Belt Conveyor Build - Part 1

Fabricating a belt conveyor for my homemade firewood processor so I can transport firewood straight into the firewood crates. This means I don't have to stack firewood ever again. I'm using scrap steel and bits and pieces I have laying around on the homestead to keep the project cost down. Stay tuned for the second part on this build.
Check out my other videos on my channel page: / donndiy
#donndiy #homemade #firewood
Soundtrack:
Pomade - Silent Partner (KZbin Audio Library)
Welding equipment borrowed from Spetselektroodi AS, Estonia:
Fronius TransSteel 2700 welder
Optrel Crystal 2.0 Welding Helmet
Hypertherm Powermax 45 XP plasma cutter

[@DonnDIY]

Firewood processor build series: kzbin.info/aero/PLkmF7FAZBzkVRPU6b-IeJVu91-frjF8v3 Check out my other videos on my channel page: kzbin.info Welding equipment borrowed from Spetselektroodi AS, Estonia: Fronius TransSteel 2700 welder Optrel Crystal 2.0 Welding Helmet Hypertherm Powermax 45 XP plasma cutter

[@ticowilson6459]

Eww

[@TheStuartstardust]

Tracking like this is good, but making it self tracking would help a bit more. This is done by camfer the last 25% on both sides of roller with approx 2 deg. Anyway, once again a cool project 😁

[@tatianaraquel5270]

Te5⅝y6 TT tu

[@ThinkFreely2012]

I think door hinges for the belt joints may work better.

[@Team-cm3ku]

.

[@glenking3337]

You clever sombitch, you have in the last 4 years or so. Built almost every machine I have ever wanted for the last 20 or so years. Out of nothing! Keep up the awsome work Mr.

[@Hackbridge1963]

I've watched some young guys who are very inspiring at what they do tonight. Comments read, "Great, two of my favourite KZbinrs uploaded today". They obviously don't know about you. No fancy canned music, no sponsorships, you just get on with fantastic creations. We need more people like you on KZbin. Thanks.

[@kw_ld]

So true.

[@4doors_morehors722]

Kenworth Lord same

[@RSST662]

@I Like Turtles Same .

[@peveto1965]

It’s reassuring to know there are still younger people who know how to build stuff. Gives us older guys hope for the future. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@oldschoolmachinist1938]

Looking good so far. Can't wait to see it up and running. Stay safe.

[@jimg.8020]

Ahhhhhh Knipex channels....a discerning craftsman.... much respect!

[@lawrenceveinotte]

my advice on tracking a belt, i have worked on many conveyor belts, build belts and repaired them, i would of put your tracking adjustment on the idler roller only, and would put a crown on the roller as well, a crown makes all the difference.

[@DonnDIY]

The crown is definitely a must.

[@aserta]

Too late now, i'll spell it, just in case someone else wants to make one. Treadmills. One of the jobs we took on, restoring a house required removing decades of debris and garbage thrown in a basement of a house. The only entry way into the basement was a coal chute which had been transformed into a stair way at some point, suffice it to say that it would've been back breaking labour regardless of the size of my crew. So we fabricobbled a dirt conveyor out of 3 treadmills. Each stepper band was cut in half, then cut and spliced with L brackets (thinner ones, since we moved dirt) and glue. We used almost the entire structure, just had to add a few bearings extra and a motor. All that jabble said, a treadmill is an excellent source of material for a conveyor.

[@gusm5128]

I like your idea 👍

[@BarnStangz]

My old man isn't the best with computers. He is a engine builder and likes to weld. I showed him your channel and he is going wild! At 74 he is back in his shop building stuff! It's great to see a inspirational channel like this!

[@DonnDIY]

Very cool! Say hi to your father and thanks for letting me know he got motivated. That is exactly what I want this channel to do. It is very hard to find motivation sometimes and if my videos fill that void I'm very pleased. May he have great projects! 💪

[@BarnStangz]

@@DonnDIY Thank you so much for the reply! Yes I will tell him, just last weekend we started up work again on an engine we started building almost 8 years ago! But yes, your videos are great, shot well and will get people interested in building! Humans like to build!!! Have a great day sir!

[@Crewsy]

That’s going to be a great labour saver. Looking forward to seeing what you have planned for further features.

[@Dano69891]

Your fabrication skills are second to none.

[@mrcooleh]

That's a really good coupling design. Great for minor misalignment. Well done.

[@DonnDIY]

I love that coupling style. Easy to manufacture and very forgiving.

