Building a Circular Sawmill

by Richard Buxton

Yes, Rick Buxton built a sawmill from scratch - a large, functional circular sawmill that converts logs into boards. And here he shares with you what he learned the hard way.

He'll show you how to pick the site; lay out the wooden frame; put in the foundation; install the rails; build the carriage, headblock, knee, set works and dogs; fabricate a drive assembly for the carriage; modify a power plant; install and adjust the blade; and more.

Buxton's machine has a 24' x 38" bed with 52" diameter sawblade originally driven by an old Volkswagen Beetle engine. This second edition includes details on how he replaced the VW with a Chevy truck engine. The carriage drive is a separate electric drive. This is a proven sawmill that has been used extensively.

This is not a simple project, but it's not impossible either. It requires welding, a lathe, an aluminum foundry, and the knowledge to use these tools. A milling machine would probably be useful, too. You certainly aren't going to build this is a single weekend.

The materials you will need are common angle iron, drill rod, belts, pulleys, key stock, standard bearings and so on. The only unusual item is the sawmill blade, and he'll give you tips on what to look for in buying a used one like he did.

You get many drawings and pictures. But I must warn you, this is neither a step-by-step how-to manual, nor is Buxton a world-class writer. What you get here is story of how one high-energy high school shop teacher creatively adapted what he could find to build a high quality circular sawmill on the cheap as told in his own words. He'll tell what he did right, and what he should have changed. He expects you to have at least basic mechanical skills and to view his mill as the starting point for your own. He doesn't expect you to build a duplicate. In essence, this is a detailed mechanical report for people who are thinking of building their own sawmill. (And the truth is, if you're not knowledgeable enough to take what he's given you here and build a sawmill, I certainly don't want to be around the first time you fire the thing up!)

This is a valuable little book by someone who has done it. Successfully. You get a book loaded with unusual info that can only be learned by doing. And for the guy who wants a sawmill, this is a must-have. If sawing up logs is your dream, get a copy. Worth having. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 softcover 88 pages 2nd edition

No. 21605 ... none left - won't be reprinted