Not converting- But

[Frank_Pender]

I am looking for some imput as to what design brand might be the least expensive as well as economical for slabbing very large and small Western Big Leaf Maple burl into various thicknesses.   I need no more than 8' of track for what it is I want to do.  I would like a saw that can cut at least 36" wide.  From what I have been seeing I might have to come up with a design mechanism for my Mobile Dimension Mills.   Somewhat similiar to what I have done with the "Slabber".  
  I Know for sure I am in the right location to get all kinds of guidance on this issure.   All thoghts, ideas, input, etc. will be seriously considered.  Drawing, diagrams, pictures, etc, welcome.  :P  
  I will be waiting on slivers and dust. 8)

[sawmill_john]

What the heck have you been drink'in!
So do you ever stop thinking of how to do something different!
No, I know what you are wanting to do, and I came up with a design about 20 years ago to add a band mill to the MDS track but the big guys wouldn't go for it.  We can talk maybe this weekend, or next.

John

[Frank_Pender]

 8) 8)Yea!   8) 8)  Bring the drawings when you come down next weekend.  Wow!  My effort my be a bit less on this project.  If I put the "slabber" on one mill and the band on another, I will have to buy a third just to saw dimensional lumber. ??? ???

[Kevin]

80 " Alaskan MKIII Chain Saw Mill

[Jeff]

John is 2 posts from growin a tree.

Kevin, we have some over size logs in the yard that just get thrown in the firewood pile. This board has taught me to look past the "Ugly". They are just going to waste. great big owly knarly lumpy knotty logs. Some would probably go over 50 or 60 inches.


Question: How much money would it take to buy the chainsaw, and the mill and other needed equipment that could cut these logs into slabs.

[Kevin]

You can get some prices from here ...
http://www.fosterssales.com/

The saw could be 1K, depending.
You could buy new, rebuilt, used or probably just buy the bar, oil reserve and chain then rent the saw for a day.

[Frank_Pender]

Jeff,
  When I purchased the dedicated slabber uit from Bailey's it was $785.00.   That was without any sort of power head system.   For the full outfit you are talking in the neighborhood of about $8,000.00.  I of course furnished myown power source.  It does work.  I just finished a 34" diameter Doug Fir that was 8' long for a custom picnic table order.  I also sliced a 13" log for the benches.  It is slow but works great.  If you could come up with your own power head system you could save many dollars.  Of course you would have to design some sortof track or carrage system to move the saw through the long or you could hold the saw in one place and move the log through the saw.