All about band sawmills

In today's woodworking machinery market, buyers can find a huge number of log sawing machines. Over the past few years, the band sawmill has become the most demanded technique in this niche. It is a metal strip of small thickness with sharp teeth, and is made in the form of an endless strip. This versatile tool can be used not only as a stationary saw, but also as a portable equipment for cutting trees in the forest or outside the city.

The band sawmill has gained great popularity due to the large number of positive factors associated with the structure of the device, its capabilities and technical characteristics. Manufacturers put in this equipment a certain principle of working with lumber, thanks to which this technique allows you to get any type of wooden products: from small blocks to sleepers. The products are of high quality and almost without waste.

With the help of this tool, you can saw logs into beams, boards and carriages, process dairy lumber by rib division, get edged and unedged boards, bars and sleepers.

Some models of the machine are equipped with additional functions and can prepare and move the wood while cutting it. Among other things, the band sawmill minimizes waste: thanks to the thin blade, the amount of sawdust is reduced by about 20%.

If you choose the right type of blade, the specifics of sharpening and setting the teeth, you can make an almost perfect cut on any type of log. In the process of processing, the master can control the sawing process and take into account all the features of the wood texture and its flaws.

In addition, the working blade can be adjusted depending on the individual requirements of the buyer. If there is a need to cut large logs with a diameter of 120 cm or more, then it is recommended to opt for non-standard machines with the ability to adjust the width of the cutting line.

Unambiguously answer the question, which is better - disk or tape a sawmill, even the most experienced master cannot. First of all, you need to pay attention to the conditions under which the work will be performed. When choosing, they usually rely on the following factors:

• the quality of the source material;
• place of use of the unit;
• the size of the forest;
• the approximate amount of wood that needs sawing;
• the required quality of the output lumber;
• cash costs for work;
• qualification of masters.

Only by taking into account the above criteria, it will be possible to make an optimal choice of sawmill equipment. In order to understand which machine is right for you, it is recommended to study in more detail the features of each type of unit.

Disk sawmill - a fairly common tool, used for many years by craftsmen both in small and large woodworking factories. There are a huge number of models on the market in a wide variety of price categories, so this equipment can be purchased for both personal use and for work in a professional enterprise.

The circular sawmill, as a rule, is small in size, thanks to which the owners can easily transport the unit and cut directly in the forest.

The positive qualities of circular sawmills are described below:

• the blade of the machine is insensitive to the age and quality of the tree, so the unit can handle any type of tree without any problems, including trees of dry, polluted or burnt forest;
• the product does not need frequent maintenance;
• with the correct setting, the cut will be perfectly flat and without chips;
• a circular sawmill is an indispensable tool for radial boards.

Now let's talk about the cons:

• the main disadvantage is cost, a quality tool is quite expensive;
• there is no possibility to process large diameter wood;
• significant cutting thickness, which negatively affects the quality of the final product.

Even though there are some drawbacks, circular sawmills are quite popular. The thing is that there are conditions in which the belt unit simply cannot cope with the work.

Band sawmill - a relatively inexpensive type of sawmill, they can be purchased and used at home, and stored in the garage.

Consider the main positive aspects of band sawmills:

• they cannot boast of the presence of powerful electric motors, but the cost of electricity when using such equipment will be significantly lower;
• in addition to electric models, on the modern market there are units equipped with internal combustion engines, so that the product can be transported and used at the logging site;
• it is possible to reconfigure the device after each pass;
• thanks to the thin blade, a cut of small thickness can be made, therefore, the master can get any required material size;
• some models can handle large diameter barrels.

But this technique also has disadvantages, which will be discussed below:

• transportation of equipment can cause some problems due to its large dimensions;
• the need for constant maintenance of the saw;
• the band sawmill will not be able to process substandard wood, since the blade breaks down too quickly;
• only a professional should work at the machine, since the product needs to be very precisely adjusted, otherwise there is a high probability of getting low-quality material at the output.

Woodworking machines equipped with a serrated saw are on the market in a wide variety of sizes. In addition to dimensions, it differs and appointment... All sawmills classified according to 4 characteristicswhich will be discussed below.

Varieties of sawmills according to the type of engine used:

• models equipped with an electric motor and powered by 220 Volt household power lines;
• models powered by 360 Volt industrial power lines;
• gasoline;
• on diesel fuel.

Varieties of sawmills by appointment:

• mini-sawmill for processing logs up to 45 cm in diameter;
• a sawmill of medium dimensions - it is designed for cutting logs up to 6 m long and up to 70 cm in diameter;
• industrial sawmill - it is used when sawing logs with a length of 5 m and a diameter of 120-150 cm.

• Mobile sawmill... It is taken apart for transportation by truck or trailer.Most of these models are powered by gasoline or diesel, therefore, the tool is not tied to power lines.
• Stationary sawmill. Such a unit cannot be disassembled, therefore it is used only in special woodworking factories.

Varieties of sawmills by the type of location of the saw frame:

• models with a horizontal blade;
• vertical tape models;
• models with the function of changing the position of the cutting blade.

Band sawmills with a horizontal blade arrangement are the most basic models and the most budgetary ones at the same time. Most factories use just such models, they can also be installed in the garage and assembled independently, installation and configuration does not require much experience with the tool.

