HO sawmill suggestions

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d_sinsley

Member
Hello all I am new to this list and basiclly new to the hobby. Had a layout(if you could call it that) as a kid, but now that im older and have the space Im starting anew.

Im building a sawmill, I have to custom build it for the space it is going in and want some ideas. I am looking for suggestions on detailing the mill equipment ect. I am purchasing kits for the log feeder chain, debarker and headrig. so the head works is taken care of but now the other end. I need ideas on the sorting chain (out feed) where the lumber will be stacked to go to the kiln. Anyone build or have ideas for the out feed table. Im thinking a lugged chain type affair. Is there a source or way to make chain gears for out feed table? The rest I suppose I could fashion out of styrene.

After it is stacked at the out feed table the lumber will be moved by forklift to the kiln. Another idea needed. Kiln carts, any ideas?

The rest I think I have covered. Oh I should mention that this is a modern (lets say '70s or newer operation)

Devon
 
Sawmills are a favorite subject of mine. Most of the mills built in the 60's, 70's, and 80's were of the "Bowstring" building type (round roof) and feature extensive dust collection and woodchip transfer systems using cyclone fans. Unfortunately there is no low cost kit to model these buildings, but they are easy to scratchbuild out of styrene. Walthers sees a number of detail kits that can be used to detail a mill complex, including cyclone fans, chip loaders, and conveyors.
Generally speaking, mills stopped using log ponds in favor of tractors in the 1960's. The type of tractors has varied, but anymore they just use modified front end loaders. The tractors place a bundle of logs near the green chain where a modified excavator with a graffle (or a similar fixed position machine) loads the logs on the chain one at a time. At some mills the front end loader will dump the logs in a crib next to the grain chain, and the crib released one log at a time onto the chain. Like always, logs are debarked as they enter the mill. But instead of burning the bark, mills often capture the bark to be sold as landscaping material.
I saw straddle cranes used to haul cut lumber around the mill as late as the 1980's, but anymore forklifts of varying size are used to move the lumber around.
Generally speaking, 8' studs are loaded crosswise in boxcars, anything longer has to be loaded on flatcars. Boxcars are generally loaded inside warehouses, or on a covered dock with a overhanging roof. Flatcars and centerbeams are loaded on tracks in the middle of a paved area so forklifts can alternately load each side to keep from tipping the car over. Don't forget a track for chip loading and possibly a track in your log yard for unloading log cars (if you model inbound log shipments)

I'm posting some pics of mills I have off hand. I have more, just don't know where they are at the moment.
 


hey thanks for all your info. It really helps. I live in Post falls, Idaho so you would think would think I would have some understanding of saw mills. The large over all look of the mill I am comfortable and I am scratch building the sawmill building. I am putting this mill in a relatively small space. so it wont be a big operation. your thought on how the logs are loaded onto the log feeder using a modified excavator is way cool. the rest of what you suggest is right about how i had it planned. I hope to have the roof be removable to see the interior of the mill. I found equipment by Keystone Locomotive Works that will work great.

I hope to take pictures as I progress and get ideas as I go. Thanks again very useful info.

Devon
 
Wow, I live in Hayden right by the airport. Shoot me a PM if you ever want to get together and talk trains:D

Also remember that a mill doesn't have to have a planing or kiln area. Many smaller mills sent it off to be planned elsewhere. Kamiah has a big planning mill that was served by the Camas Prairie.
 
Dang guys, I used to live in Rathdrum a few years ago. I only moved away from Spokane to the wet side of the Cascade just a year and a half ago.
 
just took a drive from plummer to bovil

just came back from the swap meet in pullman. on the way down I was able to drive the route of the St. Maries River Railroad the prototype I am mimicking. Its amazing how much you see when you look. I have driven through all that country hundreds of times but when you are looking for railroad stuff its amazing what was there all along.

My mill will have a kiln but no planner. I have started recieving my shipments of stuff from Keystone Locomotive Works and so far am very impressed at the detail of such tiny mill equipment. It will be a nice little operation that will fit nicely in the space I have available. The scratch building of the main mill building is coming along nicely. I am giving it a slightly more older looking mill that has been retrofitted with new equipment. I am building it so both the exterior and interior are complete. The roof will come off to expose the inner workings.

All the help is appreciated that is for sure.
 


I was recently able to get some photos of the log handling equipment at a small mill, but the equipment is the same used at much larger mills.
 
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