A sawmill is a machine designed for sawing logs of different types of wood. This is a rather complex tool that makes work easier during construction. It is not necessary to buy this unit. It is quite possible to make it at home. During production, it is necessary to determine the type of sawmill and the amount of wood processed.
Principle of operation
The sawmill consists of two soles welded together. There are rollers on the soles. Due to them the frame moves. The base of the device is shaped like the letter “P”. It consists of a pair of channels. The main wheel is stationary on one side of the frame, and the other is movable and moves along the frame.
The design also includes guides. They are located at the base of the device and are secured using brackets (connecting devices). This element is collapsible, which is very convenient if you need to transport it. The drive rollers are located under the guides. Support posts are fixed on top. Sawmills move thanks to a chain mechanism located in the rails.
A band saw is used as a cutting device. Its width is about 60 millimeters. Tension occurs due to a hydraulic mechanism. Two locks are involved in installing the saw. They are attached to the base of the drive wheel. The control center is located on the operator's side. There is also a ruler for measurements. The device contains a container with cutting fluid. This is necessary to avoid chips sticking to the saw. This solution is supplied to the cutting site.
Main types of sawmill
Today there are several types of sawmills. Each option has its pros and cons.
Band sawmill
The mechanism is based on the block principle. The device can function with both cheap and expensive components. The sawmill consists of a frame, a mechanism for tensioning the saw, a motor, a clamp, a wheel, and a belt drive. Sawing of the log occurs using a band saw. And to ensure proper operation, retaining rollers are provided. This is a very convenient device, but it has its drawbacks.
- A wave effect is possible when sawing logs.
- Equipment operating skills required.
- Before sawing, you need to adjust the machine.
Disc corner sawmill
By far the most popular model. Also used in wood processing enterprises. The design of the equipment is very simple. It consists of a support on which a shaft with a disk is located.
When sawing, the disc moves along the log. This allows you to achieve accurate results.
Tire frame saw
The equipment is easy to make yourself. The structure consists of a carriage, trolley, support, saw, motor and tire. Suitable for cutting long logs. It has small dimensions. The device is easy to transport. Operates from the electrical network or from a fuel generator. This equipment is not suitable for working with large quantities of wood. Typically used by private individuals.
Frame sawmill
The rarest type of device. During operation, the mechanism remains motionless. Capable of sawing large quantities of wood at once. The main disadvantages of the device:
- Large amount of waste.
- Large-sized design.
- Large cutting element thickness.
Main advantages:
- Ease of maintenance.
- Reliable design.
- Durability.
Homemade band sawmill
Making a sawmill at home is quite an expensive undertaking. It is difficult to get all the components to work correctly. You will need the necessary parts, tools for work and drawings. The equipment can operate with a maximum weight of 300 kilograms. You also need to adjust the thickness of the logs being cut. When working with such equipment, be sure to follow safety precautions. Before you begin, prepare the platform for assembly. We will need wheels and a band saw. Afterwards you can proceed to assembling the base. First of all, we assemble the rails.
Install the wheels exactly following the drawings. We fasten the corners on the rails parallel to each other. We make sleepers from corrugated steel pipes. We install them between the corners. We weld fasteners for logs to the pipe. It should move freely over the entire surface. Afterwards, you need to assemble the cart and attach the wheels to it. The electric motor is assembled last. This sawmill will work perfectly with a walk-behind tractor engine. With the help of a pulley it will communicate with the general structure.
Important Details
In general, making a band sawmill with your own hands is almost complete. Only a few small details remain. First of all, I would like to say a few words about the moving cart. The fact is that to ensure movement along the guides it is necessary to use plates and spacers. In this case, you should try to make the gap as small as possible. The thickness of the gaskets is selected so that it is 0.5 mm greater than the channel flange. The whole thing needs to be secured using 8 M8 bolts.
Since a chain is used to move the cart with the engine, it must be sufficiently tensioned. This is necessary to prevent free movement of the steering wheel. It is located on one of the bushings near the sprockets, which are located on the edges of the guides.
