Do it yourself sawmill, and more

I am a semi-retired(mostly just tired) cabinet maker from Texas. A few years back I built a sawmill so I could cut my own lumber. I started building log furniture out of the offcuts and scraps. I have just about every tool a woodworker can have and none of them are much use for building log furniture. After looking at what was available on the market for building log furniture I was not impressed. I decided to build a machine designed just for the fast, easy production of log furniture. It functions as a sawmill, a large capacity lathe(10" dia x 108" length, a large capacity mortise machine(24"x96" bed, 14" vertical stroke), and a large capacity drill press. I designed the machine using 3-D solid modeling software. It is built with "off the shelf" parts and components. I would love to hear your comments and opinions(even the negative ones)
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Go to dropbox link for a more detailed overview of the machine:

machine: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nr4yw91iv...-2YHwWIBa?dl=0

furniture it makes: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pq9hfk8rq...pz4MeasIa?dl=0

That is an AWESOME build. When I saw the title I kinda expected something that did everything *almost* as good as the single tool, but it's clear you've put a lot of thought into the design. It really is a hell of a robust tool. :bow:

And I love the ice chest!

I'll give you my negative comment first.Probably the most negative comment any one could ever get.
""It's not mine""
Now that that is over with your combining of many different wood working tools into the confines of a single heavy duty frame work is an outstanding job.
Maybe the addition of a drum sander or a large as in 12" by 60" belt sander to travel longitudinally might serve to further reduce your furniture build times But over all, great job thanks for sharing.

<!-- BEGIN /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->
Thanks brianpoundingnails! We've added your Sawmill to our Woodworking category,
as well as to your builder page: brianpoundingnails's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-sawmill-9"> <img src="/uploads/214291/homemade-sawmill-9.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-sawmill-9">Sawmill</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/brianpoundingnails">brianpoundingnails</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/saw'>saw</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/mill'>mill</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
<!-- END /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->

Awesome. We have a "neighbour" five Km across the bay who's been exhibiting similar works to yours in front of their property for years. Next time I'm by there I'll stop to look at detail of his constructions. Never met him, just googled his business "Marisa Enterprises". I'll send him a link to your post.

Thats an awesome build, I know a many hour went into the design and making, love the cedar table and benches

Thanks For Sharing

Doug

Amazing multi-function machine design and built to handle relatively heavy loads!! Surprised me to see the drill running a lathe that long. Any issues with the belt slipping? Also enjoyed all the attachment jigs, for the angle grinder/chain grinder/drill, and finally noticed the caster so you can pull it out to load a log for milling. Great designs, write up and terrific first post. Looks like you have it mastered for you log furniture, beautiful functional work. Thanks for sharing it with us! :clapping: :thumbsup:

:hattip: PJ

Stupendous. Inspired. Awesome. Amazing. Not hard to identify with any of the remarks, including "It's Not Mine". Lol. Never has such a negative comment had such a positive ring. As a late SoCal baby-boomer, we had a phrase that signified epitome of 'lock, stock, and barrel' type completeness...'In there, thanks, you only know.'

Not to mention, apparently one of your first posts! You might have designed via CAD, but first visualizing it's the impressive part. Incorporating the functions with off-the-shelf components makes it feasible for any individual with a welder. With a bit more labor, anyone limited to a hand drill might emulate your really incredible design. Like PJs, one surprise is a hand drill and reduction generate sufficient torque/ RPM for lathe portion. That it is compactly self-contained, adjustable for materials, nicely painted...guaranteed "Tool Of The Week". Jon may render that service but I secretly monitor his choices by telepathic means. If wrong, I'll scan horizon carefully for your avatar.

If you don't have any heirs, I'm available. But I live in Canada!

This machine is incredible. Looks more like it was made by a tool maker than a cabinet maker, no offense intended. I suppose the only difference between them is the material used in their projects. Better yet the machine does exactly what is supposed to do and I think it's Brilliant!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brianpoundingnails

I am a semi-retired(mostly just tired) cabinet maker from Texas. A few years back I built a sawmill so I could cut my own lumber. I started building log furniture out of the offcuts and scraps. I have just about every tool a woodworker can have and none of them are much use for building log furniture. After looking at what was available on the market for building log furniture I was not impressed. I decided to build a machine designed just for the fast, easy production of log furniture. It functions as a sawmill, a large capacity lathe(10" dia x 108" length, a large capacity mortise machine(24"x96" bed, 14" vertical stroke), and a large capacity drill press. I designed the machine using 3-D solid modeling software. It is built with "off the shelf" parts and components. I would love to hear your comments and opinions(even the negative ones)
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Go to dropbox link for a more detailed overview of the machine:

machine: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nr4yw91iv...-2YHwWIBa?dl=0

furniture it makes: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pq9hfk8rq...pz4MeasIa?dl=0

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Congratulations brianpoundingnails - your Log Furniture Multi-Machine is the Homemade Tool of the Week!

Great win, great build - clever, thorough, and rare. This is a difficult forum loaded with experts; winning this award is tough, even for lifelong machinists. It's even more difficult for woodworkers. When woodworkers win, it's usually because of a museum-quality build, a cross-discipline woodworker making a combo woodworking/electronic/luthiery/machining tool, or, in this case - a game changing machine.

More importantly, this is an accessible build for a lot of guys. brianpoundingnails has provided many more details here, with examples of furniture made on this machine here. I expect we'll see some similar future builds inspired by brianpoundingnails's work.


