Making A Quick And Dirty Band Saw Mill - Part 1

The first in a series of videos on building a band saw mill. You can follow along with this build on my website forum:
www.ibuildit.ca...
The idea is to make the mill quickly, just to get the hard maple logs cut into lumber, then dismantle the saw. I'm trying to use just the materials I have on hand already to build this, keeping in mind that it only has to work for a limited time.
I'm making this project over the course of several days, and will be releasing videos as I get parts done.
Editing and putting together a video can often take longer than the project itself, so that's why I'm doing it this way, rather than waiting until the end to make a single, long video.

[@jimmybobhere]

17 people didn't listen to John's advice to just go away if you don't like what you see. Great videos always John! Your skill, personality, and creative editing is a pleasure. Thanks!

[@Patricksworkshop]

Cool looks like a challenging build. Cant wait to see it tear through that maple.

[@IBuildIt]

+Patrick's Work Shop Thanks Patrick. "Tear" through might be optimistic, though :)

[@NicholasGomez]

Cliff hanger!! Really look forward to following this series. !! Thanks for sharing !!

[@IBuildIt]

+Nicholas Gomez Thanks :)

[@Bikeeast]

Will be following this one closely for sure. Top of my list of projects to get done this summer is a small bandmill. Already got an 8HP gas engine for it for free.

[@jonwatson4785]

From what I see in the video it looks like a silver maple from bark and size of the tree and rotting from the inside close to the trunk. At least that is what they look like in the upper midwest. Looking forward to the next video!

[@IBuildIt]

+Jon Watson Pretty sure it's sugar maple, but I've been wrong before. The tree is not in leaf yet, so that would be the best way to tell. Lots of sugar maple here, but (as far as I know) not as many silver maple.

[@OneWoodAuwoodworking]

Looking forward to this one, I have Eucalyptus logs everywhere I want to do something with

[@LivefreeanddiyTv]

Looking forward to the rest of this series!

[@tiitsaul9036]

can't wait for second part. This kind of "shooting from the hip" is very interesting.

[@RickMcQuay]

This looks like a fun build. You'll be busy slicing up that hard maple.

[@IBuildIt]

+Rick McQuay I'll probably enjoy the build a bit more than the actual cutting :) Who knows, if it goes well, I may cut down some more trees to cut up.

[@MRrwmac]

Oh Yeahhhhh! Another cool project from John! This will definitely be interesting. Good luck John.

[@IBuildIt]

+MRrwmac Thanks :)

[@pocket83]

Not to sound like a baby, but that's a lot of hard work! It will suck the whole time, and then 2-3 years later, when you have a giant pile of maple stock, it will be so worth it. I did a black walnut in 2013, and now I have more than I can use. It's been great.

[@IBuildIt]

+pocket83 Hard work is what's been missing from my life lately, so I'm sort of looking forward to it. If this is sucessful (as in, if I can cut up enough lumber with it), I'll likely make a quick and dirty solar kiln to speed up the dry time.

[@thomasklink3766]

Looks like fun. I'll be waiting for more video.

[@MikeWaldt]

Enjoying the build so far John....off to watch part two :) Cheers Mike

[@jmanley26]

Have 7 maple trees that scare me every strong wind. Have often thought I would like to use the wood for projects. Look forward to see the outcome.

[@PaulDesmondimakewoodthings]

Looking forward to the next sections of this project! Nice work. Never occurred to me that my drill press chuck might fit my lathe

[@glenmckelvey5952]

Great start . Looking forward to part two.

[@Remmes]

Shoot, was really enjoying it, can't wait for part 2.

[@ronron8464]

Good project, I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Thx!

[@Cactusworkshopchannel]

Very cool stuff! waiting to see the rest!

[@markandbethbuild]

I can't wait for part two!

[@jacktibbetts1337]

Cool! Great video John! Looking forward to the rest of this series!

[@spidifilerijder]

Nice video. Thanks. Looking forward to see this saw build and in use.

[@frankkelly2245]

Looking forward to the finish

[@leksey7870]

Good informative video. The story of how to do the machine. Like!

[@Jimbos1iceTICREW]

Just recently found your channel and I am enjoying your videos, you do some really awesome stuff you don't see around KZbin! Keep them videos coming, big fan

[@IBuildIt]

+Jimbos1ice Thanks :)

[@johnzzhu]

Cool. looking forward to part 2.

[@IBuildIt]

+John Zhu Thanks John :)

[@IBuildIt]

The first in a series of videos on building a band saw mill. You can follow along with this build on my website forum: www.ibuildit.ca/ibuildit-forum/viewtopic.php?id=583 The idea is to make the mill quickly, just to get the hard maple logs cut into lumber, then dismantle the saw. I'm trying to use just the materials I have on hand already to build this, keeping in mind that it only has to work for a limited time. I'm making this project over the course of several days, and will be releasing videos as I get parts done. Editing and putting together a video can often take longer than the project itself, so that's why I'm doing it this way, rather than waiting until the end to make a single, long video.

[@Growveguk]

+I Build It I was just settling into enjoying this build and it ended! HELP - Looking forward to Part 2 from the UK

[@hankus253]

Off to a good start!

[@trentw26]

Lmao. Crap, I need a bandsaw! Let me just go whip one up real quik! Good stuff man.

[@blackoak4978]

drill through an old CD. The reflection will help u determine if it is perpendicular

[@SteveGoresTodd]

+Ken Oakleaf Can you expand on this comment? I'm curious.

