Scavenging parts for a sawmill build

[TreeStandHunter]

So I've  been tossing around the idea of building a sawmill for quite some time now. I finally have begun prepping for the build by leveling out a site on my property for it as well as beginning to scavenge steel. My father-in-law was given a broken three-phase compressor to make into a smoker, The motor on it has a 19.5" pulley on it and I'm hoping that I will be able to use it as both the drive pulley and for the blade to run on. Here is a picture of it...it is 19.5 inches diameter and is grooved for two belts. Can the blade run on steel is my first question and second is can I buy a pulley from surplus center that is 18.75 inch diameter and use it alongside this pulley? Or do I have to have the pulley be the exact same size? I'm hoping that I could just mount the smaller pulley a little lower so that the blade is level. What do you guys think can I use this?



 


 

[JRWoodchuck]

You will probably need to have some crown put on it. But I don't see why it wouldn't work. As far as matching it goes you would want another all steel wheel and just have them both turned to the same size/crown. Good luck. PS we like photos.

[Kbeitz]

A lot of compressor pulleys are on tapered shafts.
You better check that.

[bandmiller2]

As Kbeitz said that pulley is machined for a tapered shaft. Band mill wheels is not a place to skimp they are the most important part of the mill. If the budget is tight, surplus center pulleys with taperloc hubs. If you got the bucks look up Cooks wheels and bearings. Quincy is one of the best US made air compressors, I would save that puppy as an air supply. Frank C.

[Iwawoodwork]

I have not built a band mill but have several wood band saws and the  old Craftsman saw has a flat rubber band  (like motorcycle inner tube material) glued around the metal wheels and works fine, also I see no reason that a smaller or larger wheel/pulley could not be used as long as both bottom edges were parallel to the saw bed. My thought is to use as much of the material as you have on hand or can scrounge, half of the reward, is building the mill on the cheap.

[Kbeitz]

I have not built a band mill but have several wood band saws and the  old Craftsman saw has a flat rubber band  (like motorcycle inner tube material) glued around the metal wheels and works fine, also I see no reason that a smaller or larger wheel/pulley could not be used as long as both bottom edges were parallel to the saw bed. My thought is to use as much of the material as you have on hand or can scrounge, half of the reward, is building the mill on the cheap.

They are called bandsaw tires... Grizzly tools sells them. Tough rubber or urethane bands...

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

Using smaller diameter pulley or wheel would cause the band to fail quicker due to increased flexing of the band.

[JB Griffin]

If it has less than a 1.5"  bore I cant recommend it.

[Den-Den]

I agree with JB that 1.5" shaft & bearings are about the minimum.  I don't agree that a smaller bore or a tapered bore in the pulley would be a deal killer.  It does mean that a metal lathe would be required to make the shaft end fit the pulley.  I don't see a real problem with one pulley being slightly smaller than the other.

[Kbeitz]

I used 30mm for my mill. That's only 1-1/8" shafting but I used high carbon steel.
I got almost 500 hours on my mill so far with no problem.



 

[TreeStandHunter]

I am just throwing around options. The motor is fine off the compressor it was the tank that failed. Budget is not an issue for the wheels. The place I am going too try and really save is the frame. I was given a 24' camper that is rotted out but is a tandem, I'm thinking of building the mill on top of the trailer once I tear it down but it is a long ways off...alot of dreams have been coming down the pipe since I've got the hankerin for a sawmill...

[Crusarius]

Those trailers are not very stout without the camper to keep them from twisting. It will require a good amount of reinforcing to make a nice stiff deck. and maybe a lot of outriggers.