Unconventional Sawmill Build

Since we’re losing so many trees as of late, and since they're a type of wood that I don’t particularly care to burn, I might as well make some dimensional lumber out of them. (Now you know why I made the boom on the 3b to carry logs, so the don’t get packed with dirt and rocks by dragging them.)

I ran out to the scrap yard again this morning to see if they had anything that could be useful. They only had a small pile of the 2’ sections of 3 x 2 x 1/4” that I picked up a few weeks ago for the jeep frame. I grabbed 12 more of those, along with a 3’ section of 6 x 3 x 3/16” tubing.

Then I noticed these huge stacks of bundled aluminum extrusions that were covered up with cardboard. I went in and talked to the lady about them, and they’re fair game. I unwrapped a pile and weighed one. 26 lbs, and the aluminum scrap is $2/lb.
I got two of them. They’re 14’ 9” long.

 

Score !

 

I'm curious how he will use the 3B to power the sawmill.

 

With that tread title, "Unconventional Sawmill Build" and that pictured small amount of metal he will have to make some sort of stand, for the 3b, out of the tubing to get the wheels off the ground, and do some bodywork on the 3b, so it can be configured into a band-saw mill with the band running on the tires!

 

Notice this is in Quitters’ Club and not the Fabricators’ Forum. Sorry to disappoint, but no 3b involved!

 

So powered by a junkyard Volvo engine then.

 

Is the aluminum for the "track" or are you going the "Alaska" route with a chainsaw?

 

A hybrid.

 

Be careful.....You'll shoot your Eye out .

 

I just scored the power plant for this thing for $20!
It has electric start (although it starts on the first pull), and I might be able to repurpose the self-propulsion mechanism into an auto-feed or feed-assist feature.

 

I’ve been cutting parts and punching holes.

 

A Tecumseh

Haven't seen one of those in a while.

 

I spent the morning cutting these parts and setting up jigs to repeatedly knock these out at exactly the same size. Ran out of time before I could finish.

Assembly will begin in a few days. I might have to run back to the yard and grab some more steel on Friday.

 

Step by step…
I only get 2hrs a day on this. Tomorrow should be more productive.

 

It looks like you're fabricating parts to be used in the new light-rail extensions near Seattle.

 

Same concept.

 

I ran down on my lunch break and drilled some (88) holes and threw this track together. Casters should be here by Saturday.

 

It’s coming together…