Some good picks from this week:

Worm Gear Assembly for Modeling by mklotz
Allen Bolt Modification by rossbotics
Small Drawknife by Mikhandmaker
Worm Drive Dividing Attachment by old_toolmaker
Clapper Lock by threesixesinarow
Toolmaker Vise by CookieCrunch
Thumb Wheel Jig by knoba
Vise Modification by rossbotics
Arduino Bit Shifting Method by rgsparber
Filter Wrench by ederangelo
Trailer Insert by Imabass
Oil Pen by knoba
Mini Scraper by Make Everything
Gas Adaptor Wrench by Murph1090
Mill Chip Shield by jjr2001
Magnetic Lathe Shelf by jjr2001
Knurling Copier by knoba
Fence Stops by revwarguy
Upside Down Bottle Jack Modification by garage nut
Flip Top Tool Stand by revwarguy
Low Profile Slitting Saw Arbor by natie123
Torque Gauge Chuck Adapter by knoba


brianpoundingnails - we've added your tool entry to our All Homemade Tool of the Week winners post. And, you'll now notice the wrench-on-pedestal award in the awards showcase in your postbit, visible beneath your username:

https://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...OfTheWeek4.pnghttps://www.homemadetools.net/forum/...eWeekIcon4.png

You'll be receiving a $25 online gift card, in your choice of Amazon, PayPal, or bitcoin. Please PM me your current email address and gift card choice and I'll get it sent over right away.


Congratulations and well done! :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

Stupendous. Inspired. Awesome. Amazing....guaranteed "Tool Of The Week".
Jon may render that service but I secretly monitor his choices by telepathic means.

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Guys, I told you!
Our man Jon does write those honest and complimentary salutes on his own.

Wow!!
If your not selling Plans, you may consider it.

First off, Great build! I love the multi-function capabilities. You also have a get'r'done mentality.

Candidly, I'm not big on using welded nuts as your lead screw positioners, but it works. Better to do it this way and have a working machine than to still be trying to machine something up....

If you were to ever make it a kit to sell, setting up a pre-packaged set of laser cut parts for people to buy would be a nice option. In this method, you could clean up and optimize the design a bit, and supply an easier to build kit of parts for people to weld up. They could source the tube steel locally. In this manner, you would be able to make money on the kit and they would benefit from your intellectual property.

You have put a lot of thought into this! Well done!

I have one issue! No videos.

Otherwise this look like a well thought out purpose built machine.

Good job, Old Thing!

Wonderfully sparing and direct design.

Multi-purpose machines are good only when well-designed (compare ShopSmith to Felder).
Yours is very well-designed and it looks quite useable. Congrats!

The teflon pad sliding points are very nice.

What CAD software did you use?

With the slow rotation of the headstock of the lathe, you could make up a pattern-follower for the cross-slide (whilst releasing the 1" acme feed screw) and machine non-cylindrical parts (i.e., obround tenons, hexagonal sections, etc.). I started my woodworking career setting up and running a Zuckerman copy lathe of that very design (though obviously a much heavier machine.) Note the overhead belt sander - it can be run simultaneously as a 'follower tool'.

WOW!! Simply awesome build! And to think, ShopSmith though they had a multifunction machine!!!
Looks like a hands down Tool of the Week to me.:clapping:

I am blessed with your devise. It would be my hope that you would share your plans for building said machine for myself. Jesuschristisking60@gmail.com.

I really like your Multi Machine. Multi machines like tablesaw/jointer/thicknesser etc are excellent for limited space shops and require, understandably, very careful planing of production due to changing functions, belts etc. Yours seems to reduce this time considerably & increases functionality.

I'm not sure your longest/widest board size and wondered if you need or have considered a stroke sander on the reverse side as you have movability for access. Of course these are very dusty machines but your design seems to be easily able to capture dust from below a stroke bed.

Like Frank said, the only negative thing is "I dont have it or one like it". A local (to me, at Yandina, Yas Eng) engineering shop sells what started like a pedistal multi tool work centre device that mostly incorporates radial router, saw & drill functions which I have desired for yonks but yours with lathe is so much more versitile and suits your purpose perfectly.

Thanks so much for posting.

P.s. If she were mine I 'd call her Cordelia (as in Shakespeare: King Lear) meaning "the heart"................ of the shop: or Cordelia a feminine Cordyle (as in Cordell Walker meaning club in latin=you club the rough wood into submission or something even more beautiful. Thats my horticultural memory being selfish as most Cordylines have a club foot root system. Hope that didn't bore you too much.
Cheers

I am a little slow, I just found this today in one of Jon's newsletters.

All I can say is WOW!

This machine is truly amazing.
You fit so many functions in such a little space.
You used basic principles, parts and tools that are within reach to many.
You presented it so well.
You shared it here for free.

Thank-You!

-Brian

I'm a half assed cabinet maker from south Texas. I have every tool that a man needs to earn a living but want to build one tool that does most all the things. Your ice chest is the best I've ever seen. And I'm working on some luggage designs that when I host a party to unveil my work I want to have a $10k ice chest (as an art piece and I'll make people fill out an application to get an interview to be considered to purchase it. But the beer inside is free and there is not a sticker to let people think you have a $10k ice chest)
I just like work that is fresh and inventive. We all know how to use a router but not everyone can make punky wood workable. I sure do wish I had access to those cedar trees like you have.

You did ask for negative comments, so here you go... I DON'T HAVE ONE!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brianpoundingnails

Snip I would love to hear your comments and opinions(even the negative ones)

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Well, I am not fond of the color. But other than that, it is awesome!!!:hattip: