Got me to thinking, has anyone here seen the Roy Underhill episode where he gets a tour of a restored steam engine saw mill along with the window and sash operation that it powers? It was incredible. Shanes post reminded me of it from the belt configuration on his machine.

The belts involved with powering that window and sash shop were awesome, it was a spaghetti factory of belts. There are even names for the twist you put in a belt to transfer the energy a certain way. I loved that episode, we just saw it as a family a couple weeks ago, my son and daughters loved it!

If I can find a Youtube on it I'll post it here.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

John,

I've seen that episode.

I'm living about 100 years to late.

There is just something fascinating about the old belt drive equipment.

I need Jules Verne's " Time Machine " so I can go back and see more of the neat things from back then.

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

Love to see it, John.

Somewhere in N. IL, several years ago, I ran across an Amish wood shop that ran off of a single water wheel that powered several belt arrangements to each tool.

The shop had at least two of planers, jointers, table saws, band saws and scroll saws. They got their power from shafts up through the floor and through some complex gearing and pulley arrangements. There was also a huge belt sander whose belt ran in a triangle with a large roller at the apex. The roller at the apex was about 5' above the triangle's chord. The operator used a hand held wooden plate held against the back side of the belt as it traversed the triangle. At that time, they were making cabinets and the sander was flattening doors. 

Downstream a ways was another less complicated flour mill operation with a HUGE set of mill stones. All run from a water wheel. Think of that. The same fuel powered (at least) two businesses...and they drank it too.

The Amish are ingenious, to say the least.

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Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

I remember that episode. I have watched that show longer than I care to think about and still watch it every Sunday. need more shows like it.

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http://www.prchestnut.webs.com/

I think this is the episode you are looking for:

http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/2600/2612.html

Tom

Hey Thomas, great video indeed! That might be the other side of the following video I am posting a link to here. The link I found is on the PBS channel you used, thanks for that! You led me to the video I am talking about. About two thirds of the way through this video with steam engine is the door and sash shop in the back the is the recipient of the lumber from the mill. Your video and mine might be one in the same. This link is the episode I was referring too. Thanks Thomas!!

Roy Underhill and the Steam Powered Saw Mill

Thomas Sanguigni said:

I think this is the episode you are looking for:

http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/2600/2612.html

Tom

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

Just a heads up, I think PBS is going to replay this episode next week!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Wounded Warrior Project and Homes For Our Troops

Really have to appreciate that steam powered 2" mortising machine. And the courage it took to operate any of these machines.

Great posts really enjoyed reading them.

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No greater Loves than God, Family, Friends, country, the sight of flying chips and the smell of saw dust.