Swingblade SAWMILL Build Ep.1 - Blade Adapter Machining & Swing Frame Fabrication

This time I'm building a circular swingblade sawmill from scratch. The function of the mill is in its name - the blade swings 90 degrees making it possible to cut both ways while moving the carriage up and down the log resulting in dimensional lumber in one pass. I built a chainsaw mill ten years ago and milled lumber that I used for my cabin / sauna house project. Then I built a bandsaw mill five years ago and used the cut lumber to build a partition in my barn I currently call my workshop. Both of them worked great, bandsaw mill was faster than chainsaw mill for sure. But I think I can make an even faster mill and swingblade sawmill in my opinion is just what I'm looking for. There are different types of swingblade sawmills, one type utilizes a railway system where the saw carriage rides on rails so both rails are in the way when loading the logs. I want to build a beam-type mill where the saw carriage is suspended on a beam over the log that sits on a couple of wedges so it doesn't roll off while cutting. There will be no need to clamp the log down. Cut depth and width adjustments are all going to be made on the sawmill beam end frames. And to top it off - it will basically be a portable sawmill due to its build properties but I think it's only going to sit in my yard regardless of the portability. In this video I'm sourcing parts - modifying/balancing a belt pulley on a three phase 4 kW electric motor, machining a circular saw blade adapter and showing a steel swing frame fabrication that holds the pillow block bearings and the shaft assembly. This will be the part that swings and makes it possible to cut dimensional lumber fast. I've been "sitting on" this custom order circular blade for over a year now and I can finally start working on this dream. I'm gonna try and use basic tools like angle grinder as much as possible (except lathe) so I'm gonna enjoy this project even more. I hope you will too!
This sawmill build is based on www.turbosawmill.com "Manual Mill" design and it is patent pending.
My other videos: kzbin.infovideos
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#donndiy #homemade #sawmill
Welding equipment borrowed from Spetselektroodi AS, Estonia:
Fronius TransSteel 2700 welder
Optrel Crystal 2.0 Welding Helmet
Hypertherm Powermax 45 XP plasma cutter

[@DonnDIY]

More fabrication videos on kzbin.infovideos

[@stacyreid5077]

Can’t wait to see how you are doing with it.

[@AndersonOliveira-ov5kp]

👍👍🙌

[@SalmanAli-ex3mv]

@@AndersonOliveira-ov5kphl

[@jankuttschreuter3002]

@@@stacyreid5077

[@stacyreid5077]

@@jankuttschreuter3002 yes can I help you with something

[@richardmclaughlin5381]

That looks terrifying. I love it.

[@shikombisondzima9364]

Please give me a quote I need one

[@nathanscott7910]

I would never in a million years have thought about using the lathe to drill holes like that. AMAZING idea.

[@Barmaley80x]

Always make holes using lathe the same.

[@4acrefield875]

One of the best makers on KZbin for sure a pleasure to watch . And I would definitely watch a lathe spring clean and maintenance video too 😁

[@ZRMvoice]

Don't say "maker"

[@douglasthompson2740]

Good to hear you are narrating again so I can begin again to enjoy your videos after quite an absence.

[@tomcleghorn4005]

I very much appreciate the detail in your work. Thanks for showing us all the little steps

[@jjock3239]

Excellent workmanship, and great homemade device for clamping the shaft for the lathe operations. I have a bandsaw mill, and it is all I need.

[@KevCampbell]

Fun to see such precision engineering applied to a medieval looking contraption 😊

[@DonnDIY]

Lacking in the looks department and overcompensating in other areas. 🤣

[@visionisscaryYTg]

Thanks for the drawing at the end, this answered my boggled minds thoughts.

[@Ejrupolsen]

A new sawmill project. love it. 👍👍👍

[@leandrog1989]

Cómo siempre excelentes proyectos! Felicitaciones. Saludos desde Mendoza Argentina 🇦🇷

[@yeagerxp]

Good job 👍👍👍Thank you for sharing. Be safe 🇨🇦

[@jbprospector3638]

Can't wait to see how it will turn out.👍😎. Love your channel.

[@bobf12]

This is gonna be a good build. Can't wait for more.

[@user-im7wf7zm9m]

Як завжди класні проекти. Молодець. 👍

[@paul4124]

Glued to the screen from start to finish, what else can we expect from a “Donn” video. Totally loved your home made adaptor for the lathe, pure genius.

[@runsolo7418]

The old sawmills, i.e. the spinning blade of death. Can't wait to watch the build.

