Do-it-yourself sawmill: step-by-step instructions on how to make a band sawmill from a circular saw and chainsaw at home

The principle of operation of the sawmill

It is necessary to secure the log on the sawmill so that it remains motionless. At this time, the mobile cart is activated and cuts the log. The saw must be in a horizontal position.

To obtain boards of a given size, immediately before cutting, the operator must set the required parameters. The saw blade must be well tensioned so that it acts as a saw.

The most common types of sawmills:

Chain.
Disk.
Tape.
Angular.

Main types of sawmills

There are the following types of sawmills:

Frame. It is a structure with flat saw blades mounted on a frame. Frame sawmills are most often installed in large woodworking shops. This device is distinguished by its high power and robust design. The frame sawmill does not require additional maintenance. Its disadvantage is the large thickness of the cut, which increases the amount of chips produced.
Tape. Processing of workpieces is carried out using a saw band, regulated by stabilizing rollers. The cutting element makes only translational movements obtained from the rollers. Band sawmills are used in small woodworking shops.
Disk. It is one of the most common types of manual sawmills. It is equipped with a disc with teeth. Each tooth cuts a small part of the log. To improve productivity, these machines are equipped with several cutting discs.
Chain. Sawing of logs is carried out using a chain saw mounted on a frame with a metal profile. The chain sawmill is lightweight and small in size. Therefore, this mini-machine is most often used in domestic conditions.

When choosing a sawmill, it is necessary to determine the volume of workpieces processed and the operating conditions of the equipment. You also need to take into account the technical characteristics and materials from which the cutting elements are made. One of the main selection criteria is the strength of the structure. The woodworking machine must be able to support the weight of the logs being processed.

Disc type of sawmill

Considered the best view. This sawmill is easy to use and does not require much effort when making it yourself. The basis of this design will be a circular saw. It should be installed on an electric motor or on the machine spindle.

Today it is not difficult to find ready-made drawings of such a sawmill on the Internet or in books in order to make it yourself. The simplest type is considered to be “circular”. To do this, you will need a shaft with a circular saw, a table and a motor that will drive the saw.

Ready-made frames and mobile attachments

The modern market offers many options for frames for such sawmills, from the simplest clamps (attachments) costing about only 3,000 rubles. to frames similar to a band sawmill at a price of about 50,000 rubles. The latter are rather flimsy-looking structures with a high probability of vibration during operation. There's nothing complicated about it. It is quite possible to assemble such a structure on your own if you have available materials.

If you use more powerful rolled metal, the structure itself will be much stronger and more reliable than that offered at a fairly high price.

The simplest attachment for longitudinal sawing.

Alternatively, such an attachment can be used as a ready-made unit when assembling a homemade sawmill. It makes it possible to vertically raise and lower the cutting set relative to the log. All that remains is to organize the movement of the nozzle along the horizontal guides of the homemade frame.

Mobile carriage for longitudinal cutting of logs based on the Husqvarna 142 chainsaw

The author of the video tells how he made a mobile carriage for longitudinal cutting of logs based on a Husqvarna 142 gasoline saw. With this saw and carriage he sawed through a very large volume of material and built an entire house. The video contains everything you need to make the device yourself. We recommend viewing, very useful.

Video about the nozzle from the store

You can see what kind of devices they sell in the store in this video.

Band sawmill

Has more advantages than disk. This sawmill can work with wood of any species. It doesn’t matter to her whether the wood is highly resinous or deciduous.

The range of wood produced is also wide - from edged and unedged boards to gun carriages, veneer and more. The sawmill is a high-risk facility and when working on it, you must remember to use protective covers. This will prevent the operator from getting caught under the cutting belt.
In order to make a band sawmill with your own hands, you need to at least briefly familiarize yourself with the drawings. A simple option involves a basic band sawmill, which has a manual feed of the workpiece. The complex option already implies the presence of sensors and automation. Considered to be a high performance product.