Tire sawmill
The design is very similar to a band sawmill. But in this case, a chain saw is used as the cutting element. This device is much smaller and has a simpler mechanism. This means that it is much easier to do it yourself. First, let's find a flat surface and install the homemade product so that it is convenient to approach it. First we build a base from a metal profile. We drill several holes in the frame.
Then we proceed to assembling the rack and placing the frame on it. As a result, we have the base of the chain mechanism. All that remains is to mount the cart. But first, we assemble the base and install the stop, clamps and electric motor on it. We attach the cart to a metal base, install the engine with the cutting element, and tension the chain. The sawmill is ready.
DIY band sawmill: drawings and design
Before proceeding directly to the practical part, you need to quickly familiarize yourself with the design and sketch out a few simple drawings. In general, the design scheme is designed in such a way that you can expand the equipment layout. That is, in the simplest version, you get a basic band sawmill with manual feed of the workpiece, and in the most complex, you get a high-performance product with automation and sensors.
The basis of the sawmill is a frame with guides. Usually it is assembled with welded soles, where movable rollers are placed. The frame in all cases is U-shaped and is assembled by welding two channels together. Accordingly, the drive pulley is fixed on one side of the frame in a stationary state, and the second - on the other end in a movable state. The guides are mounted in the middle of the frame and are a collapsible structure. This is very important if the equipment is planned to be transported. In general, a do-it-yourself band sawmill, the drawings of which you can find in this article, is not made so quickly. But such equipment has a lot of strengths.
Angle-rotating disc sawmill
If you need to cut logs tangentially, a corner sawmill will come to the rescue. This is a multifunctional device that can handle a lot of work. It is better to design it yourself, since the finished device has a high price. First you need to prepare drawings. Buy all the necessary parts.
The first step is assembling the frame. It consists of metal pipes. We connect everything with a welding seam. Rails are best suited as a guide. Then we construct the carriage. Accurately follow all dimensions indicated in the diagram.
This sawmill uses a powerful fuel engine as its “heart”. Thanks to it, the process of working with wood speeds up. The engine is installed on the mechanism frame. A chain drive is installed in corner sawmills, but there is a risk of motor overheating. When constructing a sawmill, strictly follow safety rules, since during the work you are dealing with cutting elements.
Portable chainsaw sawmill
As a rule, it is not sawmills that are used for personal use, but miniature machines for sawing logs. You can also make them yourself. There are different mini-sawmills, all of them miniature and mobile. The main element of the design is the finished chainsaw.
We will need the following materials:
- Chainsaw.
- Two channels.
- Metal corners.
- Rails.
First of all, we assemble the frame. We drill several holes. We attach pipe ties. All elements are fastened with bolts. When making a sawmill, carefully check all the angles between the parts. To strengthen the frame, stiffeners are made. Then a cart is constructed from the slab. Two corners are attached to the bottom of the slab. The next step is to place the stove on rollers. Angles are also attached to the cart; they act as a mount for the chainsaw. At the very end, a mechanism for fastening the logs is installed.
Manufacturing of sawmill
As a basis for our future sawmill, we need to take two channels. They should have a length of 8 meters and a height of about 14 centimeters. Of course, there is not always a suitable channel available, so you can go the other way and use rails or 50x100 mm angles. The main requirement is that the base is smooth and has no bends. A series of holes are drilled along the entire length of the channels. In this case, you must strictly follow the given step. Using the holes we made, we will build ties. ¾-inch pipe sections are suitable for this. Their length should be about 25 centimeters. For connections, it is advisable to use studs or bolts 29-35 cm.
A mini band sawmill with your own hands is installed on special racks. It is advisable to assemble them using M12 bolts. The material can be pipes, angles or channels. Accordingly, the longer the unit frame, the greater the number of racks we will need. In our case, 4 pieces are enough.
Logosol sawmill
We will need the following materials and tools:
- Welding machine, electrodes.
- Cutting element, nails, screws.
- Chainsaw or electric motor.
- Tires with chains.
- Metal corner.
- Rollers.
- Cord.
- Roller bearing.
When manufacturing this sawmill, the first thing you need to do is draw up drawings. Select material for components.
