cant overcome. one issue is thre front lifting chains i have them wrapping back up to the carriage but i realized after the idle sprockets were on and the chains routed that the one on the port side is gonna get gunked up with sawdust so its gonna have to be ran another direction. i'm still not sure the blade guides are rigid enough
but that one is gonna have to wait till i run it a few times. If work cooperates i want to start installing the engine the first week of march. They just dont seem to realize i'm building a mill here and keep coming up with more contracts.

And those log clamps, why do we need log clamps anyway!!! I thought i had that all figured out but i changed my mind again.

I'd like to say one last thing, i started this project because i was to cheap to lay down the money for a manufactured mill but it has become so much more and i would encourage anyone thats on the fence about building there own mill, just jump in with both feet its a terrific adventure.

RichlandSawyer · March 02, 2006, 12:08:29 PM

Morning all, I've had alittle free time and done some work to the mill so i thought i'd share some pictures.

Last weekend the boys and i made a trip to southdakota to visit grandma. One thing i noticed was there really arent any sawyers in their area. Just cant seem to figure it out.

SouthDakota

jpgreen · March 02, 2006, 01:24:24 PM

Termites are REAL bad there.. :D

RichlandSawyer · March 02, 2006, 02:15:09 PM

I read somewhere that a bandmill should be setup so one side of the blade hits the log first to avoid chatter while starting the cut. Is there any truth to this or is it just hooie?

beenthere · March 02, 2006, 03:49:42 PM

RS
I've wondered several times why the band isn't set up to cut 'back' maybe 10° so the teeth aren't cutting square with the grain, but rather at a back angle to that grain. Seems if one drops a chainsaw into the end of a log, there is a bit more chatter than if angling it and cutting a little bit with the wood grain. Just wondering. Maybe the blade would get off course if it didn't enter the end of the log across the full cut at the same time.
Now, if I had a band, I'd try angling the ends of a few logs and see what would happen, but alas, I can only wonder. :(

jrokusek · March 03, 2006, 12:41:28 AM

Quote from: RichlandSawyer on March 02, 2006, 12:08:29 PM

Last weekend the boys and i made a trip to south dakota to visit grandma. One thing i noticed was there really arent any sawyers in their area. Just cant seem to figure it out.

Aw heck - I'm almost done with my bandmill and someone else got to the last tree! :D It will take a little while to get trees lined up I guess. ;)

Jim
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
(one of at least six sawyers in the area......)