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

[Walt 2002]

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.

I agree, much more practical.

Walt Conner

 

[Deere Dude]

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.

I agree, much more practical.

If I was going to build one anywhere the frost will heave, that is what I would do also. Cement a floor for cleaning and for walking on. It will be nice on your joints for when you get older.

 

[aczlan]

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

The other problem I have is sawdust removal. I was in a hurry to get a building over my mill when I brought it home in 1991, and didn't think about such things as above. Now I have to shovel/carry dust down to the end of the building to the loader bucket. In my new building plan, I'm mounting a small (9" wide x 20') grain conveyor flush into the floor (with a mesh grate to walk on) of the slab about the center of the mill and perpendicular to it that will carry dust out and into a pile on the downhill side of the mill.

Why not put in a vacuum system (large plug in electric leaf blower mounted to the saw and hooked to a boot and a traveler hose to carry the sawdust away and dump it somewhere where you can scoop it up with your loader)?

Aaron Z

 

[TnAndy]

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

Why not put in a vacuum system (large plug in electric leaf blower mounted to the saw and hooked to a boot and a traveler hose to carry the sawdust away and dump it somewhere where you can scoop it up with your loader)?

Aaron Z

Yeah, I'd considered that Aaron....but see these problems with that approach:

1. The saw head travels 20' on it's rail....so you'd have to have that much hose that would also stay out of the way.
I suppose one could rig up an articulating overhead arm, like a car wash has for their hose to solve that....but you'd be looking at 40' or more of hose by the time its done.

2. From my experience with my shop dust collector (3hp--17" fan), it would take a LOT of horsepower to pick up green dust, suck it UP, and blow it out. I worked at a local big mill for a while...their dust blower has 100hp motor on it, but they also have some small conveyors that do dust removal with small motors. Sure, their dust is WAY more than I'd produce, but it got me convinced conveying beat blowing. I doubt there is an electric leaf blower that would come close to doing the job. The conveyor only requires a 1/2hp motor to run.

3. Good % of the dust/bark/etc falls on the floor anyway, so vac on the saw wouldn't pick that up.

4. You'd have to run it all the time the saw is running. My plan for the floor mounted conveyor is only run it once or twice a day for the length of time it takes to broom the dust/etc into the floor grate. Saw doesn't produce that much dust/etc in a single day....but let it go a week and you got a pile.

 

[aczlan]

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

Yeah, I'd considered that Aaron....but see these problems with that approach:

1. The saw head travels 20' on it's rail....so you'd have to have that much hose that would also stay out of the way.
I suppose one could rig up an articulating overhead arm, like a car wash has for their hose to solve that....but you'd be looking at 40' or more of hose by the time its done.

2. From my experience with my shop dust collector (3hp--17" fan), it would take a LOT of horsepower to pick up green dust, suck it UP, and blow it out. I worked at a local big mill for a while...their dust blower has 100hp motor on it, but they also have some small conveyors that do dust removal with small motors. Sure, their dust is WAY more than I'd produce, but it got me convinced conveying beat blowing. I doubt there is an electric leaf blower that would come close to doing the job. The conveyor only requires a 1/2hp motor to run.

3. Good % of the dust/bark/etc falls on the floor anyway, so vac on the saw wouldn't pick that up.

4. You'd have to run it all the time the saw is running. My plan for the floor mounted conveyor is only run it once or twice a day for the length of time it takes to broom the dust/etc into the floor grate. Saw doesn't produce that much dust/etc in a single day....but let it go a week and you got a pile.

Makes sense.
On the power needed to pull the dust up, that is why I was suggesting mounting a leaf blower (that can handle sawdust going through it) on the saw so that it pushes the dust up vs pulling it up.

Aaron Z

 

[forgeblast]

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

Thanks for this post, I just got an older hud-son bandsaw mill, this spring I will have it up and running. I keep thinking about doing a rubble foundation for it. I have used it on a garden shed and its worked great. This mill has a 24' one piece track and 8' extra bolt on extension. I am hoping to speed up a bit of my bowl turning production, and learn timberframing.

 

[Gitche Gumee Kid]

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

Thanks for this post, I just got an older hud-son bandsaw mill, this spring I will have it up and running. I keep thinking about doing a rubble foundation for it. I have used it on a garden shed and its worked great. This mill has a 24' one piece track and 8' extra bolt on extension. I am hoping to speed up a bit of my bowl turning production, and learn timberframing.

forgeblast,

Thanks for responding to my thread. I have been presented with many options by the membership to consider.

You may be interested in a utube site where the fellow's producing the great videos, has a Hudson mill that he has milled all the posts and beams for a 26' x 50' barn. He has inspired me.
A Timber Framing Vlog #44: One Log at a Time - YouTube
This is only one of over 70 very informative videos.

Let me know what you think.
Best Regards,
GGK

 

[forgeblast]

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

Wow What a video series, I will be watching it all. Thank you thank you for sharing that!