LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

This manual winch provides the ability to slowly and carefully feed the log on the bandsaw lumbermill sled into the blade. Each revolution of the winch moves the sled approximately 3". The winch, when combined with a 4 pulley block and tackle setup cuts the workload by a factor of about 12, which allows the operator to move a 250lb log with an exertion of about 20lbs.

The "stationary" anchor is designed to slide on the end of the outfeed table to ensure that the block and tackle rig is pulling parallel with the direction of travel of the sled, rather than at an angle which would put undue strain on the system. I used a 100' polyester 5/16" braided rope.

Refer to my previous post for pictures and details on the sled and ramps.

The block and tackle is also used in conjunction with a set of ramps to easily load the log onto the sled. Of course, it also helps to have a willing friend to help an old man stay in the game!

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
2,669 Posts
Wow, that's pretty damn cool.

Are those led puck lights underneath there? Another brilliant idea
 

· Banned
Joined
·
18,919 Posts
nice ingenuity mike your shop is turning into a real sawmill operation,so can we expect a post of you out logging next-LOL.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
9,309 Posts
great idea

the sled is one i need to make too
got a couple 8' black walnut logs to mill
and have pulleys too

thanks for this help
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,434 Posts
Nice addition to your sled. Well done.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
14 Posts
Thanks Steve. They are puck lights, but I was disappointed in their low output. My eyesight isn't what it once was and I need a lot of light to see what I'm doing.
Wow, that s pretty damn cool.

Are those led puck lights underneath there? Another brilliant idea

- Steve
 

· Registered
Joined
·
14 Posts
Thanks Larry. I'm afraid my lumberman days are over as much as I loved it. Parkinson's Disease and a chainsaw are not a healthy combination!
nice ingenuity mike your shop is turning into a real sawmill operation,so can we expect a post of you out logging next-LOL.

- pottz
 

· Registered
Joined
·
14 Posts
Thanks David. It works pretty well. I was too tight to spring for rollers so this was the next best idea I could come up with.

great idea

the sled is one i need to make too
got a couple 8 black walnut logs to mill
and have pulleys too

thanks for this help

- patron
 

· Registered
Joined
·
14 Posts
Thanks but it is nowhere in the league of your operation which I admire as I see your setup!
Nice addition to your sled. Well done.

- swirt
 

· Registered
Joined
·
132 Posts
Mike, I've tried a similar setup with the same saw, and have had issues with the blade either bowing in the cut when tension is too low, or snapping when tension is too high.

What have you found to be the best method to tension your blade for this setup?
What blade are you using?

Thanks.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
14 Posts
Jeff,
I'm really impressed with the quality of the cut. It is a 3/4" blade with 3 TPI made by Martin's Sharpening in Ephrata PA. Their prices are amazing and they make the blades on the spot. I needed to make sure that the track was parallel with the blade.

Mike, I ve tried a similar setup with the same saw, and have had issues with the blade either bowing in the cut when tension is too low, or snapping when tension is too high.

What have you found to be the best method to tension your blade for this setup?
What blade are you using?

Thanks.

- JeffinLSMO
 

· Registered
Joined
·
14 Posts
Thanks Tony! Another sleepless night idea.
WOW Mike you just took a great idea and made it superb GREAT JOB :<))



- GR8HUNTER
 

Attachments

· Banned
Joined
·
5,339 Posts
Martins is where I take my saw blades to be sharpened and my chisels I love their work and cheap prices fast service :<))
 

· In Loving Memory
Joined
·
5,826 Posts
This is nicely done and very practical.
 

· In Loving Memory
Joined
·
8,391 Posts
Smart! Congrats on a great idea and a great build.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
14 Posts
Thanks Mike! I can't muscle things the way I could when I was 25 so I have to come up with ways to get things done as easily as possible. My only problem with that is my shop is getting so cluttered with jigs that I'm quickly running out of space.
Smart! Congrats on a great idea and a great build.

- stefang
 

· Registered
Joined
·
4,326 Posts
Looks like a good setup mdzehr,
I tried this once and decided I didnt have the skills to do it correctly or the nice timber to ever try it again!

Looks like you have it down pat.
 

· Premium Member
Joined
·
20,730 Posts
Ingenuity and determination at its finest! Nice job. If I didn't have a woodmizer…....
 

· Registered
Joined
·
14 Posts
Thanks Rob!
Looks like a good setup mdzehr,
I tried this once and decided I didnt have the skills to do it correctly or the nice timber to ever try it again!

Looks like you have it down pat.

- robscastle
 
Top