Bandsaw Mill

[vtsteam]

Around 2003 I built this bandsaw mill from scratch. I welded up the track from L and channel, and the wheels are trailer (caravan) wheels. The band runs around the tires. To answer the most frequent question I get, no the tires aren't inflated to tension the band. There is a standard style screw tensioner. The blade guard is a trailer fender. The height adjuster  is an old boat winch. The Engine is a 10 hp made by Robin. I can cut up to a 24" diameter log. I can cut a 16" x 16' long board in 60 seconds with a sharp blade. The track is 20' long

I used the mill to build my house.

Also shown is my John Deere Model M and a homemade log arch for moving logs to the mill. I made the arch out of a big mobile home axle and a bent towtruck boom found at the scrap yard. I couldn't straighten the heavy wall pipe of the boom so I faced it up -- a true log arch!

[philf]

That's one mighty impressive bandsaw. 

Does the blade track OK on the tyres? I'm guessing that the tyres are slightly crowned when inflated.

 

Phil.

[vtsteam]

Hi Phil,
yes the tires take a natural crown and the blades track very well.

I just cut up a 100 foot tall white pine this fall which was threatening the house on an undercut bank -- it had 4 leaders, what we call a "cabbage pine" here. With the timbers milled on the bandsaw I planked a 32' bridge using 3" x 12" x 8' pieces.

[Noitoen]

 

[Henning]

There's one project i would like to do as well!

Would've loved to plank my own wood 

Really nice work!

[sparky961]

Awesome.  I've recently found myself on YouTube watching lots of videos of trees getting smaller....

I've been doing a lot of re-sawing on my small shop bandsaw (new to me) and every time I do I try to imagine what it would be like to mill my own lumber to build something.

-Sparky

[vtsteam]

Thanks Guys! 

This is what it's like to mill your own lumber and build something -- my house!

Well, ten years ago, anyway.

BTW the saw was built from plans and with help (since he always helped everyone) from William (Bill) Rake. The mill is called the "Simple Saw." Bill sent me the plans the day after he got out of the hospital for a triple bypass. I see Bill's website is gone and has been for a long time. I am saddened to think that that inventive genius may have passed. I owe him a lot.

If so, I'm writing this to his memory.
Thank you, Bill.

[Meldonmech]

Very ingenious, made good use of your scrap. Envious of your estate.

                                                                                     Well Done  Meldonmech

[Hyper]

Weel add that to the to-make list.  Vey nice.  It's always so nice to work with wood after doing so much metal.

[vtsteam]

Thanks Hyper  Let us know when you start if you need any help.

[black85vette]

Let's see, I just keep adding to the list;  makes his own furnace to make his own castings to make his own lathe and tool posts.  Makes his own saw mill to make his bridge and house.   Dude!! seriously.  You just keep adding to the list of things I can't do.

Is there property near you???   I would love to have a neighbor like you.   

[vtsteam]

There's nothing you can't do b85v. Cept live forever!

Sure move on next door, that would be great.