Replies

1. 
   PeteBradley | Oct 28, 2005 04:42pm | #1

   Your question is intriguing, but would be easier to answer with a few more details. Why do you want to build rather than buy? What do you want to use it for? What tools/experience do you have available?

   Pete

1. 
   sawdustandshavings | Oct 28, 2005 05:04pm | #3

   the reason i would like to build a bandsaw is because i will be resawing and cutting large planks so will need a good depth of cut, perhaps 18 inches minimum , bandsaws of this size are out of my price range.I have access to a welder and the basic metalworking tools but i would rather build one  from wood .

1. 
   RickL | Oct 28, 2005 05:56pm | #4

   Sounds like you are needing more a bandmill than a bandsaw. I have access to a metal shop and welding and do make a lot of tools but I can typically buy used and at auctions a lot easier and cheaper than making tools. The engineering and design are a large part of any tool.

   I have seen plans on making a bandmill using tires from a car. On our Timber Harvester bandmill and most others, the wheels are large pulleys with a v belt stretched over the pulley. I think you need more research on off the shelf parts. On the other hand I once bought a 36" bandsaw with 24" over the table for $200. Cost me more to move it and had to repair a crack in the main casting bit I was minor to me because I knew how to fix it and the seller thought it was junk.

1. 
   sawdustandshavings | Oct 28, 2005 06:37pm | #5

   Sorry i didnt explain myself clearly enough. Not only will I be resawing but I will also be cutting my woodturning blanks to size unfortunately two bandsaws are not a possibility with where my workshop is.

2. 
   pickdesign | Oct 28, 2005 06:38pm | #6

   Here is a link to a company that will sell the parts..may work for you.

   http://www.linnlumber.com/sawmill_parts.html

   Good luck....Steve

3. 
   PeteBradley | Oct 28, 2005 09:11pm | #9

   18" is a lot of resaw capacity. For the money it would take to build that, you could make quite a few trips to a local millwork shop that was equipped to do it for you.A big resaw blade is going to want a lot of tension, which would be a challenge to hold onto with a wood frame so metal is likely to be a better choice. You could resaw with a narrow blade though I have no experience resawing anything 18" wide.I don't think this project would be a money saver unless you have a motor and some of your materials on hand, but it could be an interesting challenge.If you have the room in your shop and the will to move a heavy machine, big old bandsaws often sell for surprisingly little money at auctions. They typically have 3-phase motors and big horsepower requirements though, so you have to consider what it will cost for either a converter or a new motor.

   Edited 10/28/2005 2:20 pm ET by PeteBradley

1. 
   sawdustandshavings | Oct 28, 2005 10:48pm | #10

   thank you all very mcuh your advice has been extremely helpful and has helped me overcome a lo of issues i will send you pictures of my finished piece at a later date.again thank you all very much

   regards

   Sam

2. 
   JohnWW | Oct 28, 2005 04:57pm | #2

   Bill Corneil wrote an article in one of the very early issues of Fine Woodworking about building a shop made bandsaw.  The saw was very popular, works well, and a number of people have built them.  Bill still has plans and information available on the saw, you can reach him at [email protected], mention that I sent you.

   John White

   Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine

3. 
   SteveSchoene | Oct 28, 2005 07:25pm | #7

   Gilliom Manufacturing in St. Charles MO has made band saw kits that provided the metal parts.  I made their bandsaw many years ago and it worked pretty well.  I believe it had 18" wheels and a 12" resaw height.  I wasn't able to find a web site, but their phone number appears to be 636-724-1812. 

4. 
   mike4244 | Oct 28, 2005 08:28pm | #8

   Making and Modifying Machines ,a Tauton Publication I believe has an article on building a treadle bandsaw.I realize you don't want a treadle drive but the information provided will give you a good idea how to proceed. You can buy metal parts such as wheels ,guides etc from most manufacturers as replacement parts. I believe a 2hp motor would be the best for your saw. Reinforce the wood with angle or channel iron on the vertical portion. This extra rigidity will make sawing a pleasure instead of a chore. Without the reinforcement the saw will not hold the tension on the blade.

   Personally , I think you might be better off buying a saw. I do not think you will save a lot of money building the saw unless you have most of the raw materials on hand, and a good motor. A decent motor will run $200.00 or more.

   mike

5. 
   PlaneWood | Oct 28, 2005 11:42pm | #11

   I saw a home made jobbie once for cutting logs.  They used two auto tires for the wheels and automobile wheel bearings.  Tension was applied with an air hose.  It ran off a gasoline engine with pulleys and was belt driven.  It had a bed for the logs that was on rollers.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

6. 
   bladeburner | Oct 29, 2005 07:35pm | #12

   My neighbor an a very good woodworker built these years ago.

    

   
1. 
   sawdustandshavings | Oct 29, 2005 08:20pm | #13

   Thank you very much this has been the biggest help yet.I was wondering if you have you got any more pictures of this bandsaw, dont worry if you haven't.thank you very much i really apreciate what you have done.

   Thanks

   Sam

1. 
   pbck1w1 | Oct 29, 2005 09:20pm | #14

   try and take a look at a woodmizer saw mill the band saw part was really enlightening. You donot need a lot of tension on the blade but will need a good tracking system and the correct type of blade. I don't no the cost of a blade in the US but here they are expensive. It is a interesting project and I looked at making one because I couldn't afford a mill of my own and sawmills won't take urban logs. The wife put the stops on because I didn't have a place to store it. The hardest part for me was designing the tracking mechanism.
   Good luckPeter

7. 
   none | Oct 30, 2005 06:38am | #15

   Go to housebun.org/milling for a veiw of homemade band mill based on Bill Rake's plans.   It uses car tires to drive blade and could be stored outdoors.

1. 
   sawdustandshavings | Oct 30, 2005 10:12am | #16

   does anyone have any plans or pictures of a homemade bandsaw that they could post to me as an attachment if you have they would be a very, very big help.

   thanks

1. 
   Gnome | Oct 30, 2005 01:01pm | #17

   Take a look at pennwoods.net/~zigbug. They have plans for a bandsaw mill that could be scaled down to fit your needs.

1. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 31, 2005 12:10am | #18

   Yep... http://www.pennswoods.net/~zigbug/

8. 
   mudman | Oct 31, 2005 06:56am | #19

   While backpacking in Arkansas I met a guy who made a band saw that ran off the PTO on his tractor! It was all hydrolic, including the stock feeder. He made the wheels out of steel and welded in spokes. He said it was a bitc# to ballance them. I don't know the capacities but it was bigger than most of the portable mills I see in the magizines.

   If you are a turner then you should enjoy turning. Do you really want to be a band saw maker? It will likely take you a month to work it out. If you took an extra job you would get a better saw in the same time.

   Mike