Corley 395

[Dave_]

I plan to restore an old Corley 395 this summer.  I have not contacted Corley yet to see what tech. info they have, but I was curious if any here might have detailed shop drawings of the 395?

Thanks,

Dave

[bandmiller2]

Thats good news Dave,can't help you with Corley info,their a good mill I know but scarce up here in the northeast,this is Chase and Lane country.Have you seen the mill setup or just a pile of pieces,reason I ask is its quite a puzzle to assemble from a pile of parts.If its still assembled take alot of close pictures and measurements.Is it wood ways and husk or steel?Hope you got a usable headsaw with it,show us some pictures if you can. Frank c.

[Dave_]

Frank,

I saw the mill complete and running about 25 years ago.  A friend of mine (unknown to me) aquired it along the way.  He was careful to keep all the wood work in tact, so it is basically still together even though the wood is rotted out.  It's complete even down to the factory name plate.  The only thing missing is the racks/dogs.  He had to rob these to put on another Corley he built for sale.  It's a complete basket case, but I love the challenge.  There's something about old rusty iron that gets me fired up.  Some guys like shiny new machines, but I like the old stuff.  I'm a cabinetmaker and have plenty of shiny newish machines, but the old ones have a story to tell and I like bringing the story out and putting these old girls back on the road.  I did not get a saw with it, however, I have a 56" that could work if need be.  I also have two other 48's that could work.  I have my eye on a 60" that I hope to wrangle away from it's current owner.  Here are some pics even though they are not very glamorous.

[Dave_]

Here's what they look like all shiny and new

[Peder McElroy]

Nice,can't wait to see the finished mill. I have an old M-24 Belsaw powered by a GM

V-8 and it work's great.Love the old circle saws. Peder

[captain_crunch]

Dave you are just haveing way too much fun :D :D

[Dave_]

Yes I am :D  I am making my bed in the black hole ($) of sawmilling

[Dave_]

I spoke with a really sweet lady (Vivian) at Corley who is sending me a "care package" in the mail.  I can't wait!!!  By the way, I asked about replacement racks for the knees and they have 5 in stock at a price of $700 each!!!   Looks like I will be fab-ing something else :(

[sandhills]

Great find!!  Please include pictures with your progress, can't wait to see how it turns out, I'm a little green with envy, you don't find much of that stuff down here in farming country.

[Dave_]

Even though we're here in the "Timber capital of the Nation," since the scrap iron frenzy awhile back, you don't see much of anything around here anymore.

[bandmiller2]

Dave whats the matter with the racks under the knees,do they have missing teeth or are they missing.Missing teeth can be repaired.Some of the modern mills use heavy roller chain and sprockets to move the knees.Lookinf forward to watching your project ,old cast iron is almost eternal and cleans up well.Frank C.

[Dave_]

The racks on the knees are fine, as far as I know.  The racks I'm talking about are the vertical racks and Hold-Tite dogs which are bolted to the knees.  Corley made one called the Pup Dog, which is like a Belsaw dog that uses an offset cam lock.  I will fab some like those.  The malleable rack and pinion gear set-up is very cool, but unless I find something laying around a barn somewhere, they will be cost prohibitive to buy new.

[bandmiller2]

Reread everything Dave, understand what your planning.You can easily copy the belsaw setup making it a little heavier duty.It would also be quite easy to adapt the dogging system from most handset mills to your knees.I know what your saying about scrap prices, I'am guilty myself. Scraped about two mills worth of cast got more than I could have sold the mills for,in fact it also paid for the circular mill I have set up.Take heart their are still old mills hideing in the woods that have what you need.Frank C.

[KyTreeFarmer]

Dave, Looking forward to your progress reports. I am a junk hound also. My first mill is an old Belsaw from a weed patch similar to your pics! Good luck!
KTF

[bandmiller2]

Dave ,if your making a belsaw type dogging system be sure to put the pointy sliding dog on the backside of the verticle bar that way the cam tends to pull everything down and tight when you set it. Frank C.

[Dave_]

Corley version                                              Belsaw version
               

[Dave_]

I think I'll just buy the Corley version because my 1950 catalog says it's only $15 :D :D

[Dave_]

Or I may go all out and buy this one for $20.  Talk about inflation, $20 in 1950, $1000 in 2010

[paul case]

how much are the belsaw ones new now? i bet tk still has some.  pc

[bandmiller2]

Dave,I believe American and Frick used a very simular rack dogging setup, its what I used on my bandmill, just laid them on their side.On the one you illistrated you must have to pull the handle out to release the pawl from the small gear to run it up and down.I have made the belsaw type and getting the cam just right is tricky, best if its adjustable.Insted of a cam an acme type thread can be used to tighted the dog, think the adjusters they use under metal staging. Frank C.

[Dave_]

Thanks Frank.  Another way would be to simply weld a nut on the dog housing and using a threaded rod/handle.  I've seen them this way, but it seems to me it would be very slow.  I think just about everybody copied everybody else when it came to racks/dogs.  If I could be lucky enough to locate a "parts" guy who would let loose of some without charging huge money, I would go that direction.  I will have plenty of other projects on this mill to keep me busy :D  It's a ways down the road, so maybe something will show up.

[bandmiller2]

Dave the usual way to get parts is to find anouther mill in a fallen down shed and lug it all home then you have two or three mills and pick and choose your parts. Frank c.

[Dave_]

Yeah, I'm on the hunt now ;D

[captain_crunch]

Dave
Try to pm Backwoods Sawyer he is in Camas Valley (close) and gets around quite a bit and may be of help. Only ones I know about are American and they are someones spare parts pile : :

[Dave_]

Thanks Brian, will do