The pin that holds my head lift in lock on my up/down head winch slipped on the # 40 roller chain and let the hand crank handle free wheel it went wild sucked my hand in and broke my hand and hurt my wrist and arm pretty bad :(
I'm going to replace the worn chain and want to remove the handle and put a 90 to 1 tarp motor on and remove the handle before anyone else gets hurt
I'm not a fab guy
I will post pics of the setup tomorrow and I'm open to suggestion on how to do this
I will post pics of my hand to
Anyone with a Thomas mill please be careful of this !!!
Thanks Bruno
I hope my luck changes soon !
It's been a tough year
I guess you make your own luck :(
I added the same to my mill and I would do it for you if we were nearby. I love to do such mods".
Bob
So sorry to hear you got hurt! Am no fab guy either but am sure some guys here will help with suggestions. Let's all stay safe. All the best, Rob.
Ayh! sorry u got hurt, take care of that arm, intetested in seeing the mod.
D
Why not call up Thomas, tell them what happened and see if theyd be willing to work with you?
Sorry to hear you got hurt, always sucks hope you heal uo quick at least its nice time to sit in front of the wood stove
That is too bad. :( I have the old style,but I will still look at it.
Thanks Guys
4x4 no rest for me
Was out there first thing this morning puting things back together
The head dropped hard did a full alinement of the mill back cutting great but don't trust the worn chain off to Runnings in the am for some new # 40 roller chain to get back at it have a lot of orders to get at .
I will run it with the handle but that thing will go if not the mill will head off
I like my mill
I had a plan in place to add a swing mill to my operation and keep my bandmill
No one in my area has a swing mill
I get lots of large pine logs 40" plus
I also like the idea of circle saw marks on the wood that looks great on a floor
Was also going to get a Thomas Edger keeping spending my money some what local like I ask my customer to do
I have had a great year with the mill business and I don't want to let up :)
This place has helped me more than most would know
I'm very great full for that :)
I got to quit punching my self in the face with my health issues it's starting to get old :)
I like punching the $20's into my pocket with the mill much better :)
Stay Strong my friend, Stay Strong. :)
When I started building my mill I put a boat winch on it.
Then I seen that you could buy a worm winch new off E-bay
for $43.00. One of the best mods that I have done to my mill.
Later I put a wheelchair motor on it. They wont turn when you
let go of the handle.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/Worm_gear_winch~7.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1510457915)
Sorry to hear of the injury. We will help if we can.
I'd talk to Thomas Monday morn. Approach it right, they will want to know and you'll get the first new model.
The hand and wrist/forearm right after it happened
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~364.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510518912)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~362.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510518976)
I say Ouch, you say DanG!!! :-X
I know how it feels... This spring my son jumped on my winch cable
as I was reaching for the handle. I though it took my arm off.
If it wern't for bad luck... :( :'(
I hope you get better and a broken hand is no fun, from a retired X-Ray Man.
If I can be of any help, let me know...I am near by.
What are you doing over there?? Is that your bad arm or the good one??
I know you're a hard working bull of a man, but, you got to slow down just a little.
I don't mean to give ya hell, but I hate to see you this way.
Peter
I worked today making custom cuts on some slabs I sold.
I'm also building the mill yard bigger and scaled some logs
My fingers are black and blue right to the tips
It's some sore good thing it's cold out don't hurt till I go inside :)
smiley_bull_stomp smiley_horserider
I know. It's how we are in the North East
Bruno, please show us a picture of the offending part so we can reengineer it to be safer and even failsafe. It doesn't seem right that roller chain would wear out at the speed its turned to support the head. Could it be an adjustment.?? Frank C.
Frank
I have adjusted it many times
I had this problem since it was new
At 9" through 10" on the scale
I will get pics on today
It does seem there is significant room for improvement, to say the least, especially if you have had to fiddle with it from the beginning. Anytime there is a mechanical failure like that, especially one that causes a significant injury, its time to take a think and do some learning. I would think the manufacturer would be very interested to hear about this and do some "learning".
Take care of your arm.
Please under stand I'm not slamming Thomas Bandsaw Mills
I like this mill the frame for a manual mill is the best in the business in my opinion.
I called Thomas today and the owner is out for a bit and i know he will can me.
I even started an owners group on FB this summer :)
I can't afford to get hurt or anyone else for that matter again this year :(
Some pics
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~375.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510587320)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~374.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510587317)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~373.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510587305)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~372.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510587288)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~371.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510587271)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~370.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510587245)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~369.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510587231)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~368.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510587202)
The only thing I have ever been good at is working :)
I'm not the smartest or good at sports
Don't hunt or fish
Just want to get back running the mill safely :)
Thanks Bruno
I'm liking KBietz's worm drive unit with a sprocket where the cable drum is for the chain. That unit is sort of self locking. In fact, you could put some form of adjustable friction to the right side of that drum, enough to keep it from drifting at all but still easy to adjust. It could also have miter gears instead of sprockets and on the ends of a rod that runs where the chain does?
You could make a drop latch like old elevators have. The end of the cable is
connected to this latch. If the cable breaks the latch engages a rack system
stopping the box car from falling.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/39553/Elevator_brake.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510598078)
Great new Thomas Bandmills now has a power up/down unit for my mill.
Heading to Maine this week to pick one up:)
The owner called me up and said it's very easy to hook it up.
Like I said I like my mill
I kind of have a chip on my shoulder about it because when I got it all my friends and family said you will never make a living with that.