[@gasperajdnik5627]

I'm a mechanic 👨‍🔧, i repair cars, motorcycles, lawn movers, chainsaws, snow blovers. I work whit my brother, we work in our dads workshop. I've been working on cars for 16 years. I like watching your videos 😉. Keep Up The good work 👍. Cheers. :-)

[@gafrers]

Brilliant. The whole Firewood processing operation is going to be so efficient

[@brentonpaterson7047]

Woo hoo. Heavy duty sheet metal bender project coming!! Great work.

[@DonnDIY]

Yes! 💪

[@jasonvos3956]

You give me some of the best ideas to use common things to use for my projects. Great use of the tires. Thanks for sharing

[@billyproctor9714]

Nice work and great video, moves along at the perfect speed. You've had some good teachers along the way and have taken a true interest in your trade. Nice to see these days. Old retired guy in Canada, Cheers, Billy

[@johnkinnane547]

G'day Donn you amaze me how you come up with these ideas, this one when it is finished will save a lot of back problems ...........John look forward to the video well Donn regards J.K.

[@DonnDIY]

Let's hope so. First I have to make it work. 😁

[@michaelovitch]

Conveyor bets rollers are very often not cylindrical,so the belt track itself straight. They are convex crown,concave crown ,tapered. You can also use low profile wide tires, to have a flat tire thread (generally on SUV or big family cars/vans) Those ones generally have a steel belt ,so you can try to butt weld them.

[@opr8tr1962]

You are absolutely genius in the work you do. You are truly gifted. Keep up the awesome videos!

[@PIHERCLAMPS]

Glad to see our Maxipress Clamps in such a great project! Congratulations We hope you enjoy our tools

[@DonnDIY]

Cheers! These clamps are the best! 💪👍🤘

[@WhataTry]

You are just amazing , the machine just emerges from your mind , it is fascinating to witness.

[@SG-uh6sw]

One of the best fabricator ,engineer, and tradesman on youtube could sit n watch ur vids all day keep at it bro

[@tallisman57]

I like your idea for the drive coupling... We used a marine drive coupling on the sawmill with a marine wet transmission... But we ran it dry because it was a much slower speed than intended... Worked great 👍

[@Redneckmfg]

Another Great Build in Progress.... Love what you do and how you do it !!!!!

[@bolthands363]

Красавчик!!! Не устаю поражаться твоими произведениями!!! Супер!!!

[@MrJacksaun]

I've learned so much from watching your videos, I'm now in the process of designing my own log splitting Mill, and I would love it if all of your videos were longer, if you aren't a mechanical engineer you certainly could be.Thanks again..

[@DonnDIY]

Thanks man. I hope the log splitting mill turns out the way you want it. Have a great project!

[@MrJacksaun]

@@DonnDIY I plan on starting my own channel, and this will go up on it. So I'll let you know and you can see how well I did for yourself, take care, and thanks again...

[@jasonrockley4816]

You sir are a legend and inspire so many ppl thank you 😊

[@TheTorkerman]

Great build Donn, that flex coupler is a great idea!!

[@harvydeborahpyke615]

Once again I’m amazed. You sir are a marvel to watch

[@aserta]

Hm, this has given me an idea regarding one of my projects. Thanks.

[@scottstallings7761]

You my young you tube friend definitely have a talent. Either you had a family member that got you hooked on the DIY ,or a job that helped you gain the know how. I give you the golden buzzer. And a subscription

[@JasonTheMunicipalMechanic]

Coming along nicely.

[@dakotamax2]

Wish I could spend a month working with you, would learn a lot. Amateur welder/carpenter/fill-in-the-blank DIYer here from Texas, USA.

[@MedSou]

*Excellent work* 👍👍👍👍👍

[@punkbloater]

Intelligent DIY, that’s what this is. 😊 Great creation so far.

[@user-km9wn3nj5d]

Красиво работаешь ,приятно смотреть,будь здоров,удачи!

[@batnrs1]

Keep up the awsome work!Stay safe.

[@Mikefestiva]

Nice work Donn 👍 always top quality!

[@paulmartin3340]

Always with the brain storming! Great work once again and i can't wait to see it up and running! Cheers once again from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺🦘🍺🍺🦘🇦🇺

[@DonnDIY]

Cheers!

[@ameyers67]

I think the tires will work, but you need to use conveyor lacing so the pieces butt end to end.

[@DonnDIY]

Yup, you're probably right. I tried to roll it and it started to hop due to the overlapping pieces.

[@RubenKelevra]

@@DonnDIY you can use regular stapler bent it on the back side and tap weld it.

