Homemade Band Sawmill Build from Scraps - Milling Wood for first time

I've challenged myself to build a working DIY bandsaw mill from scraps. With the exception of the engine, I have gathered all the materials needed for the sawmill from the scrap yard. It took me around 2 weeks to build it and now testing the bandsaw for the first time on a whole log. This is the first homemade sawmill I've built and I think it turned out great.
The bandsaw does wide cuts and the platform is 21 feet long.
It is a mobile sawmill and it is relatively easy to move around the property.

[@12ar34sw]

I really like your saw. You have done some clever engineering. Your machine is simple, yet elegant.

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks for the support Alan.

[@billykulim5202]

words of advice, make a cover for those wells blade, one day you will walk and trip and facepalm to those, you never knew, it happen to my friend once and cost his head skin to peel of

[@user-nv1ke4qh3o]

@@paulharbour296

[@williamyork1601]

👍👍

[@RaRa-di9yr]

​@@paulharbour296ឥ

[@darwinsango6428]

Simplicity is golden and I like the design. Maybe the next challenge could be an easier way to lift the log onto the platform, but that's a great project!

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks Darwin. I'm working on that log lifter the problem is the weather now is not very good for outdoor work.

[@sylwesterlazar9441]

​@@paulharbour296 You can use the same rope winch you already have to adjust the height. Maybe just add some climbing blocks?

[@robertwilson9533]

exllent idea having the bearing movable for cutting small logs

[@davidmartin5179]

Great job on the Mill. Seems to be cutting great.

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks David

[@bruceshearer1719]

Your are a very talented young man...a great design...and thanks for posting🇨🇦

[@paulharbour296]

Thank you for the nice words.

[@terryatpi]

Nice work !

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks!

[@china-trip]

Wow, My best friend, OMG! So wonderful! I really love this! Thank you so much!

[@paulharbour296]

I'm glad you like it

[@Strutingeagle]

You did some major jihad on that log there slick, good work!!

[@GeoffreyAnderson-sz1fd]

I like your work.I should be able to make a mill like your's .I've got most of the parts already,Well done . Yours JIM.

[@paulharbour296]

Good luck with your project. Hope will turn out nice. Stay safe.

[@timbarry5080]

Awesome job

[@januszsiwiec4504]

Bardzo fajny pomysł.potrzebuje coś takiego a że mam warsztat spawalniczy to sobie zrobię .super filmik poglądowy szacun dla majstra.

[@paulharbour296]

Thank you for the support

[@zulfukargul5410]

Nice easy simple built by the way

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks

[@jozefovadielna]

Skvelé videa. Pozdravujem zo Slovenska.

[@modernmachines333]

Wow, great video! I liked it very much)

[@paulharbour296]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@WayneMickel]

Very nice mill better than most I have seen

[@dominiccirino2069]

Good for you,,,,,,this sawmill will grow money for you my friend Make improvement on it ,,,,,will be easier for you,,,,,,good luck,,,, Mandeville, Québec, 🌞👍😎❤️🇨🇦

[@user-nb8yl1lp3u]

I hope he will still bring a good attitude towards the dog

[@WideCutSawmill]

4:08 bro! 💪🏼 make you some log ramps though. Hefting those logs up there by hand is a quick way to hurt your back.

[@paulharbour296]

Hi there. I've made the log ramps recently. You can see the ramps here kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnmWk2l_bqyrgq8 Thank you for your comment

[@KnowArt]

nice man!

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks.

[@alexr6135]

Zrobiłeś to po mistrzowsku , brawo , Pozdrawiam Cię z polski .

[@paulharbour296]

Thank you for your support

[@flobrka]

Good job💪👌🌳

[@cihyy]

Super !! mozliwosci bedziesz mial duze teraz :) piekna maszyna !

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks for your comment Cihyy. Wish you all the best.

[@user-ro7hv8ze7p]

Пилорама отличная,но нужна защита на пилу.И при работающей снимать перед пилой срезанный материал очень опасно .Пила может слететь вперёд или лопнуть.

[@paulharbour296]

Hi there. Thanks for your comment. I will be constructing protection on the blade in a near future. I am still testing the machine at this point before enclosing everything. Greetings

[@nikolaykolev712]

Great band sawmill ! What's the power of the engine ?

