Bandsaw Milling Lubrication advice

[stevenf]

Hi,

 

I am milling larch boards on a bandsaw mill.

I'm currently using water as the lubrication, is this correct or are others better?

 

The timber is problematic with wet sawdust and takes a long time to clean - brushing off and air hosing before stacking.

 

Any advice to get around these problems...

 

Thanks in advance

[woodmad]

What sort of mill?

I use water for the woodmizer, they used to do an additive, not sure if they still do.

For some larch, particularly wide boards i have the water on full blast to keep the blade from gumming up

[woodmad]

I then just use a stiff hand brush to clean the wet sawdust off

[Big J]

Best tool for removing sawdust from sawn boards is a floor scraper. Once tried, you'll never go back to a brush:

 

Heavy Duty Floor Scraper

 

I use diesel as a lubricant, but I don't have a Woodmizer (my bandwheels are crowned, rather than using rubber v belt pulleys). You'll use a hell of a lot less diesel, and the saw dust is drier as a consequence.

[Copford sawmill sussex]

Try washing up liquid in the water, works on our mixer when were cutting larch or on the re saw we splash a little diesel on the pads which also seems to work for us anyway

[Coed y Cardi]

Yep washing up liquid does it for me! I also use screen wash when it's on offer!!

[Coed y Cardi]

Best tool for removing sawdust from sawn boards is a floor scraper. Once tried, you'll never go back to a brush:

 

Heavy Duty Floor Scraper

 

I use diesel as a lubricant, but I don't have a Woodmizer (my bandwheels are crowned, rather than using rubber v belt pulleys). You'll use a hell of a lot less diesel, and the saw dust is drier as a consequence.

 

You've got me spending cash found a 12" scraper on ebay £17!

[stevenf]

Thanks for the tips.

 

Will give the washing up liquid a go, diluted with water.

 

Just finding it a slow process as the whole saw gets clogged, so the sawdust doesn't make it to the extraction.

 

Hopefully, not using as much water - and a little washing up liquid the dust makes it through and less sawdust will be on the sawn timber... !?

[Copford sawmill sussex]

The sawdust will still clog but the blade shouldn't get as gummy,

[Big J]

You've got me spending cash found a 12" scraper on ebay £17!

 

I wasn't suggesting buying that one, only indicating what to buy!