Portable Sawmill

[gmason]

Well Shawn, that's a question the CEO asked me the other day and here's my best guess.

New 13hp Kohlor Motor(off ebay) $250
Various parts for the motor/drive $45
Acme screws/nuts/bearings(for raising the table) $40
New 12' Unistrut channel $20
2 tires and rims $40
4 v pullies for the wheels $15
Misc channel/angle steel purchased $25
Countless bolts/nuts/washers $15

So, around $450 including the engine, and NOT including the blades.

TIME...<font color=red> PRICELESS </font color=red> /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif


The majority of the steel I used I had on hand already or I used some scrap from the welding class. I used my welding class time to work on most of the frame construction, so I was learning while building. So most of my 7018, 6013, 7014 rods where from the class.

But really the "time" I put into this project, like most larger projects I've done, from what I know now, I could cut my time in 1/2 on the next one....

There are a couple of changes I might make on #2. One of which would be to route the drive pulley to a axial mounted to the rear of the table. Of course, I'd have to add a few more bearings, but it would simplify the drivetrain and I believe this is the way I've seen the commercial ones do it. Also, this would allow you to "mount" any size pulley to the axial, and that would allow you to change FPM of the saw blade very easily.

But that's another day. Right now I'm trying to figure out what I want to do for my track. The permanent home for it isn't ready yet and I need to cut some logs for my barn in order to dry them out for using them this summer. I will have to purchase some 20' 1"x1" 14ga angel steel for this, but that shouldn't be but another $25.

Suppose to be nice this weekend, I'll probably cut some more then and snap a few pics.

gary

 

[jimgerken]

If you are thinking of using angle for tracks, I would suggest that angle is far from straight. Channel is a bit better and tubing is best, right off the rack. I'm talking about hot rolled here. I haven't bought enough cold rolled to know if its better, but I suspect it is. As you know, your saw will only cut as straight and flat as the tracks it follows. The straightest thing I know of right off the rack is any shape extruded aluminum.

 

[gmason]

Last night I finished adding a motor system to my table to raise and lower the saw with the flip of a switch. I got a motor for $20 off ebay to power it and another $20 in sprocket and chain.

I can raise the table 1" in 11 seconds with the 5:1 gear ratio I've got with the 12 tooth drive sprocket and 60T sprocket on the screw. I may try to go with a 18T drive sprocket to see if the motor will handle the load and perhaps get my time for 1" down to 7-8secs.

Pictures coming later.
Has anyone found a good source for drive sprockets. My shaft is 1/2" and most of the sprockets I've found are for go-carts and have a 5/8" or larger bore.
Grainger.com has a good source but they want $9-$12 for them.

thanks
gary

 

[gmason]

sorry all, it's taken me so long to follow up this post. here's one picture of the motor and gear from the front.

 

[gmason]

here's a picture from the rear. motor attached with the 4 bolts.
g

 

[gmason]

here is the reason why I've been very busy...

There is a building near my work office that they are going to tear it down and it had a bunch of labs that had these metal cabinets. So I got permission to cockroach these cabinets and a bunch of other stuff.

Most of them are blue, but I want to paint them to red. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

g

 

[gmason]

Here's a few more that I've got them out my garage.

 

[gmason]

here's one side of my poor garage. FULL!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Some of these will be going to my barn when I get it build this summer /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

What a great find, you lucky dog !

 

[scottbrrtt72]

I built a portable saw mill last winter. I never used any plans just some photo's I found on the web. The mill is a chainsaw mill that can cut up to 30 inch diameter and up to 12 ft long. This is perfect for fence posts. I want to sell this one and build another.