Yet another mill build...but a band slabber

[fishpharmer]

Nope never ran anything but 1 1/4 and .045's.   The Cook's Supersharps worked best on that mill.  Awful on the lt40.

[bkaimwood]

Well, its been decided and official... I'm going to stick with my original plan, and go band sawmill style, wide...the process will begin today. I'm going to use some of the bones from my first and home made mill...step one will be getting the nearly 3k lb head/carriage assembly off the tracks, then burn all the welds off the structural steel that makes the tracks, to get the tracks off the trailer its on...shed some weight and simplify...I figured it will help get me on the right track quicker...toss the portability, and offer log pickup to saw large logs on site...the interest is mainly for my own logs, but always pays to keep the door open...pics coming soon...

[bkaimwood]

Just spent 20 minutes uploading pics and updating post with pics...I see none of its here? I've posted pics before...I'll try another time...

[beenthere]

There are three pics in your gallery dated today...

Do the "click here to add...." and when that window opens, click "My gallery" in the menu tab. Click the pic you want in your post and follow the directions below that enlarged pic. Click the "Preview" to verify it is what you want, before clicking "Post". 

[bkaimwood]

before...

  

  

 

[Ox]

Overbuilt is good.  Me likey.  This should be an interesting build.

[bkaimwood]

Yeah, I tend to overbuild...the head/carriage assembly wasn't supposed to end up being close to 3k lbs...but with a 38 hp Isuzu diesel, and 3/8 thick 4x6 tube, that's how it ended up...I'm toying with the idea of a cantilever design... The thought of cutting all the bunks, and the head in half to widen is not a thought I'm fond of...thinking I can leave both alone, and have a 6 foot arm hanging off the side, sawing a log next to it...crazy, silly...yes...possible, atleast for trial, why not?

[Ox]

Heck, if it makes it easier for you, why not?  It would be something unusual which is always fun and it's something new to try which makes the build go quicker, at least it does for me.

[bkaimwood]

After.....
It will be a long time till I get back on this, trying to get the most important stuff before the snow flies....not enough hours in a day...

    

 

[beenthere]

So what is the story behind the two pics posted?

Or do we just imagine what is going on, and has something to do with snow flying?  :D

[bkaimwood]

So what is the story behind the two pics posted?

Or do we just imagine what is going on, and has something to do with snow flying?  :D

Your either silly, don't see the before and after pics, or don't think my progress is worth showing :D :D :D
First two pics a few posts ago showed my monstrosity together, track all welded to trailer, and so on...
The last pics showed all the track burned off the trailer after the head assembly was lifted off courtesy of Clark circa 1967...the hydraulic log clamps, auxiliary hydro motor, and everything is removed from trailer. trailer is back to just being a trailer, sawhead is now ready for potential design influence...

[bkaimwood]

Maybe its a bit of all those things, beenthere ;D That's a lot of progress for an army of one when there's not enough hours in the day. The snow flying directly relates to other stuff of higher importance...like getting that open barn finished or at least closed in better, getting log piles and firewood organized, general fall cleanup and such things....I could go on

[Ox]

Keep on keeping on, buddy!  I know what it's like fighting with an army of one when you need about 4 guys.  Luckily this year winter is being a bit nice to us so far.

[Kbeitz]

What part of Pa are you in...
Might like to come and check your saw out...

[bkaimwood]

Kbeitz, we are close to 5 hrs apart... Pocono region

[Kbeitz]

Kbeitz, we are close to 5 hrs apart... Pocono region

I'm often in the Bangor regon.

[bkaimwood]

Kbeitz, we are close to 5 hrs apart... Pocono region

I'm often in the Bangor regon.

I hardly know her...but I'm 30-45 minutes from...

[bkaimwood]

Well, I forgot to post this before the teardown... I spent a day, and made some adjustments to give my existing setup a chance...so I put this lil fella on there to try...walnut, about 34" or so...I got 3 slabs down and quit... Although I did make the cuts, it was after launching 3 blades, one into pieces...waves that were unacceptable, slabs that are salvageable...I'm sorry, I decided not to include slab pics out of respect for WDH's eyes...
I'm too busy and am dreaming if I think I can find the time to get this new wide slab bandmill going, so against my judgement and religion, I'm going csm...I've picked up a 72" bd titanium harvester bar and 100' role of .404 10 degree ripping chain...I think this will start as a plain manual csm to get going, with aux oiler, then maybe graduate onto my old carriage with assisted feed if I like the results. I think I'll start powering it with the 880 to get started...and then may graduate to a harvester sprocket in the end on the carriage, using the existing Isuzu 38hp diesel...but we'll see, and start slow...thanks for all the help so far...

  

 

[Percy]

Very ambitious project. Cool. I like it....Perhaps you might try running huge set with whatever blades you have left before scrapping the idea..If its all aligned proper(im sure it is) you could try 40 thou set or even a tad more. Hp might come into play but what the heck...wortha try  doncha think??? Good luck with this...

[bkaimwood]

Good thought, Percy, I appreciate the input. I don't have a setter. Unfortunately, I already have this rig mostly apart, too...The biggest problem I've had was getting enough of the insane tension I need to keep this 1 1/2x .055 band under control...I think I've tried enough to say to go further, I need to do some tire change, best idea I suppose is actually going to a balanced, designed for purpose, 20" or bigger wheel. But she's retired for now, and we are moving on...

[Magicman]

I can't tell from the pictures what you are doing/using for blade guides??   

[bkaimwood]

I can't tell from the pictures what you are doing/using for blade guides??   

That's a good thing, MM, as it would hurt your eyes!!! :D :D :D The original guides were mounted at the bottom, where they should be, just inside the tires, and worked great...what is seen there, is a very bad idea in experimenting...where I threw together a few quickly adjustable guides to tinker around for a couple hours on a nice day when I needed to take a break from some other things. It was an obvious failure on many levels and never should have been attempted. It was one of those, "lets see what happens if we do this!!!"

[thecfarm]

Let's see what happens. Ayup,I've tried that a few times.  ;D
Good luck to ya!!

[Magicman]

You must have some downward pressure with the guides so that they control the blade, not the bandwheels.  Most folks recommend ¼" of downward deflection.

[bkaimwood]

You must have some downward pressure with the guides so that they control the blade, not the bandwheels.  Most folks recommend ¼" of downward deflection.

Yup...ran the mill for a year or so as such when they were where they were supposed to be, always worked great, ole reliable always sawed true and predictable....the move to the top was just an experiment to gain room down below, but as suspected, failed... :'(   also ran down pressure up top...