Guess what I'm proving them all wrong:)
Just like when I started my carpentry business in 1984 they said he's to fat he won't last he's to this he's to that.
I ended up building comercial jobs with over 1.5 million budgets.
I'm going to have a milling business :)
Just stay out of the Doctors Office
That's the NH way, Never give up, Just think it out, and find the way.
smiley_clapping
Good for you. And good luck.
I agree with Peter. You da man Jim. 8)
Gettem Bruno prove em wrong, I had a guy tell me when I got my sawmill that it was dumb and I'd never make anything happen and that did nothing but fuel my fire.
Quote from: 4x4American on November 13, 2017, 09:28:56 PM
Gettem Bruno prove em wrong, I had a guy tell me when I got my sawmill that it was dumb and I'd never make anything happen and that did nothing but fuel my fire.
smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup
When I bought my mill, it was sight unseen, infact it was a few months until spring breakup before I could pick it up, so it was a while before I laid eyes on it.
I naturally slipped my mind to tell my wife that we were the proud owners of a LT40, until I drug it home.
She didn't say a whole lot, but you could tell that she didn't think it was the brightest move I have ever made. lol
I sawed up a couple of old pieces of dunnage I had laying around, then had to go find a couple of logs, and by the time I had them sawed she had changed her mind. lol
starmac, That's how it goes, Then she will see $$$ you will make, And when you want a bigger mill she will say OK honey. :D :D :D ;)
Like myself I'm sure a number of you have also been secretly looked over for the space program, and then you bought the mill and they realize that it would be a waste of just too much mental horsepower to go from that to driving a bus in space. So here we are, rocket scientists
Ah, but Peter, I do not even saw for hire or sell lumber. lol
She just thought it was a neat and fun hobby that I was going to enjoy, and probably figured she could get a board or 2 now and then.
Truth be told she probably figured that it was cheaper than my gun and reloading hobby. lol
Quote from: Don P on November 13, 2017, 10:15:25 PM
Like myself I'm sure a number of you have also been secretly looked over for the space program, and then you bought the mill and they realize that it would be a waste of just too much mental horsepower to go from that to driving a bus in space. So here we are, rocket scientists
say_what
My father in law figured I was crazy to buy a mill and build a log cabin, said it would have been quicker to stick frame it, and I says yup maybe so but then you have only a stick framed building like every òne else, this is a work of art that will last.
Quote from: rjwoelk on November 14, 2017, 07:06:48 AM
My father in law figured I was crazy to buy a mill and build a log cabin, said it would have been quicker to stick frame it, and I says yup maybe so but then you have only a stick framed building like every òne else, this is a work of art that will last.
You guys are just a bunch of dreamers... If you want to go to the moon you have to get the proper launch angle.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25990/download_20141115_1811025B15D.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1418351635)
Today i installed the power up/down on my mill no more handle 8)
I went to Thomas Bandsaw Mills yesterday to pick it up.
Jon the owner treated me right on this I left with the up/down kit,two new log clamps,some slab rack brackets,a new band he worked with Lenox to design it has a profile like a turbo 7 and a new hat.
Got a tour of the shop and a new mill that will cut 48 inches wide all new design it looks great they are stepping it up :) :)
I look forward for a lot of new things to come in the future
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~378.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510946327)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~377.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510946308)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/36349/image~376.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1510946304)
I think you'r going to like that...
Looks good Bruno
Looks like a great upgrade. You're going to need a helper to keep up with that mill now. :)
Quote from: starmac on November 13, 2017, 11:03:41 PM
Ah, but Peter, I do not even saw for hire or sell lumber. lol
She just thought it was a neat and fun hobby that I was going to enjoy, and probably figured she could get a board or 2 now and then.
Truth be told she probably figured that it was cheaper than my gun and reloading hobby. lol
When you are running the mill she knows where you are and peace of mind is priceless.
Gerald
I think I saw that at the Bangor show. Knowing them,it is simple. ;D
TheCfarm
I think this one is a whole new design
Other than the noflex trac the head is all new
I still think I saw it. Maybe proto type? I also saw the same motor as an auto feed too. All the auto feed is,is a pneumatic tire,maybe 8 inch,that pivots against the bed rail.
smiley_thumbsup
Quote from: starmac on November 13, 2017, 09:40:18 PM
When I bought my mill, it was sight unseen, infact it was a few months until spring breakup before I could pick it up, so it was a while before I laid eyes on it.
I naturally slipped my mind to tell my wife that we were the proud owners of a LT40, until I drug it home.
She didn't say a whole lot, but you could tell that she didn't think it was the brightest move I have ever made. lol
I sawed up a couple of old pieces of dunnage I had laying around, then had to go find a couple of logs, and by the time I had them sawed she had changed her mind. lol
That's pretty funny! My wife has been by my side on the sawmill purchases. When I bought the lt30, she said "this won't be the last mill you buy"I thought she was crazy. 2 years later, she basically talked me into buying a new mill.
Sure sorry to see the broken hand, I hope it heels fast. I smashed my fingers this summer and it put me out of business for a month. I couldn't keep sawing since my day job had me back to work on light duty.
Looks dandy Jim,
Is it tied into the electric off the motor?
Hope that arm is better.
D
dgdrls
The up/down motor is run through the small battery and charging system on the 13hp honda.
It keeps up.
Bruno
Ran the mill today with the new power up/down it was nice and made thing much faster 8) 8)
Good upgrade!!!!