[@tWIST1up]

what a wonderful display of skill and craftsmanship .. :)

[@Arbeidskar]

I just love your work! Wish I had your tools, skills and creativity!!

[@kameljoe21]

Super excited to see what you come up with. I have messed around with doing something like this. I have also done a lot of research as well.

[@andybtec]

Now that is a proper lathe! Slight lathe envy

[@PAINFOOL13]

Nicely Done Donny .Blade looks wicked 👌

[@lloydprunier4415]

The cad drawing at the end enlightened me as to what this will be for! I also can't not think of Sling Blade the movie when reading swingblade!

[@billgolcher2537]

Great job love your work and your videos take care

[@getberget]

I cant belive my 2 favourite channels are now both building a sawmill. You and j.mantzel

[@Jonasschonning]

You and @JMEMantzel both building a swing blade sawmill. Cool!

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Oh Boy !! Going to be another great ride along with you Donn. Another great fabrication adventure for sure. Looking forward to every video. Stay safe and have fun. Fred.

[@glenking3337]

Darn you Donn. Yet another video I'll be addicted to watching.

[@RicardoCruz-xk9nb]

Buen trabajo amigó gracias por compartir tus conocimientos, resive un cordial saludo desde Puebla México 🇲🇽

[@ambroiseriboldi4952]

Salut à toi Donn. Toujours un plaisir de te retrouver. Encore un super projet, que je vais suivre. Avec toujours un peut d'impatience, j'attend la suite. Bonne continuation.

[@lutindesbois3716]

Au top Donn 👍

[@gafrers]

Another Great build has began

[@tombrenes2411]

Awesome build Great content bro

[@kenwood8665]

Keep up the great work.

[@sidschwan8031]

Hi Donn nice to see a new project im happy now allways a good video thks from Sid.

[@gbk6470]

всегда смотрю аванцем лаик

[@oscarmulattieri1676]

WONDERFULL CONGRATULATIONS!!

[@gordonmackinnon8838]

i hope you dont mind me saying this , that is a dam good job . thank for leting me watch you do all your work .

[@garyweber6413]

nice work Donn

[@vidinwoodworker]

Looking forward to this one.

[@csabazetenyi8133]

Újabb érdekes sorozatnak ígérkezik...👍👍

[@christopherlarime4095]

Cant wait to see next episode!

[@Cburke602]

Love this channel👍

[@whirled_peas]

I have fantasised about making one of these for years

[@Painterdudeus]

You are quite the craftsman my dude. Some people might not understand the difference between a circular cut vs. a band saw. You don't have to make a through cut which increases the quality of wood stabilization. Also less waste.

[@snowyseb]

No kidding, this is something I've been imagining for a while. Lucas mills are hard to come by and expensive, this will be a very interesting series! I'm excited to see how it goes!

[@MASI_forging]

Nice work!

[@tramptruck4859]

The blade of death 👹 Everything needs to be 100% correct when building something like that - I have every confidence in you. It will be very interesting to see this take shape.

[@tomayrscotland6890]

Well done fella you solved that problem real fine I would like to see your saw when it is done...

[@lumotroph]

Oooh! A new channel! Love it.

[@DonnDIY]

Cheers!

[@lindonwatson5402]

awesome mate!

[@jamesmikesell5458]

Going to be a very nice sawmill

[@alfiversen7023]

I believe the runout/ balance on a saw blade like this is measured while the blade is spun up to speed. They often wobble a bit when static. Might be because it will deform due to centrifugal forces when going at nominal speed.

[@julioribeiro9540]

Por isto estas laminas sao para corte com baixa rotacao

[@ag.cousins]

No way man, the wobbles while getting up to speed are resonances. Runout should be measured at low speed and not run up to speed if it’s too high.

[@kameljoe21]

The design I went wtih was a 1:1 T gear box which would drive the blade via a pulley and belt or chain. This would also allow for a cull 180 swing and angle cutting which means that I could cut siding and hex, oct or what ever sided beams. I helped my neighbor make a few 8 sided posts for a porch. We used a band saw and once we cant the log we then made some logs braces that held the log in place to cut the edges off. While what I was doing was only messing around and doing it with no money invested and things I got for free or a few dollars. It was a fun build and learned a lot of things. If I was to do it all over again. I would opt for a dual blade sawmill much like Marty Ts sawmill that he found a number of years ago. It is very possible to build something much like this with a really nice diesel engine and good hydraulics.