[@scummyinoz]

@@DonnDIY Gday u could use 2 angles welded together so u got the 3 holes on both sides and bolt both ends a belt joiner cheers

[@iteerrex8166]

@@scummyinoz A single T-bar would do also.

[@bonsaitree1350]

Two angles would be a good joint them maybe flip the tires over and it may want to track in the center more? Like the opposite of a band saw where the wheels are crowned.

[@ottawaan7326]

You get right to it!!! Great projects always. Thanks for the content.

[@DonnDIY]

Thank you!

[@Military-Museum-LP]

I had a BAD day yesterday. I needed your video!!! Thank you thank you THANKS!

[@DonnDIY]

😁👍

[@hunt4fish]

Love that cutoff saw!

[@MrAJWorks]

Master, interesting to watch👍

[@user-kx3nw8ps1t]

Не перестаю удивляться твоим творчеством. Молодец. 👍👍👍😊

[@marcelbaur6760]

love your work - thank you

[@SrKaGueKa]

Show! Amazing! Congratulations!

[@moerichard3110]

Love it . When you find time build a welding table. It would make your life much easier!

[@kristoferjonsson3362]

Your ingenuity is nothing short of impressive! However, it's easier to bend sheet metal if you score the outside rather then the inside. Keep up the good work!

[@michalpastyrik5773]

Amazing job again. I just love the way you work. 👍

[@DonnDIY]

Thanks man!

[@arkansas1336]

A great start, awesome!

[@DonnDIY]

Thanks!

[@barrywest3758]

The "Most Interesting Man on the Planet"! Dos Equis XX Cheers

[@user-hc8lw9ll7h]

Привет Donn! Давно и с интересом наблюдаю за тобой,молодец слов нету, руки золотые как говорится! Мастерская твоя просто шикарная, я так понимаю из последнего видео будет транспортер для дров🤔? В любом случае ,что бы то ни было,делаешь красиво, с душой ,приятно смотреть за твоим хобби приносящем пользу на ферме!👍💪

[@AlecatrRU]

А мне кажется что для чего то сыпучего уголь например) а делает реально класно !!!

[@edgarmaigue1875]

It's heavy fabrication but very interesting works

[@J3rryTortoise]

this man is building an entire factory from scraps

[@titanstudioproductions335]

Another awsome video man! Keep it up and stay safe!

[@fastdadgarage-northsouthch4418]

I actually built a conveyor very similar to yours but I used the belt from a tread mill, cut it down to width and overlapped a few inches at each joint I also used angle as cleats and riveted them on, again similar to what you did, it was very easy to work with. Figured if it could hold up to a 200lb person a few chunks of wood wasn’t going to be a problem. The processor is on my channel but I never got video of the conveyor

[@brandely1]

respect pour ton travail je te suit depuis quelque annees un vrai plaisir de te voir bosser tres inventif bravo continu

[@kerrygleeson4409]

Always very interesting Donn thanks for sharing 👍🇦🇺👀

[@lucasp8203]

awesome work as always

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Hello Donn, going along good! Hope everyone is safe and well over there. Start to settle down over here with the virus. Thanks for sharing with us, Fred.

[@DonnDIY]

Same here, everything is starting to feel normal again.

[@SOLDADITO76]

I agree on the tires maybe not working, just have to find out. People scrap treadmills might be able to find a couple for a redesign of the belt. I can’t wait to see the end result of these builds put together, your going to have your own personal logging camp when your done. Awesome stuff brother

[@DonnDIY]

We'll see if the tires work. If not there are alternatives. We don't have treadmills laying around here unfortunately. 😀

[@fly998]

Sei un Mago... 😊 bravo!!!

[@matthewcarter5746]

You don't understand how much my serotonin levels spike when I see that you've posted a new video. 😁

[@DonnDIY]

😁👍

[@totalletgo3762]

Круто👍 жду продолжение!!!!

[@tectalabyss]

Hello Donn. Another Outstanding build ! Has always I liked,shared. All my best.

[@DonnDIY]

Thanks!

[@cyd9183]

I think it's awesome that you can cut like you'd draw a line with a grinder.

[@alittleofthisandalittleofthat]

You are a smart man. 👍

[@w_callaghan8300]

best content! this is what i enjoy to watch

[@DonnDIY]

Thanks man!

[@BigBlueMotors]

Don't work harder, work smarter. Great job. Looks like you need a set of center punches.

[@MrJeb707]

Excellent work!

[@DonnDIY]

Many thanks!

[@jepus63]

You're awesome dude I was just searching through videos and I got stuck mesmerized by your skill

[@andreaboggia]

another step for a great project!