[@gerlandkent6377]

Thank, you for you're video.👍

[@paulharbour296]

You're welcome. Thanks for the support

[@gerlandkent6377]

You're welcome

[@kurtbraisch9572]

Gut gebaut. 😀👋🍀

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks

[@Lui264]

Very nice saw. It would be good with some kind of spring above your jack too stabilize the pressure on the blade, stretched too much it would finally break. It looks like Your blade wheels are totally straight. In Denmark bandsaw wheels are provided with a bandage either rubber or cork, simply glued on the wheels, and with a slightly curved surface. It would protect the theeths of the blade. please, you have done a great job, and it all looks very professional.

[@paulharbour296]

Hi Georg. Thanks for your comment. Can you tell me more about that spring you're suggesting. I am also looking for some rubber to put on the wheels. The mill is not 100 percent completed and is still in testing fase. I'm open to any suggestions for improvements and modifications. Thank you for the support and I am looking forward to hear more about the spring idea you're suggesting.

[@hermanhosenknopf5331]

@@paulharbour296 Perhaps you coul use a part of a conveyor belt for the wheels. The heavy stuff might be too thick, but the ones used for supermarket cashiers might be ok. There are two systems for bandsaws: flat (=rubber) and the teeths run in front of the wheel oder rounded (cork) so the teeths can run over the wheel without being bend flat on the inner side. If the theeth get bend flat the sawblade wants to run to the side (in your case down i think). Cork and flat with the teath in front of the blade should also work.

[@bigyin7639]

@@paulharbour296 Great build, congrats. As for the belting, I use car inner tubes, slightly smaller than the wheels, cut a width from the largest diameter then you get an unbroken band that fits snug but not too tight, thus giving grip and protection to the inner teeth. Wheels are much better convex where the blade runs to make them self centering and allowing adjustment for blade drift (up or down) in the cut.

[@timbarry5080]

I'd imagine someone makes tires for those wheels. Don't forget to crown them. Great job!

[@ekremtok7210]

Is there any particular thickness when miling? How do you determine the humidity? Are you cutting fresh tree or let the tree for drying? I f you cut fresh tree, how do you prevent twisting of lumber. Thanks for the video by the way

[@renenadeau323]

A guard over that saw blade would be a good idea.

[@rebel280z]

Very cool to see! I have started gathering parts for my own build but I am having problems finding information on the wheel setups people are using. Any advice on size/material? Thanks!!

[@user-uv8lw6ot6d]

You can try cycling

[@joelalleman9591]

where did you get your blade wheels ? this seems to be a critical factor in a successful band mill of this style . by the way your build seems well thought out and executed , thanks for sharing !!!

[@paulharbour296]

Hi Joel. Thanks for your comment I bought the wheels online, they are hand made casted alloy wheels. I was a little sceptic about them in the beginning but they seem to be doing the job. The wheel are the hardest part to find. Especially if you're looking for a specific size and you are on a budget. Be patient and search a lot online, eventually you'll find the ones you're looking for. Good luck and thanks for your support.

[@DDSNAG709]

​@@paulharbour296 did you buy them used?

[@ElisaMunguambe-qd5ws]

Muito bom óptimo trabalho

[@pawekopko259]

well done

[@NereudeSouza]

Curtindo e inscrito Apenas uma sugestão. Onde está a fita deveria ter uma proteção feita de chapa caso a fita estore não salte fora seria bom

[@jeremiahparker5026]

It would be pretty simple to convert the controller for the up/down movement of the saw to remote control.

[@susanvaughn741]

To get the wheels perfect, you need a datum line for each. That mean 4 plumb bobs.

[@johneinarkarlsen9747]

Watch your back young man.

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks for the support John.

[@gerhardhafner5076]

Bandsägen erbringen große Leistung und wenig Schnittverlust. Gratulation für diese Arbeit und in welchen Land bist du zuhause ?

[@tijosmonfarlo]

What size logs does your sawmill take? by the way you did a very nice job well done.👌

[@kurtremislettmyr7108]

That is amazing. Are those big aluminum wheels from washing machines?

[@ernestleo6284]

Very nice job building your bandsaw lumber mill which works really as you demonstrated. Will you be adding a safety cover over the bandsaw assembly to prevent a horrible accident if the blade ever came off the wheel assembly or broke?