The basis will be a frame that has guides. It is assembled with welded soles in which movable rollers will be placed. The U-shaped frame can be assembled by welding two channels.

On one side of the frame it will be necessary to secure the drive pulley, and on the other end (movable) - another one will be secured. The guides should be mounted in the middle of the frame - this will be a collapsible structure. If the structure needs to be subsequently transported, this will be relevant.

Homemade product based on the “logosol” principle

The idea of creating a machine of this type appeared thanks to a well-known Swedish company that produces portable sawmills of various types. The main features of such woodworking complexes include their mobility and an original way of adjusting the thickness of the board.

The machine can be moved from one place to another thanks to wheels mounted on the structure and a towing mechanism that allows it to be attached to a vehicle.

The thickness of the board on such a sawmill is adjusted both in the usual way by changing the height of the saw, and by changing the height of the log. The second option is convenient for small logs and comfortable work for the operator who does not need to work at an angle.

Otherwise, the assembly principle of a “logosol” type machine does not differ from traditional analogues. In this way, a gasoline band sawmill, an electric disk sawmill, and a chain sawmill can be assembled.

Corner or disc sawmill

Since the corner sawmill is multifunctional, it is most often used for large volumes of work. The design is quite easy to make with your own hands. It is much cheaper than purchasing a ready-made structure.

To assemble this type of sawmill, you must first prepare drawings, and immediately before starting work, make sure that you have all the necessary components and components on hand.
The first step is to assemble the frame. To do this, you will need metal pipes and guides (rails may be ideal). The joints must be secured by welding.
The next stage is assembling the carriage. Be especially careful at this stage - the dimensions of the parts indicated in the drawings are important down to the smallest detail.

The engine can be used with high power. The engine is mounted directly on the structure frame. Through special holes, the working elements are attached to the engine. Do not install a chain drive on such a sawmill if you do not want the drive itself to overheat.

Important: Do not neglect safety precautions. Compliance with safety rules when working with a sawmill will eliminate all possible risks during operation.

Manufacturing scheme

First you need to install the stationary part of the ribbon; it should be in the shape of the letter P.

To install the frame you will need two channels or rails. If you decide to install the rails, then make sure that the sole is positioned, it should be on top.

The fixed part of the sawmill can also be made from corners with dimensions of 5x10 cm.

Channel dimensions: height - at least 14 cm, length - approximately 8 m. We drill holes along its entire length, at a distance of 1 or 1.5 m. Using pipes 25 cm long, we tighten the channels together. In the process, we secure the structure with threaded rods or bolts.

Depending on the length of the sawmill, you need to make several racks on which the structure will be supported. If the length of the base is approximately 8 m, then there will be 4 of them.

In addition, the structure must be additionally strengthened with braces.

Let's move on to creating a mobile cart. Its dimensions will depend on the width of the base. On both sides, the mobile cart should be at least a few centimeters larger.

The mobile structure is often made of steel, 45 mm thick. And its length with the above dimensions will be exactly 60 cm. A saw is also attached to this structure.

It is very important to study the drawing in detail and do everything in order. Once the base and moving part are installed and able to move, let's take care of the engine. Here the master has the right to choose what suits him best.

To be able to control the movement of the trolley, we install a special “steering wheel” on the side of the body. We attach stars to the sides of the guides, which we connect to the control panel. Below is a photo of folk craftsmen, a sawmill on a tractor.

To prevent the steering wheel from moving, the entire structure must move on a tensioned chain.

Another important point is the clamps. They serve to hold the log while sawing it. To create clamps we will need pipes with a diameter of 30-35 mm. We install movable rods inside.

Using a metal corner, we make clamps and place them on top of the pipes. We also install cam mechanisms.

To ensure safe and reliable operation of the belt, the clamping elements should not be less than 20 mm.

The saw and electric motor can be installed at the beginning of the process, but can also be installed at the end. Depending on the complexity or simplicity of the drawing. To avoid problems with installing the engine at the end of creating the ribbon, it must be purchased in advance. Otherwise, its dimensions may not coincide with the drawings and all the work will have to be redone. And who will take on this?