Sawmills with blade positioning are the most complex, less popular and very expensive.

If your budget is limited, then experts recommend buying the cheapest model without additional equipment. In the future, as needed, you can simply buy peripherals: install hydraulics or add an automatic log feed function. These add-ons will save you a lot of time and pay off in a few months.

The first step is to pay attention to the engine, its power should be in the range of 11-15 kW, and the rotation speed is not less than 1500 rpm... The band saw must be robust and maintainable.

Below are the parameters to look out for before purchasing.

• Repair cost. Please note that the machine will not last forever, and someday it will have to be repaired. The prices for spare parts for the selected machine should be within your pocket.
• Frame design. The more reinforcements on the saw portal, the more comfortable it is to work. A poorly reinforced instrument will vibrate violently.
• The weight. The band saw must be 1.5-2 times heavier than the material being processed, otherwise the structure will be unstable.
• Availability of a warranty period. It is unacceptable to buy models without a guarantee.
• Security. If possible, it is better to pay extra for models with automatic braking or foot brake of the cutting blade. This function will save the master from possible injuries.

The frame and rails of the sawmill must be adjustable in relation to each other and made of thick-walled steel profiles. It has all the advantages of other materials and is devoid of their disadvantages. Steel serves for a long time, it does not crack, does not deform and calmly withstands even the heaviest logs. Aluminum the pulleys will fail at the first serious load.

Also, experienced experts do not recommend buying rubberized pulleys due to a number of disadvantages:

• sawdust will stick to the pulley;
• it is impossible to use scrapers, as the pulley erases all sawdust;
• it is impossible to use cooling gels, since most of them have kerosene or diesel fuel in their composition, and these substances corrode the rubber layer;
• tires will have to be changed to a new one every 2 months.

The vertical movement mechanism must be screw. Such mechanisms can boast of good quality, high performance and overload resistance. It is desirable that it be bronze, since this material is durable. Check that the screws are protected with special rubber bellows.

Most sawmill factories use automotive chain screws. Such a replacement is not permissible and most often leads to the failure of all equipment. The fact is that in the process of cutting the chain stretches and leads to the engine jamming.

Consequently, the output board turns out to be much narrower.

Be prepared to constantly change the nuts. This is a natural procedure that cannot be avoided. However, the cost of replacing the nuts is cheap and incomparable with the cost of repairing and replacing the gearbox.

Check that the screw-nut tension is soft before purchasing... Strong spring tension will also negatively affect equipment life. The fact is that sawdust and other debris always accumulate between the pulleys and the cutting blade during operation. The gentle tension softens the impact and therefore prevents possible breakages.

Before choosing a particular model, the following criteria should be considered.

• Estimated scope of work. It is he who determines the power of future technology. If the volume is small, then there is no point in overpaying for a powerful sawmill.
• Compare the thickness of the log and the width of the cutter.
• Try not to buy equipment from little-known foreign brands. Otherwise, finding and replacing parts will be very expensive and time-consuming.
• Pay attention to the operating temperature range.

It is recommended to opt for serial models of sawmills of popular brands, as they are the most reliable.

Competent setting of the unit directly affects the service life of the device.

• First of all, the rail base is installed.
• For correct operation, the sawmill must stand strictly horizontally, otherwise the frame will be deformed, and the mechanisms for fixing the logs on the frame will fail after a few hours. In the basic configuration of any high-quality sawmill, there are hydraulic levels that show the angle of inclination relative to the horizontal and vertical planes.
• The next step is to calibrate and adjust the controls. To do this, at the beginning of work, the cutting speed is set at 25% of the maximum possible, so that the belt can heat up.
• After 10 minutes of operation in this mode, you need to check the tension force and add speeds. It is installed based on the type of blade. The larger the saw teeth, the higher the speed can be set.
• During the first cut, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations for adjusting the vertical travel of the blade. To do this, compare the readings of the graduated ruler with those obtained as a result of the control cut.
• When tuning, do not forget to measure the minimum, average and maximum blade speeds and compare them with those indicated in the documentation.

There are some operations that may seem insignificant to an inexperienced master, but they significantly affect the quality of the output. Among the main operations, the most important are:

• the process of unloading wood onto the frame;
• fixing the trunk;
• setting the desired thickness of the cut;
• forces applied to move the frame along the barrel.

In the process of organizing work, the qualifications of the masters play an important role. Without proper work experience, it will be difficult to distribute responsibilities, and knowledge of the characteristics of various types of wood can significantly increase labor productivity.

In order not to receive a large amount of waste, the operating personnel must know the cutting tables for wood and the cutting technology in this or that case. With the correct calculation, you can learn to reduce the amount of sawdust by about 5%, and at the same time save energy resources by 3-5%.

When working with hardwoods, it is necessary to take into account the type of wood, density of the species, moisture content and age. If you work with birch, aspen, alder, then the sawing can be carried out with a universal sawmill, and if with oak, hornbeam and beech, then a band sawmill with a wave divider is needed. The wide-band saw handles all conifers, except for larch, but during work, experts recommend treating the saw rollers with a thinner lubricant.

Among other things, never forget about the safety rules when working with the machine, use a protective cover. The blade must always be sharply sharpened, otherwise the saw will ruin the boards, and if it breaks, it will cause serious injury to the worker.

How to make a homemade band sawmill, see below.