Homemade bandmill question

[kjonfc]

I, like so many before me (thank you for posting, instructing, and inspiring), am building a bandsaw mill. I've seen hundreds of pics and videos online and read hundreds of articles, forum posts, etc.. I've designed, redesigned, built, re-re-designed on the fly and am to a point where I need to get some blades. I know many on here run their own mills and I'm wondering where most of you get your blades. I know Cook Saw and a few others, but I'm wondering if there are other places with faster turn around/better customer service, that kind of thing. I havn't dealt with Cook's so I'm not saying that they don't excel in these areas, just wondering what options are out there. I've seen some of the other mill manufacturers that sell blades for thier mills but not other sizes. Also, I'm in mid Missouri and if someone knows someplace I can get them locally(ish) that would be great too. Grizzly is pretty expensive compared to online sources.

I'm looking for 14' blades.

OH!!! if anyone knows of local sharpening/setting service I'd certainly appreciate that info too.

Thanks
- Kyle

 

[BHD]

I got mine form wood mizer, and have been happy,

Buy Wood-Mizer Sawmill Blades

 

[Barry 1]

Cook's Super Sharp blades are the best I've used,and the only ones I will buy again.Very good service and price.

 

[caver]

Baker Sawmill is down a ways south of you in Ellington MO. That link should take you to their blade selection.

 

[kjonfc]

Baker Sawmill is down a ways south of you in Ellington MO. That link should take you to their blade selection.

Thanks for the heads up on Baker. I called them and they were very helpful and I got some blades ordered. They can custom make blades but I ordered some they had which were 2" longer than I was originally looking for, but I have built in about 6" of adjustment so I can go shorter than the 14' or longer as blades are available.

I'm hoping to have the mill done this week and start making dust this weekend (you know, since its supposed to be heat index in the 100's).

 

[rswyan]

Pics ...

 

[dfkrug]

Thanks for the heads up on Baker. I called them and they were very helpful and I got some
blades ordered. They can custom make blades but I ordered some they had which were 2" longer than I was originally
looking for, but I have built in about 6" of adjustment so I can go shorter than the 14' or longer as blades are
available.

Interesting. I see you can get 5 bades for $100 or so, as long as you get their sizes. What was the surcharge for
a custom blade?

My saw is not as far along as yours, but I am about to set the drive wheel axle spacing.

 

[kjonfc]

Interesting. I see you can get 5 bades for $100 or so, as long as you get their sizes. What was the surcharge for
a custom blade?

I don't know if they charge any extra for a custom length blade as they will often have to make up the blades they have listed on their site. They may also have other lengths in their system, just not listed on their page because it's not what fits threir mills. The guy I talked to was real easy going (don't remember his name), but seemed like custom length was no big deal at all.

I won't get my mill done before the weekend as I've had some setbacks. School started this week for my kids, I have to do my welding in the driveway outside of my garage and the rain has hindered that, I got my pillow blocks from AgriSupply and 3 of the 4 bearings were pressed in crooked and I don't have a press so I have to take them somewhere. In the intervening time, I've decided that my 9hp subaru was too small so I'm going with the HF 13hp which I'll pick up tonight after work. Not counting finding someone to press the bearings in straight, I figure I have 8hrs worth of work left on it. So maybe friday afternoon I can fire it up and see what I need to fix (if the blades arrive in time).

I'll post some pics this evening or tomorrow.

 

[dfkrug]

I got my pillow blocks from AgriSupply and 3 of the 4 bearings were pressed in crooked and I don't have a press
so I have to take them somewhere. In the intervening time, I've decided that my 9hp subaru was too small so
I'm going with the HF 13hp which I'll pick up tonight after work. Not counting finding someone to press the
bearings in straight, I figure I have 8hrs worth of work left on it. .

Looking fwd to the pix. Sorry to hear of the crappy QA on the the bearings from AgriSupply. I like them as
a vendor. If you have a photo of the bad bearings, that would be interesting, too. A.S. has a very good
return policy, BTW.

I decided not to use pillow block bearings at all. I am using automotive tapered wheel bearings inside
a 6-in piece of Sched 40 2.5" pipe. That way, I can adjust for play in the bearings.

Still designing on the fly here.....

 

[Barry 1]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeqjtNJdbxY
All the pillow block bearings I've used were like this.They pivot in the housing.

 

[kjonfc]

Good video on inserting the bearings in the pillow block. I've never done it like that, I've always got them with the bearings already mounted. I was going to find someone with a press, but a couple of light taps with a punch and they lined right up. I wouldn't have been as concerned about it had I seen your video first.

I'm having some trouble getting my photos from my phone to my computer. I'll post ASAP.

BTW, blades came yesterday. I'd probably be ready for them except I keep redesigning on the fly. The blueprint in my head never quite forms.

 

[Groo]

I run an "off brand" mill. The local sharpening shop can order custom length blades from several different makers. I could do a little cheaper getting them from the internet, but this guy knows what works and knows what he can sharpen. The blades we originally got with the mill were tempered too far into the tooth, and wouldn't set easily.

 

[HarryN]

Timberking out of Kansas City is my supplier for blades. I'm very satisfied with them.
They also do my re-sharpening.

 

[kjonfc]

As promised, here are some pics of the build.

How I figured out how long the blade needed to be for the size I wanted to be able to cut.


Built the frame


Put on the top and gussets


Tracking adjustment


Decided to upgrade from the 9hp subaru to this 13HP harborfreight job. (I have one (6.5hp) I put on a mud motor I and never had to pull more than twice even in sub 0 temps)


Motor mounted on a sliding mount. Not pictured here, I put a threaded rod with a T handle so I can adjust the belt.


Blade tension/blade size adjustment. Also, notice, turned the motor around. I wanted the blade turning in the other direction, I also didn't want to have to stand directly in front of the blade to start and stop the motor, that kind of thing. I also wanted the force of the belt closer to the pillow block.


So, here's s screw up that I couldn't fix, and didn't need to as these wheels center on the hubs and not the lug nuts. Plust, it works out well since all of the forces are pretty close together and well supported.


Here it is put together more or less.


I still need to build the blade guides and put an idler pully on to engage/disengage the belt and if it all seems to work well, then some blade guards.

** Note to anyone using my method of determining the blade length. Nylon string stretches....a lot.

 

[David Devuono]

I ended up buying a woodland mills unit. For under 3 grand, could not justify the build since my last project remains uncompleted 2 years later. Love being able to cut my own timbers. My blades are 12 footers but when buying 10 blades, they are about 25 bucks a piece. Enjoy.

 

[pappy60]

I use Timberwolf brand...

Suffolk Machinery - Timber Wolf Bandsaw Blades

They will make them to whatever length you use...

Very good blades in my opinion...

Also have home-made mill and it is handy...