To operate a sawmill with a base of 8 m, you will need a 10 kW motor. The diameter of the saw must be at least 1 meter. This must be taken into account when creating drawings, otherwise the dimensions may not match.

Which sawmill is better

It's up to you to decide. Only you can determine what kind of design of the future installation you will need. To do this, you need to determine the available area where the sawmill will be located, and also understand the specifics of the work that you plan to carry out on this structure.

If you plan to work with small-sized boards that are used for containers and pallets, pay attention to a sawmill with a simplified design.

If you need to get boards with clear geometric parameters, put in a little effort and make a stationary installation, with a frame on a concrete foundation.
In order to make a portable homemade sawmill, you can use a gasoline saw made in the USSR. Models of that time are famous for the special strength of the body, which is made of aluminum alloys.
The most popular series “Friendship” or “Ural” are equipped with engines with a power of up to 5 hp. This is enough to cut a log up to 6 meters long.

To cut logs into pieces, you can use a gasoline sawmill, which is equipped with a disk or belt mechanism. The disadvantages of such a sawmill include a large amount of sawdust that scatters around. The internal combustion engine has forced ignition.

Recommendation: Install an emergency switch in the operator's area. This will allow you to stop the motor in the event of a dangerous situation with just the press of a button.

What you need to create a ribbon

Calculation of all materials is carried out only after all drawings and measurements have been made. For the structure you need to assemble:

New or old, but in good condition, pulleys;
Rails. You can make them yourself. But they need to be positioned edge up, so the wheels will last longer;
Profile pipes (for sleepers);
Channel.

To work with the above materials, we will need special tools:

Welding;
Milling machine;
Electric drill (you can use any, but this one is the most convenient);
Bulgarian;
Pliers;
Hammer;
Screwdrivers and a set of wrenches;
Bolts and nuts;
Clamp;
Measuring devices: rulers, tape measures, squares, etc.;
Hacksaw.

Photo of a homemade sawmill

What does the device consist of?

The sawing machine consists of the following parts:

I drank myself.
Electric drive.
Saw carriage.
Saw guide.
Log support.
Frame for the structure.

Sources

https://obrabotkametalla.info/pilit/kak-sdelat-lentochnuyu-piloramu-svoimi-rukami
https://moiinstrumentu.ru/pilorama-iz-benzopily-svoimi-rukami-kak-sdelat-bystro-i-legko.html
https://rezhemmetall.ru/lentochnaya-pilorama-svoimi-rukami.html
https://lesoteka.com/instrument-i-oborudovanie/pilorama-svoimi-rukami
https://podelki.expert/samodelnaya-pilorama/
https://homius.ru/samodelnaja-pilorama.html
https://benzopilok.ru/samodelki/pilorama-iz-benzopily.html
https://obenzopilah.ru/tips/na-vse-ruki-mastera-sobiraem-piloramu-na-osnove-benzopily-svoimi-rukami.html
https://opilah.com/samodelnaya-pilorama/
https://nashgazon.com/instrument/pily/sozdanie-piloramy-v-domashnih-usloviyah-svoimi-rukami.html
https://tpspribor.ru/instrumenty/samodel-naya-diskovaya-pilorama-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html
https://intehstroy-spb.ru/stanki/kak-sdelat-diskovuyu-piloramu-svoimi-rukami-izgotovlenie-prostoy-konstrukcii.html
https://remboo.ru/instrumenty/kak-sdelat-piloramu-svoimi-rukami.html

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Finding the perfect place

Optimal conditions are your own workshop or other premises for processing such materials. The minimum area of such a building is 18 m2. The simplest way out of the situation is to “dislocate” the sawmill in the open air, but it has a big drawback. These are sawdust flying into their territory, as well as falling onto neighboring areas.

