Stretching a Norwood Bandsaw

[Dangerous_Dan]

I have a Norwood with the 13 HP Honda engine.
It's a good mill but since I got an LT40 it's just sitting.
I thought I would set it up for just edging boards or put a power feed on it and cut clapboard siding setup like a resaw. Lately I've been thinking about cutting the sawhead frame and streaching it out to cut wider slabs. 36'' or so inches. It looks easy enough to cut the frame and extend it but I'm not sure if the 13 hp will be enough power or if a thin band will cut straight at 36 or more inches between the guides.
Any ideas or experience?

DD

[tyb525]

13hp is not enough, it's barely enough to cut 17" with any kind of speed.

You would probably be happier converting it into a resaw, edger, or if you are set on having something to cut wide slabs, you might consider converting it into a chainsaw slabber.

You might even consider making several different heads for it, like chainsaw slabber, planer/moulder, edger, resaw, etc.

[Larry]

I built a power feed for my manual Kasco just to cut clapboard siding.  It worked great and much faster than any other method.

That same Kasco had 16 hp on it and would cut 29 or 30 inches wide.  Had to have a sharp band and everything perfect to keep the band flat.  16 hp was agonizing slow with that wide of cut and I avoided making those wide cuts whenever possible.

[tyb525]

Although they can be slower, CSMs cut truer when you get into the wider stuff.

[Ironwood]

23 HP twin Briggs should do it, see if you can find one first.

Ironwood

[bandmiller2]

Dan,if you have three phase go elect.Wide unguided cuts require DanG near perfect set and sharp.Try the mill the way it is now just remove the movable guide you should get a good idea of how it will work. Frank C.