[@enderekinci304]

Greetings from Turkey. Congratulations . I am also looking forward to this project. God bless your hands . I wish we could get to know you better. :) :) :)

[@bwillan]

Looking forward to this build project. I don't think a swingblade style sawmill can be beat for milling dimensional lumber from logs.

[@DonnDIY]

I agree 👍

[@pauloalbertovamosfalardequ6976]

Mais um belo projeto. Vou salvar os videos no meu pc

[@jesaiasaraujo1025]

very good your projects

[@paulmartin3340]

Yet another interesting build has begun ! Looking forward to seeing it all come together. Cheers Donn from Sydney Australia as usual. 🇭🇲👍🦘🐨👍🇭🇲

[@DonnDIY]

Thanks man!

[@hollandduck79]

hello from the Netherlands . thanks for the video Donn . Sincerely Hollandduck

[@opendstudio7141]

Yep, those Lucas Mills are pricey, even used. So, I can see where you might want to just build one of these nice set-ups for your own custom and quarter sawn lumber production. Also, the options for planning and sanding wide widths make the labor savings in these platforms very attractive. Plus, it's going to create some very good content for KZbin. 👍👍

[@kameljoe21]

I messed about making something like this with no real money for the project and with mostly free stuff and a few bought things. Though this was about 10 years ago and at that time if I would have had the funds to buy one of the Lucas mills I would have gone with the 4/10 model. This was their 4 inch model. At the time this was the only thing I wanted to do. 1x 2x material as the lumber I could get was cotton wood and I have helped my neighbor cut a bunch with his bandsaw mill. I just did not like bandsaws because they could have compounding problems. Swing blades were ideal and after I showed my neighbor the lucas mill he was kinda sad cause he would have bought that instead. If I was going to do this all over again I would build a dual blade mill. This is where the vertical and the horizontal blades are fixed and you get a single board from one direction of movement. I would also build a bed that can clamp and alinge the log with a push of the button. You might lose the last 6 inches of the log yet in the end its worth to improve cutting times.

[@lancer2204]

A DIY Lucas Mill! Nice!

[@thomaswestwood5227]

english is getting good awesome video btw!

[@johnvro967]

Hi Donn, That's a very intimidating blade, stay clear of that ! Nice work, looking forward to see how this will work. Thanks for the video.

[@chrisprobert6]

Chop saw is kinda cool..👍 First time to see anything similar 🙂 Edit I mean carbide one ....lol

[@JohnSmith-ud9ex]

Always good Donn, always good = )

[@albarotatarchuk8280]

Estoy seguro que no sabes castellano pero tis videos son cono una estension de mis protectos a medias gracias muchas gracias por publicar tu materiarl con tanta dedicacion

[@randytravis3998]

might need a pair of them on my truck for traffic control LOL .. looking good .

[@TukangKayuofficial]

My boss idea is very good I like it

[@MARKMARK-qq7sb]

Very safe blade👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@DonnDIY]

👌👌👌

[@lankes5540]

👉 Mast Lajawab 👍👍👍👍

[@danf4616]

"I like them fried 'tators..." Ever see the movie "Sling Blade"? 😁 Thanks for the Vids! 👍👍

[@user-gr3fh5lt7x]

О,новий проект.Клас.

[@_J242]

nice job

[@nelsonstree436]

Add 1 more bearing to each end on the inside of the plate, also looks a great start

[@Gin-toki]

Before I read your description, I thought you were about to make a "Amusement Ride of Death" or something with this xD Will be interresting to see the final result :)

[@topspeed250k5]

I think you were very lucky that the motor pulley turned true to the centre & was balanced. Holding it peripherally & turning it, normally you should then bore out the shaft hole, so it's true to the irvumgerence. If the hole is already bored. the pulley should be mounted on a shaft & turned on that, so the circumference is turned true to the centre. Glad that you were in luck this time!

[@jorgemejia2291]

Me encanta como los hace

[@siriosstar4789]

That looks like something out of a horror movie . 😱

[@faviolubinmorenocamargo5058]

Exelente 👍

[@aubrymacielpereirafilho3017]

Valeu muito obrigado!!!.

[@09FLTRMM77]

MM77 Approved 👍🏼👍🏼

[@kurtdowney1489]

This guy can build anything. LMAO "Mr. Chop!

