Stenner vb42

[Ollie]

I've been offered the use of a Stenner vertical band mill to use inside a barn I rent. Does anyone have experience of using these and setting them up? It's currently in pieces and was dismantled nearly 10 years ago. I'd ideally like a look at one running if anyone uses one in sw England.

[codlasher]

Stenner may be able to help you with a plan. I believe you will need a pit or site the machine high enough so the bottom wheel is off the floor. I know of a Guillet in Benson, a similar Stenner in Naarwich and one in Beaconsfield but as you don't have your location you may be too far away for any of these. Sadly my old mate who was a specialist (and my dads partner) is no longer with us...He was a mine of information, but thats of no use to you :-)

 

If you can get this for scrap value (because that is what it is worth sadly in todays world) you will not be out of pocket. Remember to allow for dust extraction in any calculation.

 

As an example I had a Guillet in a similar state (this is ten years or more ago) and The gentleman I mentioned above was willing to help with advice setting this up as it was originally his. He said 'can you wait 'till I come out of hospital, I'll only be in for ten days...'.

Sadly he never came out, except in a wooden box! The saw went for scrap last summer in a sale.

codlasher.

[Ollie]

He's got a plan apparently and saw the mill running before he dismantled it. He doesn't want money, just wants to see it being used as he hasn't sorted it out. Its a question of what might have seized through not being used and how much time/money it would take to install. I hadn't thought about dust extraction.

[codlasher]

Stenner are the Rolls Royce of that type of saw so they are well built. Not much goes wrong with them. If it has done a lot of work check the bottom wheel bearings as these, being in an inaccessible place don't often see daylight. If it has been left out side the fence may have seized. Check the starting electrics too modern ones are usually in a small box, older are in a large metal box and you have to 'wind' the saw up by shifting a lever like an Oxford welder (if you know what I mean?)

If it has done a lot of work the wheels may need re-facing and Stenner can advise on this. It is a process that can be done on site. This will ensure correct blade run and other problems. Are there any blades? Take one to the saw-doctor for crack testing and sharpening to make sure it is in good condition. There is a routine with a new blade, in that you never cut with it first time out of the box. It has to run for an hour and then go back for crack testing.....

There are other things like setting the blade position on the wheels using a drilled hole and a small brass stud but you've got to get it up and running way before that!

Just getting the wheels square and parallel to each other is of primary importance but that is only time and care. Getting the table to run square to the blade is a similar thing. Modern lasers are good for this plus a 3, 4, 5, triangulation for square too.

Is the oiler still there, this has diesel in it and is a drip feed onto a felt pad.

My old friend reckoned about two weeks from start to finish with something capable of lifting the head-rig on site. (A fork truck) He and I fitted a Stenner 36 re-saw in that sort of time and that included digging and creating the pit, the dust pipework and the electric ducting. The Stenner plan your chap has will show you. You will have to cut some boards with the saw for this and it also allows access to change blades so don't skimp as a blade is a bitch to wrestle into a tight hole even with gloves on!!

The dust extraction should be piped from the bottom of the pit using Osma type pipe so you can use dust extraction equipment available on t'internet

 

That's as much as I can remember for now. Good luck!

codlasher.

Edited January 23, 2014 by codlasher
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