Portable Sawmill

[have_blue]

Gary,

How is the log fed through the saw? It's not obvious to me from the pictures.

Thanks,

[mountain_man]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the saw moves thru the log (instead of the log moving). However I'm curious what keeps the saw blade on the tires. Is there a groove or guide? Also, how do you adjust the height on each pass? Seems like a chain/spocket or rack/pinion arrangement might work?

[slowrev]

Yep, you are right, the saw travels down the rails. There must be threaded rods or something to adjust the height of the saw. Not sure how the blade stays on, but then I am not sure why the blade stays put on my bandsaw wheels either. Or my belt on my belt sander, but they do stay put.

[Egon]

Just finished making a portable chainsaw mill for myself. No original idea or high tech. Must have cost about ten dollars.

It's a 2x4 fastened verticaly to a 2x6. Then there is a glued up wooden block grooved to fit over the 2x4. A piece of 5/8 ready rod through the block and bolted to the chain bar. Fasten the 2x6 to the log, put saw and block on 2x4 and a straight cut can be made. Turn log and lay 2x6 on cut portion and another staight cut with two sides at a 90 degree angle.

There's some here with real logging experience and gear that should get a good chuckle out of this aberation. It does work, is very cheap and is very portable.

Egon

[gmason]

Blue, the log is "fixed" the saw rolls down the rails.

[gmason]

MM, the tires are squared-up so the blade runs pretty true. There is a little bit of tension in the blade so that the tires do have a little bit of a slot for them to sit in.

Plus there are a pair of blade guides on the inside of the tires that keep the blade tracking true and from wondering too much once they get a little dull.
See the blade under the bearing guides here?

They can both be adjusted so that they set as close to the log as possible.

And here is how the whole table of the saw moves up and down.
sprocket

This little motor turns the larger sprocket which turns a Acme threaded rod on both sides of the frame inside the 2" square channel legs.
gary

[mountain_man]

Very well thought out. Many clever ideas. Thanks. When are you going into mass production? Assume you'll need to add a few guards to obtain OSHA approval [img]/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[scottbrrtt72]

Hey Gary,

The mill is coming along. I have it about 50% completed. There is a lot to know (for me it is learning) about these mills. I will try to get some photo's posted ASAP. I have a lot going on at this time. Finding time to do anything is tough for me right now.

[fivestring]

Pictures, Egon, pictures!

[Egon]

Fivestring:

Pictures will come in time. Get ready to laugh. there is nothin original about it.

Egon