[@DonnDIY]

🤣

[@Wheelloader__]

Cool 😎

[@rude252]

Nice work! I'm sure you have already researched this Donn but the blade bolts usually 12.9 grade with nyloc nut on the back. From memory the blade speed is around 2000rpm. Looking forward to the rest of the build 👍

[@DonnDIY]

Hey man! Thanks for the heads up. I looked around locally and found these 10.9 grade bolts and planned on locking them with nyloc nuts. In the light of the information you provided I just ordered a set of 12.9 grade saw blade bolts (with nyloc nuts). So that issue should be in check now. The manufacturer of the blade gives optimal blade speed around 2400 rpm, max 3500 rpm. According to my calculations with current pulleys my setup will have 2900 rpm which I definitely want to bring down to optimal.

[@julioribeiro9540]

Aqui no brasil tem muitos fabricantes eles usam em baixa rotacao, depois da uma olhada no youtube gilson moreno gm500

[@douglassouzadecamargo938]

Boa tarde gosto muito dos vídeos que vc faz aqui no Brasil eu tenho uma serra também

[@Svendus]

Interesting new projeckt Don ❤ many off the swing blade sawmill’s i have seen had hardly no clamping system off the log, but gravitation and therefore have been pretty underpowered, to have a feeding force a 20-24” saw blade requires especially cutting 10 to 12 “ backwards, it shall be interesting to follow the further progress off your Swing blade project 👍

[@DonnDIY]

I have planned no clamping for the log either. Just setting the log on log stands one time and then cutting all the boards from that one log position till the very bottom scrap slab. I really disliked the continuous log setting on my prior sawmills. Let's hope this sawmill is exactly what I want. Have to try different things here in life I guess.😀

[@Svendus]

@@DonnDIY With the blade this size and a 3KW electric motor the Saw speed will be rather slow and the feeding speed rather low so the log will surely lay still but from my experience with hundred kg. feeding power from circular sawmills on a static log with a moving saw blade, the log must be clamped one way or another so that the log docent fly to the moon 🥴

[@shaynegadsden]

@@DonnDIY yeah looking at similar machines 11-12kw seems to be what they use for electric

[@yusufabdrahman592]

So good ii boss donn DIY💪💪👍👍✅

[@antoniovigo3285]

Gracias saludo 🇺🇾

[@AW-Services]

Another great project in the making. That blades definitely intimidating and a widow maker. Are you going to be using an electronic actuator to adjust the blade cutting angle or manual self made lead screw with a turn handle ? Hope all is well over there in Estonia, the British armed forces are there. Big hello from 🇬🇧

[@haugstule]

13:53 Donn, you're a wizard

[@michaeld1167]

Nice job. Will you be welding the other end of the blade mounting flange adapter onto the shaft ?? Or drill through them and install a pin 90 deg to the shaft axis.

[@wernerbrokmann5761]

Super

[@hasanfarrokhi142]

سلام و خسته نباشید استاد- من بیشتر کارهای شما را دنبال میکنم واقعا عالی و کم نظیر هستند شما یک صنعتگر بی رقیب هستید و واقعا همه فن حریفید اگر میشه طراحی و ساخت یک دستگاه پنج کاره نجاری (رنده-گندگی-فرز-کم کن-اره گرد) را هم در برنامه کاریتان بگذارید چون دستگاه 5کاره گران هست و هر کسی نمیتونه بخره خیلی ها با آموزش های خوب شما ،دستگاه مورد نیاز خودشان را خودشان میسازندو ازش استفاده میکنند متشکرم

[@chucklenz9011]

Got to pull shavings from that lathe one of these days.

[@daniellyon7904]

So waiting on the rest of this to be posted. I don't know why but it seems like you go into way more detail on your builds than anyone else. I'm wanting to build a twin blade using a VW motor but not sure if it will work the way I want it to.

[@user-ui4cq5yb4d]

אין כמו אימא בעולם!!!!!!!!

[@Crewsy]

First time I saw a swing blade saw was the Lucas Mill that Wankerstar got just before I stopped watching his channel. They’re quite the saw and can do amazing work.

[@dennisbinyon9023]

Gday I sell these for a living and I think you’re going to need to strengthen the pivot points as there’s a lot of force on them. Best of luck with the build cheers from australia

[@user-nr7bk7gv4p]

всё таки шкив надо было зажимать через вал , чтоб хоть как то в ноль от ровнять. установив на вал он еще больше бить будет

[@user-ol8vq1qo6n]

Переделает. Ему не первый раз

[@Farm_fab]

Donn, I have a 558 mm (22") forestry blade with carbide teeth, and I took it off the machine it was on at a local scrap yard. I'm hopeful it will work for my intended use.

[@marcosemmanuelrojas7638]

Soy el único que se fijó en el buzo! Tiene las letras de Hermética! 🤘