Jump to content

Log in or register to remove this advert

Bandsaw mill build


Malus
 Share

Recommended Posts

Log in or register to remove this advert

57 minutes ago, Watercourse management said:

Looking good, on the log bunks I would plate the ends to stop it filling with sawdust and weld a bit of flat bar around 20mm high on the end so you can clamp your log against them for planking.

Yep I'm gonna cap the ends. That's a great idea re the clamps, hadn't thought of that. What's the best way to do log rests for bigger logs/cants? I guess a little bit of adjustment might be handy so they are dead square to the log bunks?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Saturday saw us finish drilling the holes to mount the log bunks. We measured and tacked the two end bunks together in place and then ran two string lines between them. We tacked each subsequent bunk so that it barely touched the string line. I marked each bunk 1-5 so that they always go back in the same spot and hopefully fit ok. 

 

Today I welded up the bunks and fitted caps on the ends. I only had 50mm flat bar so there was a 5mm gap each side to bridge. I turned the welder down a notch, welded top down in a c and filled the gap ok. 

 

I haven't yet welded on any flat bar as a low log stop, I'm not sure how the bunks will measure up against the height of the carriage yet.

 

As for log back rests I'm thinking about keeping it simple with box section sliding into a vertical sleeve with a bolt to secure it in place. 

IMG_20210808_170231_3.jpg

IMG_20210808_162254_0.jpg

IMG_20210808_165738_3.jpg

IMG_20210807_180629_4.jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ben came over to help again yesterday and I've had a few hours working on the mill today. We took the jacks off the caravan chassis and made up some mounts for the sawmill chassis. Initially I wanted the jacks to be right in each corner, but for various reasons they weren't going to fit. Ben came up with idea of mounting them on the cross braces that we hadn't yet fitted. So we positioned them as best we could, about a quarter of the length of the bed from each end. The really nice thing about these legs is that they fold up completely so unlikely to snag on uneven ground. The bed is surprisingly sturdy on those four legs but I'll add some drop down supports. 

 

I made up a couple of axle mounts and tacked them in place. I'm waiting on some square u bolts to be delivered but in the meantime made some out of threaded rod. The axle fitted the mounts nicely and to my surprise it seems to all be nice and square with the chassis. 

 

I bolted on the coupler and jockey wheel and hitched it up to the truck. It sits nicely behind the truck, the back of the chassis being slightly raised but by the time the weight of the sawhead is added it might drop a bit. 

IMG_20210809_174218_7.jpg

IMG_20210809_174319_7.jpg

IMG_20210810_144859_2.jpg

IMG_20210810_141438_9.jpg

IMG_20210809_174204_2.jpg

IMG_20210809_183050_5.jpg

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Had a bit of a hectic week so not had time to work on the mill until yesterday. After tacking the axle mounts and measuring it all up for square I seam welded the mounts. 

 

The next job was a bit of a daunting one, welding on the rails that the carriage runs on. I decided to use angle iron with the square corner up. From what I understand this is the bit that's important to get level and square, even if the trailer chassis is out or whatever. I set up a string line on one side so that the string was 3mm above the ridge of the angle. It's amazing how bent new steel stock is sometimes.. I used a piece of 3mm flat bar as a gauge and a few thin wedges to tap under the angle where the gap was too big. I went along like this tacking it in place. For the other side I set up a similar string line to gauge the height and used a piece of flat bar with a notch cut out at each end as a spacer between the two angle irons. At this stage I didn't want to properly weld them in place until I had a carriage built to test for parallel and true.

 

So that brings me onto the carriage. For the bottom piece that holds the wheels I cut and drilled some flat bar and welded it onto the end of 50mm box. It wasn't the best way to do it really because I've ended up with one about 5mm longer than the other but I'm not too worried. I made a corresponding mark with a centre punch on each so measurements can be taken from that point. For anyone building a mill in the UK I got the wheels from F H Brundle and they were quite a bit cheaper than elsewhere.

 

Another head scratching moment. A few cups of tea later and I started cutting steel for the carriage uprights. Basically I was trying to make the most out of the steel I've got, without having to go out again and spend more. I can't remember what I settled on now but I'm really hoping it's going to be enough to raise the sawhead enough to cut a big log without taking a massive first slab.

 

I didn't have enough 50x75 box for the cross pieces of the carriage but luckily I had a few lengths of 90mm round tube I picked up from the scrap yard that will do the job nicely.

 

The carriage parts are only tacked together, I'm a bit hesitant to commit to welding until I've got a better idea of whether the sawhead is going to raise and lower ok, and if it's all going to fit in at all! 

IMG_20210818_114335_3.jpg

IMG_20210811_151315_0.jpg

IMG_20210811_121733_1.jpg

IMG_20210811_121743_9.jpg

IMG_20210818_142330_5.jpg

IMG_20210818_154638_1.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


  •  

  • Featured Adverts

About

Arbtalk.co.uk is a hub for the arboriculture industry in the UK.  
If you're just starting out and you need business, equipment, tech or training support you're in the right place.  If you've done it, made it, got a van load of oily t-shirts and have decided to give something back by sharing your knowledge or wisdom,  then you're welcome too.
If you would like to contribute to making this industry more effective and safe then welcome.
Just like a living tree, it'll always be a work in progress.
Please have a look around, sign up, share and contribute the best you have.

See you inside.

The Arbtalk Team

Follow us

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.