[@blackoak4978]

+Steve Gores-Todd To help line up a drill bit vertically without a drill press put down an old CD. U will see a reflection of the bit in the CD. When the bit and reflection are perfectly lined up u know u are perpendicular to the surface, then u just drill through the CD into what u are working on. Down side is this only tells u if u r lined up side to side, u still have to be careful about towards and away

[@markfryer9880]

+Ken Oakleaf Wickedly simple. Never would have thought of that myself, but I am a tradie so I have had a few years of training. ;))

[@claudefleureau1174]

Bonjour très passionné par la technologie j apprécié d autant plus que je m inspiré et en tire des avantages. Bravo et encore merci .

[@boobiesandshit]

There's so much careful consideration in the cinematography of your videos, it's very impressive! You're clearly not a one trick pony :P

[@IBuildIt]

+Something Something Thanks :)

[@RichardBanke]

The camera in the cabinet shot instantly made me think of the opening/ending of Ferris Bueler's Day Off haha.

[@MiguelHernandez-ef3pw]

oh my gosh I have to subscribe for second part!! you got me tho

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

I'm very, very interested in this, John. I know that you're building this for a one-time-use situation, but I'm sure my question is relevant to a more permanent build. That question is, what kind of RPM are you shooting for on your 16" wheels? Is there a "golden range" that band saws or band saw mills operate at? I'm seriously looking into making a small band saw mill using a small gas engine, so any insight you may have would be very valuable to me. Thanks for posting this! It's very cool already!

[@IBuildIt]

+Mark Lindsay I'm shooting for 2500fpm for the blade speed. Faster will cut faster, but needs a lot more power and built better to keep the blade on the wheels. I thought about getting a gas engine for this, but really it would be better for a more permanent build.

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

I Build It Thanks very much, John!

[@BennedeBakker]

Very cool video John. The different video shots were awesome as well! Did you film that bandsaw shot while cutting the pulley with a chestcam or something?

[@jumpleadsx2]

cheesus I love these videos

[@daifeichu]

Exciting build John. Looking forward to the other parts. Any chance of another run of "IBuildIt.ca" shirts? I got on board just after the last run.

[@MattDiresta]

gonna b sweet!

[@TheeModerateGamer]

Great vid! When you were making all the circles did you think about making a circle jig?

[@roberthaines1429]

On your sander could a sled with a t-track and pins where you could bring the piece to the sander ensuring a consistent distance to make a perfect wheel. Just wondering

[@IBuildIt]

+Robert Haines Yes, that's basically what I did.

[@iamdarkyoshi]

Speaking of drill press chucks, mine is absolute rubbish. Its not well aligned, and I can bend the key before it grips the bit properly. Its an older craftsman drill press. Can you recommend a decent replacement for it? Unlike yours, the drill press itself has the tapered shaft, and that goes into the chuck. The taper seems to be straight still, despite excessively large amounts of violence trying to remove the chuck Thickest part of the taper is ~15.6mm Thinnest part of the taper is ~14.5mm Length of tapered section is ~23.8mm Cool channel, subbed :)

[@iamdarkyoshi]

I live in America, but I always use metric for these kinds of measurements, I find it easier than 1/128in increments... Thanks for the help, I will read up on that and look at some customer reviews on Amazon!

[@NeonGreenPage]

Reaction and juvenile wood is prevalent in branches. In turn making branches only really good for firewood. You should really seal the end grain of the branches and get them off the ground asap. Glenn

[@IBuildIt]

+NeonGreenPage These are trunks, actually. As for sealing the end grain, what do you suppose the chances are that I didn't know that already?

[@DohosanV]

I thought you said in one of your previous videos you were going to stop using your table saw as a work bench.

[@madmodders]

Maybe I forgot, but have you ever mentioned anything about those really shallow shelves running along both sides of the shop near the ceiling? Something to do with some camera set up?

[@IBuildIt]

+MadModders Camera gantry. Details on my website.

[@kafeltz]

Nice shirt.

[@norm1124]

I miss the blue troll :-)

[@id1972taxi]

Looks like you built your band saw Did you do a build vid on its construction Love the wood projects I see in your shop. But you do need a vacuum system do you plan to install one or Have I missed it on a shop tour. I am a new subscriber.

[@IBuildIt]

+id1972taxi No video on the band saw build, but a very detail build article: www.ibuildit.ca/band-saw-1.html

[@waynereinke782]

Is there a parts list available?

[@renifelipe3556]

gostaria muito de intender seu idioma so para pegar tudo direitinho

[@joescarborough1]

Glad I got here early enough to avoid the safety police.

[@IBuildIt]

+Joseph Scarborough I unceremoniously show the safety police the door :)

[@joescarborough1]

+I Build It - I know, and I applaud you for doing so. I would too were I posting videos 'cause I know my MO would be fodder for the common senseless. Carry on, John. You do good work presented in an enjoyable format. --Joe

[@larrycooney3323]

Season Finale?

[@joe5938]

That's what she said

[@JWAM]

I got so sad when the video just ended. It stopped. Worse than hearing the engines go out in mid air.

[@Traderjoe]

Who would thumbs down the video? There must be some real curmudgeons out there. He didn't even really start to do anything yet and they are already thumbs downing it?

[@shroboy07]

I would of thought that you have a chainsaw for sure. Not a huge one but at least a small one. I guess when you do construction you don't need one.

[@IBuildIt]

+Jared S I used to, long ago, but don't have much use for one now.

[@fazeelur888]

quick? lol

[@AdamEarl2]

No chainsaw?! Unsubscribe!! lol