Just listed a sawmill in photo ads

old · Jun 12, 2017

This is just to let you guys know I just posted an ad for a sawmill a friend of mine has for sale. I have other photos of it if you want to see more then what I put up. The blade has just been reconditioned as in what is called hammered.

db4600 · Jun 12, 2017

I was hammered once. I didn't run straight for awhile.

db4600 · Jun 12, 2017

I'm sorry Old. I meant no disrespect. There is a lot to know about a sawmill and blade. I'm trying to learn rake pitch, set, and lead. If I'm learning right lead corresponds with the dish of the blade and a straight blade will tend to wobble. As well if you run to much lead it will heat the blade causing it wobble. It's tougher the the band saw ads tell you.

old · Jun 12, 2017

This one was at one time set up to be run off a belt pulley set up but then switched to a PTO drive. Back when I was member of the local club they used a MM steam tractor to power it but the club got to political for many so many of us dropped out of it

db4600 · Jun 12, 2017

FCTA has entrusted me to run the Schoolmeester mill during our August show. Old man Schoolmeester built it out of a few Model T frames, a buzz saw arbor, and some other farmyard parts. The carriage runs on T-post rails and I'm pretty sure the log advance started it's life on a corn shredder spout. It's hand fed with the flywheel from a handcrank corn sheller driving an old apron chain that pulls the carriage.

Schoolmeester built it during lean times last century and sawed a lot of lumber around Litchfield MN. We can run up to a 37" blade and power it with a 45 hp CASE or a feature tractor.

Pete in MD · Jun 12, 2017

Lead has nothing to do with the shape of the blade which is referred to as the saw. Lead is the angle that the saw "leads" into the log or the cant. It is set by adjusting the saw mandrel so the the front of the saw is closer to the log/cant than the back side of the saw. On a 56" saw the lead is in the neighborhood of 1/32" to 1/16". The smaller the saw, the less the lead and vice versa.

The shape of the saw is achieved by "hammering" which puts tension in the saw. Saws are hammered for the rpm they are operated at. When properly hammered the saw will have a very slight dish to it which can hardly be seen. When the saw is up to operating rpm it will "stand up" straight.

paul · Jun 12, 2017

Cool. Been to Litchfield a couple times, mostly consignment auctions.

Paul

JMS/.MN · Jun 13, 2017

I"m also a member of FCTA, not a charter member, but lifetime. I know which mill you"re talking about, did not know its history. I know a couple of sawyers, one near Kimball, the other near Lake Koronis, who might be able to advise you. email is open.

Richard G. · Jun 13, 2017

I have an old Turner mill with a 42 inch blade. Had it hammered a few times over the years. It is becoming a lost art to hammer a blade. I have an old US Army book that shows how to set up and run a sawmill and also how to hammer a blade.
Richard

Butch(OH) · Jun 13, 2017

You might also try listing it on the sawmill exchange website were you can also see what other similar mills are selling for (or at least the asking price)
sawmill exchange

db4600 · Jun 13, 2017

Agreed. On the Schoolmeester mill with the way it was built the lead is an ever changing battle. The integrity of the mill frame is less than what you normally see. The weight of the drive belt can change the lead on this old girl as it is run. Typically I try to check this during pre start up and then see how it will run. Because of it's design we adjust a cable tensioner to counteract the affects of the drive belt on the mandrel. I'm not saying this is a performance mill, but it's a good piece of local history and it draws interest for our little show.

Just listed a sawmill in photo ads

old

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db4600

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db4600

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old

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db4600

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Pete in MD

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paul

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JMS/.MN

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Richard G.

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Butch(OH)

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