Gonna build a swing mill!

[Chico]

Hilltop you can always use jack shafts instead of gerboxes saves weigt and movinparts in so far as the belts a lot of line shaft mills twisted the flat belts back in the day to make them do what they wanted them to
Chico

[Hilltop366]

 Chico I think we are on the same train there. I'm still looking for a engine, something with lots of torque thinking 4 cyl diesel like VW jetta or an Isuzu from a small GM truck.

Once I get an engine I can start the layout an figure out what parts I need to order like: bearings, shafts and pulleys etc.

Another idea I'm thinking of is a way to raise the vertical blade up out of the way to do double cuts on a cant to get wider lumber (this seem to be the major complaint of the two blade or swing saws).

Hilltop

[bandmiller2]

Electric motors can be heavy to rotate but an arbor mounted right on the shaft would eliminate alot of rigging, 3 phase more the better.Find its pivot point.A three point 3 phase PTO driven gen.would be handy not only for milling but to run heavy duty plainers jointers est.Only throwing ideas out there.Frank C.

[DanG]

Hilltop, the Mobile Dimension Saw uses v-belts with quarter twist to run the edger blades.  The main blade runs off of 6 belts directly from the engine, and the main blade's shaft doubles as a jack shaft to run the edgers via another 6 belts.  This system works extremely well, so you might want to borrow some ideas from it.

I'm fairly familiar with both the Lucas and Peterson mills, and have been wondering about something.  In order to double cut with the Peterson, you have to take the blade guard off.  The guard on the Lucas can't be removed, so you cannot double cut without turning the saw head around.  What I wonder is, why not make the guard movable, so you could just swing it to the other side for double cutting?

[bandmiller2]

Dan,I've wondered about that too its probibly liability in case someone left it in the wrong position.I'am sure it could be failsafed but that would complicate a simple mill and drive up the price.Liability is real and costly and gives night sweats to those who build sawmills.

[Meadows Miller]

Gday

I reckon thats the main reason also with the lucas the motors mounted low in the frame so double cutting is imposible after about 2" even after abit of workshop trickery on the guards  Probobly to stop ppl trying  Ive only herd of acouple of accidents with swingers usually through stupididty in modifying somthing or the other being A Idiot and not bolting the stops in when using the std tracks  ::)Some Mothers Do Ave Em and you cant Idiot Proof Anything 

Reguards Chris

[Hilltop366]

Where is the TinMan I have been waiting to see how his mill is coming along.

Anyone know?

[Meadows Miller]

Gday

Hilltop Its been about two months hopefully Tinmans just been a little buisy Mate  I know time can get away from you real quick 

Reguards Chris