Vertical Bandmill

[macurtis]

Has anyone seen a vertical bandsaw in operation?
Does it cut good lumber? Just wondering.

[Ron Wenrich]

I used to have a video of one.  The outfit was out of Missouri, but, I think they went out of business.  

To me, it seems like more of a natural way of doing the sawing.  Sawdust isn't as much of a problem, you have better visibility on your log, and it is easier to move the sawn material.  I didn't like their dogging system, as it seemed a little undersized.  Production was supposed to be 3500/day with one man.  Edger was an add on.

Sanborn, out of Maine, used to make a mill with a 27 degree tilt.  It used wider bands and was a real good production model.  Sawdust was no problem, and boards were brought back to the operator.  

Lumber quality is often a sawyer thing.  Better sawyers produce better quality lumber.  

[splinters]

Some if not all of the big commercial outfits saw with bands.
Harden Furniture which is nearby has a unit and its awsome.
Sometimes a person can get a tour just by asking.
A long time ago there was a series of books called Foxfire, about life in the south, that ran a section on mills. Had interviews and pictures of guys who built bandmills fron scratch. Check the Librarys.
You guys are starting to make me think that a mill is the way to cure my lack of good affordable hardwood problem.