I finally got around to getting some ppics of the sawmill progress. The floor is 35"X20", with 5" to the beams. The floor is made of strips removed from a peice of trellis left over from the last deck project on the honey-do list
Modern day H & S would have something to say about the rough uneven floor boards. Just like the original. Good job!!!
Thanks Tony. Te rafters are in the works now, and are definitely going to be a challenge, but one I look forward to in a twisted sort of way.
Nice start Don. Looks like you’ve got a good handle on the challenge looking forward to more pics as progress is made
Good start Don, it’s gonna be BIG!
Jerry Barnes said:Yes it is. Kind of nice to see something that isn't "compressed" ;) Ralph
Good start Don, it's gonna be BIG!
Alas, a bit more progress. The rafters have been test fitted and the timbers placed for the rails indoors. a rack is also in place to hold the logs waiting for the blade. These rafters have 16 individual peices so will be on the time consuming side, but I beleive the end product will be well worth the work involved in them. Thanks to all for the positive comments, and Ralph, I thought if I had the room, I might as well do it right once than do something I just wouldn’t be happy with. I will likely leave a portion of the roof missing, since this will be a donkey powerd sawmill, and I am seriously considering placing the engine indoors with the belt drive for the blade in view. The gearing system for the blade is something I havn’t yet got my brain wrapped around just yet, but there really is enough to keep my hands busy until I do.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/DSCF1978.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/DSCF1979.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/DSCF1981.JPG)
Well, you could drive the blade via the engine (or the other way around). PM Research sells 1/2" wide cloth belting by the foot.
Thanks for the tip on the belt Mik
Finally finished the rafters. 170 individual peices, not the biggest fun, but the end result will be worth it. The grade is a bit rough yet, and stone pillars are in the works as well.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/mill1.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/mill2.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/mill3.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/mill4.JPG)
And since there are many methods of building these water tanks, I thought I would post my pics here of that project as well. Nothing magic about this one, just a very simple backwoods sort of tank with ropes for the pipe and valve. The ‘hardware’ is romax wiring stripped and the copper used for the rope hooks and ‘pulleys’. I couldn’t help myself, and had to tie those knots in the valve rope.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/tank1.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/tank2.JPG)
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/don_pearson/_forumfiles/tank4.JPG)
The effort was worth it. It looks great. It’s almost a shame to cover all that detail with a roof.
I am considering leaving it as ‘under construction’ so I can justify leaving at least part of the rafters open to view.
Thanks Jon
I also have a donkey engine on the bench, scratch of course, and tailors for driving this mill. I should have it done this coming weekend, and deliver it via flat car, as well as the blade assembly.
That’s impressive!!
Having seen many steam powered saw mills, but really not paying that much attention to the drive train of the blade, I don’t remember any gearing. I think it is direct belt drive off the steam engine or through belts and maybe belt pulleys (that doesn’t seem like the right word) to increase or decrease power and speed like a bicycle pedal power of larger gear to smaller gear on the wheel.
I beleive you are correct. I plan on a direct drive belt, perhaps from the side, and a belt etween the two blade flywheels as well. It will be well out of direct view, so will not require complete detailing. not to mean that I will short cut it to tears,…
Belts…a lot like the shop tools in the EBT shops…
Jon Radder said:Make a removeable roof. Or better yet put a roof on it and leave the gable ends open, throw some (attic) floor boards down, put some lumber or junk up there and add a few very simple lights hung in series or add skylights too the roof too let light in. The affect of looking though it would be much more dramatic especially with the shadows of lighting. I would actually try the sky light thing first, no wiring and natural light. Clear corragated roofing material maybe? Just my thoughts. Looks good Don!
The effort was worth it. It looks great. It's almost a shame to cover all that detail with a roof.
Editing too add then you could put ladders up too the (attic) inside…
Good ideas David, have to agree with ya
I second those ideas…