Long narrow concrete pad for a proposed band saw mill----> how elaborate need it be?

[Gitche Gumee Kid]

Long narrow concrete pad for a proposed band saw mill----> how elaborate need it be?

I want it dead level . If the site is prepped properly with good compaction, formed up appropriately with recommended rebar and 5" of concrete and a 6'x30'final size---how are my chances of it remaining level thru Northern Wisconsin freeze/thaw cycles?

I would hate to have to put in 5' deep footings.

GGK

 

[RNeumann]

Re: Long narrow concrete pad for a proposed band saw mill----> how elaborate need it

Just like any road the surface type flat work will move around. This is the perfect application for some type of screw or steel anchors/“footings”.
To minimize movement you will want to thicken the edges to say 12”. This won’t prevent all heave but it will help.
It might be cheaper and easier to make the saw and table legs easily adjustable if it has to be dead nuts 24/7/365.

 

[mapper]

Re: Long narrow concrete pad for a proposed band saw mill----> how elaborate need it

Fill under the slab with gravel down to below the frost line, make sure that it is well drained so no water will pool in the gravel.
Could be a lot of gravel if the frost line goes really deep. Here I could do it with about five inches or less:laughingwe rarely get down in the teens and that is usually for week or less)

 

[Jcoon]

Re: Long narrow concrete pad for a proposed band saw mill----> how elaborate need it

Instead of 5’ deep footings, you can put 4’x8’x2” rigid insulation board around the perimeter laying on its side so that it protects you from at least 4’ of frost.

But everything moves at some point in time the earth is always shifting.

We have a saw mill on a concrete pad, we put the wire mesh in, it hasn’t cracked in a year.

The sawmill is full adjustable is it not?

 

[oosik]

Re: Long narrow concrete pad for a proposed band saw mill----> how elaborate need it

With everything said above - why not just build a well compacted gravel pad 6' x 30'. Unless you are willing to have sufficiently deep footings - I would not recommend a concrete pad. Its most likely going to move like a wild animal and break up like a stepped on graham cracker.

With a gravel pad - you can relevel and adjust with simple garden tools.

 

[Jcoon]

Re: Long narrow concrete pad for a proposed band saw mill----> how elaborate need it

The concrete makes cleaning the sawdust a piece of cake! The grandfather just loves the concrete pad now! His next step would be to put a roof over the mill.

 

[Egon]

Re: Long narrow concrete pad for a proposed band saw mill----> how elaborate need it

Support the saw on concrete piles below the frost line. Cover the surface area with a pad, cement sidewalk blocks or such like. If it moves doesn't matter. The saw is fixed on the piles.

 

[fidowanttobe]

Re: Long narrow concrete pad for a proposed band saw mill----> how elaborate need it

X2. But pour the slab around the piles, not over.

Support the saw on concrete piles below the frost line. Cover the surface area with a pad, cement sidewalk blocks or such like. If it moves doesn't matter. The saw is fixed on the piles.

 

[Rustyiron]

Re: Long narrow concrete pad for a proposed band saw mill----> how elaborate need it

I want it dead level .

That's a lot to ask for from a surface slab, your concrete guy & mother nature. An occasional mill adjustment does not seem like that big of a deal. Not knowing your local soils I'd think you'd dang near have to drive pilings for a permanent "dead level" exposed slab.

 

[Langanobob]

Re: Long narrow concrete pad for a proposed band saw mill----> how elaborate need it

6 by 30 is a very small slab. Concrete is as close to permanent as you can get and once poured and cured you can稚 fix it. It won稚 be all that expensive to do it right with properly compacted base and footings below the frost line or piles like suggested earlier. Maybe you can find a retired concrete guy to provide advice and help with it.