[@paulharbour296]

Hi Ernest. Thank you for your comment. Yes, I will be adding a blade guard in the future. Greetings

[@poochie49]

Very nice design. I built one similar to yours. Started with a 7 HP engine but soon replaced it with an 11 HP one. I presume you will eventually instal guards for the wheels. But congratulations all the way.

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks for the support. I will be building the blade guards soon, yes, as well as adding extra leg supports. How did the 7hp perform. Was it a struggle to cut compared to the 11hp?

[@poochie49]

@@paulharbour296 The 7 HP worked OK but when the log was wider and not dry it struggled, The 11 HP just blows right thru the wood.

[@paulharbour296]

@@poochie49 I've put 13hp on mine hoping it would cut through wider wood. I haven't tried it yet but soon I will try to cut some slabs from some massive wallnuts trunks I have. Just waiting for the weather to get better.

[@aleklysikov8791]

@@paulharbour296 Hi Paul! We’re you live?? It is US ? Thank for showing video! I think your sawmill is the best! I like you lifting upper and down in power! How big your wheel? Maybe I won’t to build like your

[@carlosalbertogomezangulo7376]

@@poochie49 .9.4

[@crossbow3539]

I’ve got some ideas and could build one of these and there is on one thing keeping me from going ahead with it, I don’t have acres of timberland. And if I could afford to buy acres of timberland, I could afford to buy a top of the line sawmill

[@mikeandcolleenk9831]

Do you have tsppered wheels with a shoulder ridding against the tubbing rail?

[@witoldolbrych3140]

You're inhaling some of those fumes! Wouldn't it be better to have an automatic feed coupled to a drive pulley or an electric motor? Anyway, great machine!

[@MilanLimboo-kt5hm]

Amazing ❤❤ From Sikkim Pelling

[@mitiaushka]

Молодец, хорошее решение😊

[@Stoljarka64]

Отличный станок 👍

[@paulharbour296]

Thank you

[@pamelacollins6883]

I have looked at your video and I cannot see how / what stops the whole saw unit from falling off the support rails, if nothing else , just from the torque of cutting into awet log ? Even after a short time cutting, there will get to be sawdust laying on the rails and with the rollers having to either plow thru it or over it, a sideways movement strain will eventually occur !

[@user-xc8pj9fd9g]

просто молодец!правда!ровненько,аккуратно и все по теме

[@adrianbew9641]

For safety you need to fit a winch system, a simple come along would do the job and very cheap.

[@EKomarovska]

When engine already moving,how did you release the wheels?

[@jonas7469]

Nice👍

[@konfuzius4216]

Von wegsn fräsen........! Schuster bleib nei deinen Leisten! Gruß aus Sukosan/HR !

[@markspc1]

Grande serra de fita, Paul. Tenho certeza de que um dia desses você vai construir um protetor da fita. Perdoe-me por ser estereotipado, mas pela construção da casa, parece que você está em algum lugar de Minas Gerais ou interior de São Paulo ?

[@paulharbour296]

Hi there. Thank you for your comment. I am from Bulgaria.

[@trybson4464]

Te koła też że złomu masz? Świetna robota !

[@mattpellico5255]

I like the back bearings on the cutting guides - I haven't seen that on many home builds. It appears at 2:30 the blade is put on backwards. Then later it cuts in the correct direction. Is there a reason for this? Also, is it critical that the driven wheel (connected to the motor) be on the side pulling the teeth through the log? I want to make my own mill, and am not sure it matters much, but it seems there might be slightly less tension on the lower side of the blade if done the other way. Finally, what length of blade and belt pulley diameter are you using and where did you source the belt pulley wheels?

[@paulharbour296]

Hi Matt. Thanks for your comment. I did accidentally put the blade the other way around and only later noticed that and put it the right way. I have not got much experience with woodmilling and that is the first sawmill I have ever built. The driving wheel on most sawmills I have seen is on that side and it works that way for me too. But it can be built on the other side too but the whole thing will need redesigning in that case. The size of the belt pulley depends on the speed of the engine, also the size of the blade wheels. There are online calculators that will help you decide what size is best for your build. The belt and pulley I have purchased online from a local machine parts supplier. I hope I helped you with my answers but if there is anything else you want to know please feel free to ask. Wish you luck with your sawmill built.

[@lithsonsangma6839]

How much price this machines?

[@mietekmietek1112]

I like your design. What was the approximate purchase price of the wheels for this saw? Kind regards.

