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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    caloundra
    Posts
    40

    Default $300 home built band saw mill

    G'day everyone. Got into a discussion with Bushmiller in the forum lounge at the BWWWS on Friday. This post is the result of that conversation. To construct the saw pictured below I purchased 2x400mm length of 20mm dia bright steel bar that my brother in law welded a flange too each. Two pair of self centering bearing pillars to suit the 20mm dia bar, one 250mm V belt pully, a 2.4m length 16mm threaded cyclone rod, 6/16mm nuts, 6/ 50 mm square washers. Here the boiler maker out law welded 4 of the nuts to 4 of the washers to enable me to fix them to the timber saw frame to wind it up & down to adjust the height, 4 reasonably beefy furniture carsters to roll it along its tracks, one 1.200mm x 1.200mm x18mm structural ply to make the 17inch bandsaw wheels, 8 bearings for blade guides, two 11/4 x 1.25 tpi bandsaw blades. The rest of the material I scrounged around the shed for, timber, 11/4" pipe ex TV antanna mast, assorted nuts bolts & screws. The two HP electric motor came from an old saw bench I bought at auction in 1976.
    (yes I am a bit of a bower bird don't throw much away).

    Problems: It was a little under powered at 2HP. The motor was working so hard it melted the 3 pin plug. ( A bit scarey)
    Had some issues with the guide & thruster bearings at phase one stage in the shed, but sorted that before I took it into the field for the big job.

    Positives: Learnt lots & had some fun.

    Cheers Barry
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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Nerang Queensland
    Age
    66
    Posts
    10,766

    Default

    You've made this since the show, I'm impressed

    Are you using water or anything for lube?
    Neil
    ____________________________________________
    Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    caloundra
    Posts
    40

    Default

    G'day Neil. Sorry my post is a bit misleading. I built phase one of the mill 3 months ago. Made the improvements to the guide bearings about 3 weeks ago & milled the logs then. I was reluctant to post the details as I thought it looked a bit rustic compared to some of the well engineered plant featured on the blog site, but after speaking to Paul at the show decided to do so. It worked well on silky oak logs but laboured a little on the cyprus. I wouldn't like to tackle hardwood with it without an upgrade of motor.

    Cheers Barry

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Millmerran,QLD
    Age
    73
    Posts
    11,094

    Default

    Barry

    That's terrific. I'm glad you posted it. I think it epitomises aussie ingenuity. No, you're not going to make a living out of milling with it, but you sure can have a heap of fun and as I commented in another thread it makes a viable alternative to a chainsaw mill.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Millmerran,QLD
    Age
    73
    Posts
    11,094

    Default

    Barry

    Just one further thought comes to mind. I can't see exactly how your V-belt goes to the drive wheel, but you should make sure you can't accidentally get your fingers tangled up. It is very easy to concentrate on the timber and in a careless moment put your hand in the wrong place. Then it's not so much fun .

    When a saw only costs $300 you can afford to lash out on some safety features. Some sort of brake so the shuttle cannot roll back on you while removing a slab would be another improvement.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,099

    Default

    Most impressive!

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