In this situation, the most reasonable solution is to build a solid fence around the unit. The material for the barrier can be plywood or polycarbonate. A large canopy placed over the sawmill is also not bad, since the roof will allow you to work in any weather conditions. The next requirement is the place where the manufactured lumber will be stored, so this issue must be resolved before the start of the project.

Finding the perfect place

Vehicle Upgrades

If your old bicycle, scooter or motorcycle breaks down, you should not sell the equipment for scrap. There is also no need to rush into buying a new motor. It can be replaced with a power unit from a light motor cultivator. There is only one restriction: such a car cannot be driven on public roads. But the Ant scooter with a walk-behind tractor engine can be used in the country for trips to a field or river. 5-6 hp engine quite enough to accelerate the moped to a speed of 50-60 km/h. Before installing the engine on a bicycle, it is necessary to install reinforced wheels on this vehicle that can withstand a weight of up to 100 kg.

In order to assemble a scooter with a walk-behind tractor engine, you will need the following tools and materials:

welding machine;
grinder with metal discs;
electric drill;
wrench;
screwdriver;
pliers;
level;
hammer;
dye.

In order to install the power unit on the Ant, you will need to create a frame for it.

This is done in the following sequence:

Drawings are drawn up, precise calculations of the frame configuration and attachment points are made. It is recommended to check the calculations on soft aluminum strips.
The mounting bracket is welded. It is treated with anti-corrosion agents and holes are drilled for the bolts.
The engine is carefully placed on the bracket and secured with bolts. The installation accuracy is checked and the position is adjusted.
The motor is connected to the vehicle's chassis using a belt or chain. Gear shift cables and control levers are secured.
Checking the functionality of the vehicle. The created homemade product needs to be run in so that all the parts get used to each other. You need to spend 6-8 hours on this with the engine running at medium speed.

If you have experience in handling household tools and knowledge in electrical engineering, you can assemble an electric excavator with your own hands. This will require channels, hinges, cables and a working electric motor. The bucket is made of sheet steel, which can be purchased inexpensively at scrap metal collection points.

General characteristics

It's no secret that wood is one of the most popular materials in private construction. Despite the rapid expansion of the range of such products and the emergence of cheap alternatives, wood is still in demand and has no analogues. And although purchasing good material in a hypermarket is not considered difficult, because solutions in the form of boards, timber or slats are available in every building materials shopping center, the opportunity to make similar products at home looks much more attractive.

This is not strange, because in this case you deprive yourself of many costs, and the only thing you need to buy is commercial timber. But cut lumber is very expensive. Naturally, it is unwise to buy your own sawmill to touch up a renovation or repair a roof. If you intend to build some kind of structure on a clean site, then a sawmill can be a very useful solution. And if you also try to make it yourself, this will reduce the costs to a minimum.

Today, several key modifications of such equipment are used. However, if you intend to make a homemade sawmill, then most likely you will need to choose between two main types:

option with fixed saw placement,
option with a trolley where the workpiece is fixed.

It is she who moves along the rails during operation. Any other varieties are modernized versions that significantly simplify the task and ensure maximum quality of work. For example, you can take a mobile saw.

The dimensions of the structure depend on the location. It is no secret that all areas (adjoining houses, country houses, etc.) have their own characteristic layout, so the selection of the optimal dimensions of the machine must be approached with special care. Any drawings available on the network (relevant literature, Internet resources and other sources of information) serve as “guidelines” - in terms of individual components, parameters and other properties. A homemade sawmill is made in such a way that it is convenient to work with it in a specific place under specific conditions. In most cases, such solutions are used for dissolving logs and cutting boards.

Tire (chain)

According to the principle of operation, it can be compared with tape ones. Unlike them, a tire sawmill uses a chain saw.

Advantages:

Easy to operate and repair;
Very simple and reliable design;
Small sizes;
Suitable for frequent transportation.

The disadvantages include:

Wide cut - 6 mm;
The chain needs to be changed periodically;
Expensive parts.