[@paulharbour296]

It was around 50 dollars for the wheels. I just uploaded a video explaining all about the parts and price of the sawmill you can check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGqpfWONftOsirM

[@mietekmietek1112]

​@@paulharbour296 Thank you for your answer. It's a very good price if you only paid $50 for two pieces. Do you know the diameter of these wheels in inches? Were these wheels made (cast) specifically for this type of device?

[@kittycat3534]

@@mietekmietek1112 they're 23 inch wheels. They are not made specifically for my machine but these are the ones I found and adapted for my sawmill

[@mietekmietek1112]

​Ok

[@MillwrightGoneRogue]

Nice Build! what are your bandwheels made out of??

[@paulharbour296]

The wheels are casted alloy. Thanks

[@user-iy2un9ud8b]

Дерево павловния, если пилить дуб или сосну?

[@tijosmonfarlo]

where did you get the wheels? -what diameter are the wheel shafts? and how wide is the frame?

[@samradebe1458]

Paul this is an efficient machine in cutting logs, where can I get from?💪💪💪

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks for your comment. I made the sawmill myself so you won't be able to find this exact one anywhere but there are sawmills you can buy online if you're unable to build one yourself. Greetings

[@MarySolano-zj3jh]

A cuantas RPM trabajan los volantes

[@user-dl3lp9mz8v]

Браво! Но обязательно продумайте защиту,на шкивы. Удачи.

[@bluesfool1]

Looks great! Where’d you get the wheels for it?

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks Jason. Most parts I used came from the scrapyard. The wheels I found online on Facebook Marketplace. Only few things like the engine, clutch, winch I had to buy. Good Wheels are indeed a challenge to find.

[@bluesfool1]

@@paulharbour296 indeed. I priced out a wood mizer mill and it was 18,000 dollars! Going to see what I can make. Your whole assembly seems to move very nicely! I’m curious to see how you made that all work.

[@Marshalwar]

Fajna konstrukcja, pomysłowa. Blokowanie drzewa podoba mi się. Masz jednak problem z cięciem prosto. Widać to na filmie w momencie 15:19

[@ELZBIETASKONIECZNA]

wydaje mi się ze to tylko złudzenie optyczne

[@frankbridges7]

You did a great job on your saw. I am going to build me one like yours It's simple and engineered very well. One thing I saw you doing was that you took too many wasted steps Watch the video and you will see the same thing I saw. Don't worry, you will Better with time. Thanks FB

[@polomontlucon3723]

bravo fabrication maison

[@aerialrescuesolutions3277]

Cool.

[@flaviomarcuzzi3496]

Un idea eccezionale, mi piace in quanto usa una meccanica semplice ma perfettamente funzionale, se proprio vuoi potresti automatizzare l'avanzamento con 1 catena e 2 pignoni di cui uno con un riduttore in modo da avere un avanzamento costante.

[@paulharbour296]

Thank you for the support

[@tijosmonfarlo]

How long and wide and thick is the blade ?

[@huotlor255]

I have a dream to build saw mill, rice mill, etc.. like you but you better to have blade cover for safety. Congratulation!.

[@paulharbour296]

Hi there. Thank you for the support. About the blade guard. I will be building it later on, I am just still testing the mill and making sure I'm happy with the wheel alignment and tracking before I cover the blade. Thanks for watching

[@marangkids]

Waow super istimewa

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks

[@joseantonioriquelme8368]

En Argentina encontramos éste tipo de máquinas??

[@HammerCole-vh5yu]

Needs a water tank and dripline to help lubricate and keep the band cool.

[@TechFreezeOfficial]

Amazing video. We would like to show this video on our channel with your permission. We will add your link and your name will also be mentioned in the video. Let us know what you think

[@marianlera3559]

Very good cut. Is paulownia tree?

[@paulharbour296]

Yes Paulownia tree.

[@samuclem]

Te lo avranno chiesto in tanti…sarebbe possibile avere i piani per costruirla? Non penso riuscirei mai a costruirla comunque ma è talmente bella che mi piacerebbe provarci

[@biniahmed2210]

price of this machin please

[@rajeshtoppo6220]

How much does this machine cost?

