Portable Sawmill

[llewellynsd]

Has any of you seen or have tried to build a portable sawmill? I've come across an article in "The Best of Farm Show" magazine that writes about a guy who now offers a set of plans and claim a mill can be built for under $500 and is capable of mill logs up to 34" in diameter and will cut as thin as 1/16". Sounded like a neat winter project for me since I have enough locust logs/posts stock-piled on my property to make a thousand feet of split rail fence.

Anyone know of any web sites?

Shawn

 

[beenthere]

I'm confused (not hard for me) when you stated that <font color=blue>""locust logs/posts stock-piled on my property to make a thousand feet of split rail fence.""<font color=black>

The portable mill you are building is not for the locust logs, is it? The mill won't split them, and sawing them will not be an easy task either.

Do you expect this mill to use your chain saw (bar length?) or is it some kind of a band mill?

 

[Corm]

There is an article in the latest issue of Mother Earth News about portable sawmills. There is a small sub article about a fellow in Minnesota that built his own and will sell complete plans for $20. The picture of the one he built looks pretty good. I'll be helping a friend build one this winter. He has most all of the parts he needs assembled, we're just waiting for winter to set in so we'll have a good excuse to do inside shop work... I've never been involved with a project like this, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Corm

 

[ELMO67]

I think there was a thread on this a while back, the mill that I started investigating was called the " Woodbug". I think that it is out of B.C., it seems like a simple setup, uses a chainsaw but I don't think it is available in plan form. When I am able to send & receive e-mail again I will be able to comunicate with them for more info. I have the info at home, not with me at work /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif, but I think the web address is Woodbug.com.

 

[ChuckinVA]

Does the mill use your tractor PTO to power it ?

 

[Charlie_in_TX]

Here is a url for one I was going to build. http://www.pennswoods.net/~zigbug/

Here is a url for a forum that has pros on it. http://www.woodweb.com/SiteMap.html

 

[MossRoad]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.pennswoods.net/~zigbug/><font color=red>http://www.pennswoods.net/~zigbug/
</font color=red></A>

Safety gaurds optional??? /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

 

[gmason]

Shawn, actually, I'm in the final stages of building one of these. Although they aren't exactly "portable" like a woodmizer without more modification. I got the plans and pictures ~$50 from Bill Reeks in KY.

I had a bunch of scrap 2"x4" channel that I used for the frame and since I'm taking a stick welding class this semester from the local tech college, I thought this would be a good project. The instructor is pretty excited also. I've got the frame made and I'm finishing up the platform that the saw wheels and engine ride on. I've had to fabricate a few parts and that's been a little more time consuming.

I got a new 12hp engine off ebay for $300 and with buying some other metal and parts, I've got close to $500 in it so far(not including the saw blades yet).

It's a pretty basic system, the welding is not too difficult for someone with a little experience. Bill suggest that if anything to "overbuild" your own saw and that's what I did. Very little 1"x1" tubing on mine, lots of "2x4" heavy channel.

As far as the size of the log, it's up to the length of the track you build. As far as the size of the log, it's up to you how far you space your tires apart and the diameter of the tires(length of the saw blade). I'm following most of the dimensions off the plans.

I'll take some pictures after work today and see if I can post a few tomorrow.
In the meantime, if you have any specific questions/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif fire away and I'll try to give you my answer.

gary

 

[llewellynsd]

Gary,
Was the plans worth the $50 you had to spend on them? Or did they leave alot of information that you have to figure out on your own. Stuff like the best type of engine to use? Does it recommend an engine with a centrifical clutch? Does it give you suppliers names for the blade?

I don't mind spending the money if the plans are worth it. I'll look forward to your pictures?

Shawn

 

[gmason]

Shawn, yes, I would say the $50 is worth it. While some of the blueprints are a little hard to read, there are a bunch of color pictures in the booklet that help to see how it works.

I found most of the things on the web, like the Acme 3/4"screw rod and the centrifical clutch for the 12hp engine, but he does give a list of suppliers for many parts and blades.

Your basically building a small ~60" tall frame with a few moving parts. It's the little technical detail that he's worked out for you that would be where you would get stuck and have to think about it for a bit.

I couldn't find any 9"x3"x70" channel, so I made it out of 9"x14ga flat stock and some 1/4"x3" flat bar. Lots of extra welding and squaring, but hey that's what I took this welding class for./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif But it's way overbuilt, so it's better.

I'll snap a few pics before I go off to class tonight. It's not pretty, not sanded or painted yet.

gary

 

[gmason]

ok, pic1 here is the booklet and the plans that came with the $50. Also looking at the legs and my chop saw.

 

[gmason]

here's pic2 looking at the front of the frame. The green painted channel on either side is the sloted channel that the 3/4" acme screw sit's in.

 

[gmason]

here's a pic of one of the axils welded to the plate ready to bolt onto the table. It's just sitting on the rear cross piece right here.

 

[gmason]

here's a picture of the rear looking at the unistrut channel with the screw in it. Just trail fitting it here.

 

[gmason]

here's a picture of the 70" table that the motor and wheels will attach to. This is the underside with some of the cross bracing

 

[Boone]

Thanks for the pics. Looking like a great project. Will you please post more when you have it finished?

 

[KC135plt]

That loooks like a Dewalt chop saw, Do you like it? I have been looking at several but I am leaning toward the Dewalt.

Bob K

 

[gmason]

Bob, yes it's a DW872 carbide 14" saw. About a month old. Love it.

gary

 

[gmason]

ok, I've gotten my first test cuts with my saw. Here's a pic from the first 12' pine test log. I had one loose bolt to tighten, but all went well. I didn't have my track set up yet for it so I just ran the "wheels" on the concrete. It didn't roll too well that way, but with a little practice I got it to go down the log ok.

Anyway, I made one cut, in the picture it's on the bottom, to get a flat surface, then turned the log 180 so the flat side was on the bottom and made one cut to get the bark off, then two 2" cuts. One was a good 6" and the next closer to 10" with bark on the outside edges. They're not in this picture.

Next, is to build a track to run the rollers down. The cuts where very good and with a brand new blade and soft wood there were very few balde marks on the 2"Xs.

We've got very cold temps right now, so it may me into next week before I get to make a few more cuts.
I'll post a few more pics then.

gary

 

[llewellynsd]

Gary,
If you don't mind me asking, up to the point shown in the photo, how much $ do you have invested in everything, excluding your time?

Keep the photos coming.

Shawn