[@Daliclock]

Nice job!

[@cocospops9351]

My man you can bend large plates with your workbench, some scrap steel and a bunch of clamps

[@paavokaleva]

Concaved belt runs straight on rollers that are a bit spherical! Old days, when steam engines and even diesel engines ran sawmills and rehepeksumasinaid with flat belts, then driver roller was spherical to obtain straight belt run.

[@flkscpmtr6550]

Instead of tire use an old firehose for the belt. In Germany "B-Schlauch" is up to 20m long and has a width of 75mm. If you slice it you got 150mm.

[@DonnDIY]

That is genius. I will look around to find a fire hose.

[@opendstudio7141]

@@DonnDIY You will still need some type of belt lacing.

[@flkscpmtr6550]

@@opendstudio7141 two simple aluminum brackets are sufficient to connect the belt simply clamp the ends in between and screw through. as a driver, you can simply rivet angles onto the belt

[@Rancher-xx5vt]

I wish my scrap metal pile was as stacked with stuff as his is LOL

[@tillmanxl6914]

Nice job, I just want to suggest one little thing. If you have a problem with tracking, you might want to put a (Slight Crown) on your rollers. That will help center your belt.

[@DonnDIY]

Yup, that is definitely on the to-do list. Without it the belt will struggle tracking right I presume.

[@opendstudio7141]

@@DonnDIY Just thinking. Would a couple of heavy weld beads - 50mm of the roller center give it a little tooth and slight crown? If you try this idea, don't ground through your bearings.

[@Alan_Hans__]

Brilliant. Looking forward to seeing how tyres work.

[@DonnDIY]

Me too. 😁

[@123suzukisamurai]

Excellent

[@user-qu3es2wm9g]

Приятно смотреть на качественную работу👍

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Thanks for sharing!

[@user-im5wi4pv3b]

Мастер,что тут скажешь 👍👍👍

[@yeagerxp]

Awesome 👍👍👍Thanks for sharing

[@DonnDIY]

Thanks for watching. 😉

[@robertozalazar7404]

Exelente buen trabajo y se aprende de algunas piezas que haces...

[@6miler]

Looks cool, one thing I would suggest is to put a crown on your roller. This will help center the belt better on your drive roll. I've found if you try tracking a belt with a flat roller itll either move to one side or the other never in the middle where you'd like it. Keep up the good work!

[@DonnDIY]

Yes, the crown is a must.

[@viccarsncoffee818]

I ALWAYS SAY DAMIT WHEN I WATCH YOUR VIDEOS AT THE END BECAUSE THEYRE SO INTERESTING MAN:)))

[@uiop545]

many thanks; this can have a lot of uses; basically anywhere a lot of loose material has to be shifted ....

[@DonnDIY]

This is why I'm building this conveyor separately from the firewood processor. We have to move a lot of dirt from the basement. So this conveyor might come in handy.

[@jessetoptechallen1461]

Great job I learnt a lot

[@panda69144ify]

Fantastics!!!

[@LhajBELAAIDWorkshop]

Again perfect project bro. Best wishes from morocco 🍾🍾🍾🍾🍺🍺🍺🍺

[@pnwRC.]

I wish making belts were as easy for my 14th scale RC trucks & construction equipment! We've tried to slap together some things with ill or no success.

[@leakplugger93]

I'll say this. I could make every dam thing you have made. Main difference is, I would need a set of detailed drawings to do so. Your creativity and problem solving skills are truly impressive and I admire your ingenuity. I'm good at making but not creating, you Sir are excellent at both.

[@andreainarteilmistico4695]

È sempre un grande piacere seguirti. Sei forte!!! Ciao dall'Italia.

[@DonnDIY]

Grazie!

[@morgansword]

I can't believe that threw you a loop as you have so many obstacles and always overcome them. I think this idea will float yet... I remember how disappointed that you were because the all terrain machine didn't swim well but I think its going to come out of the back lot swimming someday. Tell me Donn as a very long subscriber that your still thinking about it are you not???

[@DonnDIY]

I am thinking about the tracked vehicle, yes. I have lots of mods I want to do to it. But all of that in the future. 😀

[@Dibblah1900]

Really like your approach - stepwise approximation of a solution or "build it until it's built" :) Suspect this will need springs or gas springs to give you enough movement for the expansion of that length of rubber belt, but really looking forward to seeing how it works!

[@ДомашнееХозяйствоЖМ]

*Спасибо за хорошие ролик*

[@johnvro967]

Hi Donn, That belt looks like it should be good for at least 50.000KM Thanks for sharing.