Home Built Sawmill

[brianpoundingnails]

I started milling with an "Alaska" type chainsaw mill that I built out of steel.(the store bought units seemed somewhat flimsy). With a Sthil 084 and a 60" bar it weighed about 150 lbs. It would wear a man smooth out. I decided to build a platform to mount it on that worked more like a sawmill.  While designing the rails and action I realized that I could make a more useful machine by mounting different tools to the tool post. It functions as a sawmill with plunge cutting capabilities, a large capacity lathe(10" dia x 108" length), a large capacity mortise machine(24" x 96" bed, 14" vertical stroke), and a large capacity drill press(24" x 96" bed, 14" vertical stroke).  I'm very pleased with the results and would love to hear your comments and opinions(even the negative ones). I offer a lease of my blueprints for prospective builders. Go to dropbox link below for more detailed pics and info.

 

   machine:   https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nr4yw91iv2hgdl0/AACv5-Unq_KSGyYK-2YHwWIBa?dl=0

 

   furniture it can make:  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pq9hfk8rqr7l416/AADQZxeku_HGeIBLpz4MeasIa?dl=0

[lew]

That is one awesome piece of machinery!!!

[Gerald]

Never would have thought to mount the saw vertical. Now how big of a log will fit in it and how do you drag it into position?

[brianpoundingnails]

36 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Never would have thought to mount the saw vertical. Now how big of a log will fit in it and how do you drag it into position?

I mounted it vertical so I could plunge cut the ice chests. I either lift it onto the bed with my engine hoist, or roll it up a ramp from either end. Mostly I use the chainsaw function to cut uniform half rounds for those tables, then take the cant to a local sawmill to slice up. The half rounds are worth more to build those tables than the rest of the boards or anything I could make out of them. The bed will accommodate a 24"dia x 99" log. That was a design goal. For longer logs I use my Alaska mill to cut. Every now and then I find a crotch or burl to cut. When I first started I would cut anything I could get my hands on. I'm mostly cutting red cedar and cypress and they don't weigh near as much as hardwoods.

[Gerald]

Excellent work . Thanks for the details

[Stick486]

WHEW!!

that is something...

[Guest]

4 hours ago, brianpoundingnails said:

I mounted it vertical so I could plunge cut the ice chests. I either lift it onto the bed with my engine hoist, or roll it up a ramp from either end. Mostly I use the chainsaw function to cut uniform half rounds for those tables, then take the cant to a local sawmill to slice up. The half rounds are worth more to build those tables than the rest of the boards or anything I could make out of them. The bed will accommodate a 24"dia x 99" log. That was a design goal. For longer logs I use my Alaska mill to cut. Every now and then I find a crotch or burl to cut. When I first started I would cut anything I could get my hands on. I'm mostly cutting red cedar and cypress and they don't weigh near as much as hardwoods.

WELL THROUGHOUT OUT GOOD LUCK.

[Joeb41]

Awesome piece of machinery. I certainly admire your talent as designer, machinist and fabricator. Great job!

[DuckSoup]

 Wow, for your application you definitely have it figured out. From the looks of the attachments on the wall all you lack is a name plate & a patent number.

[Cliff]

WaY COOL~!!!

[Dadio]

That is a kool rig. I didn't see any chips though, where is the saw dust?

Herb

[Woodman]

On 6/1/2018 at 3:59 PM, Gerald said:

how big of a log will fit in it and how do you drag it into position?

I am also interested. More wanting to know what size flatbed with crane I need to collect logs for small milling operations.

 

After a bit of research, I've found a publication of from U. of Tenn / Ag detailing the weights of logs. The PDF is attached. Good reading!

 

Estimating Weight of Logs and Standing Timber

 

https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/documents/sp748.pdf

 

Estimating Weight of Logs and Standing Timber.pdf