We need to make a frame. Metal pipes are suitable for this. We connect the pipes and the corner using welding. The next step is making the sled. You can make them from a wooden board. In this case, the surface on which the sled will ride must be covered with galvanization or a metal sheet. Sleds can also be made from rails. The next thing is to make a mechanism designed to regulate the thickness of the board. You can do it in two ways:
- In the sawmill, the log is raised, but the cutting element remains stationary. Perfect for working with small logs. With this method of sawing, your back does not hurt, and the work goes faster. In this case, ordinary jacks are used; their lifting height should be maximum.
- In the sawmill, the log remains motionless, the saw lowers and rises. Afterwards you need to attach a chainsaw to the structure. We remove the play and check the mechanism for strength. Let's check the work of the resulting homemade product. The product is ready.
DIY Instructions
Sawmill from chainsaw Ural
Before starting work, a drawing is selected or created, or at least a sketch of the future product. It is advisable that the dimensions of at least the main parts be indicated. This will make the work much easier and faster. It will be possible to immediately cut the workpieces to length, and then begin assembly.
The general appearance and capabilities of the future unit can be selected and seen both in practice, using the example of band saws or chainsaws, and on the Internet in numerous videos on this topic. When choosing options according to the type of which you plan to make your own version, it is better to choose the simplest ones, with a minimum of complications and details.
This video shows the simplest device of this type. We see a pulling cable that the operator winds with the help of a handle, ensuring that the chainsaw is pulled along the log. But at the same time it is clear that the operator not only tightens the cable, but also simply moves the unit by hand. Obviously, a sawmill of this type can be made either with such a broaching device, or in an even simpler version, without it. Then the chainsaw is moved by hand.
The main requirements for any design and material:
- Sufficient strength.
- The absence of large backlashes when the working unit moves along vertical and horizontal guides.
It should be remembered that excessive strength makes the entire structure heavier and more expensive, and too tight a fit of moving parts in the guides eliminates backlash, but can lead to jamming during operation.
Having experience, you can start work without a drawing, or with a simple sketch - a sketch. Work without a drawing is carried out blindly, and unexpected errors often emerge. In addition, all dimensions will have to be remembered or written down on paper. And recording dimensions indicating the location of parts automatically leads to the creation of at least a simple sketch.
After selecting or creating a drawing (sketch), the blanks are assembled. A set of necessary rentals, fasteners and other necessary parts is assembled.
Next, the rolled metal is cut to length, and the blanks are assembled until the entire structure is ready.
We recommend watching the video below for more details on how to make a sawmill from a Ural chainsaw. The author talks in detail about all the manufacturing steps and also gives dimensions. We recommend watching this useful video.
Mini sawmill from Shtil chainsaw
Such units are assembled in exactly the same order and principle as using chainsaws of other brands. But there are a few differences.
The dimensions and shape of the modern Shtil chainsaw are completely different from those of Soviet chainsaws. Therefore, when attaching the chainsaw itself to the frame, fasteners of a different shape and size are used.
When designing, the power of the unit is taken into account. For example, the Shtil MS 880 model with a power of 6.4 kW (8.7 hp) with a bar length of 70 or 90 cm can cut thicker logs of great length. Consequently, in order to use the unit to its fullest, a frame of greater width and length is designed.
How to make a Logosol type sawmill based on the Shtil MS 660 professional chainsaw is shown in the video below. The manufacturing stages are not described, but how it is constructed and the operating principle of the main components is clear.
Portable sawmill from Druzhba chainsaw
When manufacturing a sawmill using this unit, the features of the model are also taken into account. For example, the less powerful “Druzhba 2” is suitable for trimming thin gauges (understock) and does not require a wide and powerful bed. “Druzhba 4” is capable of sawing larger logs, and this is also taken into account during the design.
If the bed is being prepared for any chainsaw, it is advisable to choose a size that is medium in length and width. The mounting location of the power unit must be designed in such a way that a chainsaw of any size and power can be mounted without problems.
We also recommend reading an interesting article about what other useful things can be made from a Druzhba chainsaw.
We recommend watching an interesting video about what type of sawmill can be made using the Druzhba 4 saw. The author talks about how its device works, the principle of operation, as well as the nuances of making it yourself.