[@donaldroyer4618]

Do you happen to have a written set of plans for this saw mill or know where i can get a set of good plans? I would be more than willing to pay you for them. I've been trying to buy a new mill for over a year, but the wait list is ridiculous. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[@paulharbour296]

Hi there Donald. What is the best way to reach you. I can send you my 3d plans of the sawmill if that's going to be of any help to you. Cheers

[@paulharbour296]

It is also good to find the wheels for the sawmill first so to be calculated what size engine, belt pulley etc. They are the most difficult to find. Also do you want to cut wide slabs or not. I did buy my wheels too big and would be running way berter with slightly smaller ones. Unfortunately for me it was very hard to find even those and I had to build the whole sawmill based on the size of this wheels. If you are from the US you can get your hands on a pretty good set of sawmill wheels from ebay. Have a look what is available to you.

[@donaldroyer4618]

@Paul Harbour definitely good info to have. Thank you

[@Teoretikfish]

Сделайте, пожалуйста защитный кожух! Страшно смотреть! Так же, не увидел защиту от опрокидования подвижной части от станины (рамы). Станок получился хороший. Всем добра!

[@paulharbour296]

Hi there. Thank you for your comment. Tha machine is still not fully completed and there will be an enclosure around the blade as well as other things done on it. It is still in a testing fase. Greetings

[@user-zw4jd4wm8m]

Молодец

[@user-ec6ev7yr3j]

Достойный агрегат, непонятно, как реализована фиксация каретки в поперечном направлении, кроме того можно улучшить фиксацию заготовки. Но агрегат чудесный, .bravo

[@imad16]

احسنت عمل رائع جدا

[@zabeerzabeer8101]

👍

[@milianurs8128]

Îmi spuneți și mie va rog citi metri pe minut are pinza de la gater sau cite rotații pe minut au rotile pe care este pusa pinza.

[@vidaferenc22]

Megkérdezhetem,hogy hol van ez felvéve?

[@paulharbour296]

Hi there. Thank you for your comment. The video is recorded in the countryside of Bulgaria. Greetings

[@MoacirGoncalves-vu4sh]

QUERO VER UMA MAIS RECENTE TÁ SÓ O OURO VALEU MUOTO NOME MOACIR JÁ TRABALHEI MUITO COM ESSAS MAQUINAS

[@johnoler357]

Wow that pully ratio is a bit fast!

[@paulharbour296]

Yes, It does go a bit faster than I would like it too. I am still looking for a pulley wheel of the right size to mount on the axel that will slow it down and get me more precise movement.

[@user-ih5ii4tp3w]

Dangerous! Get a guard on that it'll throw that blade and end up into your neighbor's yard. Me and my brother built one just like it. 32 in cut with an 18 horse engine works beautiful cut tens of thousands of board foot flawlessly

[@igorovcharov7424]

приятно видеть бессмертного человека за работой

[@adaocustodiopereira256]

Tops

[@joedoakes8307]

What country are you residing in ?

[@paulharbour296]

Hi there. Thank you for your comment. I am from Bulgaria. Where are you from? Greetings

[@joedoakes8307]

@@paulharbour296 The USA ! I hope your country doesn't become involved in the War ! It appears as if that part of the world will have to choose a 'Side' if peace talks don't take place !

[@user-xh9hg5po2b]

Хороший аппарат добавь рулетку с указателем на стойку чтобы видеть толщину среза

[@holderjosef7980]

Gut gebaut. Ich habe auch ein Sägewerk gebaut.

[@paulharbour296]

Thanks for the support Do you have a video of yours.?

[@holderjosef7980]

Good morning Yes, I have. You can find it in my blog. In the meantime I have equipped all movements with motors.

[@holderjosef7980]

Click the H

[@merkhava]

Maszyna bardzo fajna, ale takie drewno nie nadaje się na zbyt wiele! bardzo duży przyrost roczny.

[@paulharbour296]

Hi Wilius. I am experimenting with this wood and tried to find out if is any good for construction. Thank you for your comment. Greetings

[@merkhava]

@@paulharbour296 norm DIN 4074 :)

[@eotwh]

Try looking after the dog with the same effort as the mill,

[@jacek4465]

Ze złomu to tu akurat jest bardzo niewiele o ile cokolwiek. Ładna rzecz ale po co ta ściema?

[@amboss594]

Mi comentario no tiene sentido, quiero apoyar al Autor del canal ¡Gracias!👍👍👍

[@mohonseng4116]

Prices kitina sir