Sawmill interior details

[CNR Glen]

I'm about to add small details to the interior of my sawmill and am wondering how to secure fine sawdust in place in piles around the shop floor? I don't want to use anything that will stain or blow the sawdust around when I'm trying to secure it.

 

[Railphotog]

Use the standard white glue diluted with water. Wet the area first with water having a few drops of dishwashing soap, this breaks the surface tension. Apply it and the white glue with an eyedropper. Looks kinda gross when wet, but dries without any glue showing.

That's how I did it in mine:

 

[CNR Glen]

Thanks Bob, that's just what I needed!

 

[OldGettysk]

BTW Bob another excellent job on your sawmill !!!!

 

[Railphotog]

BTW Bob another excellent job on your sawmill !!!!

Thanks! But I can't take too much credit for this one, it's a Keystone model that I assembled, left off the outer walls so the interior could be seen. Was on my first pair of HO modules which were dismantled recently - 24 years old!

 

[CNR Glen]

Thanks for the Advice Bob, it worked like a charm! Sorry to hear your original modules were dismantled, I kept the MR article of them from the eighties in my scrapbook for years (the detail was amazing to a 15 year old and still is)One more question, The sawmill that I'm working on has an -under-the-floor belt drive system, what did you make your belts out of and do the last the test of time without drying out and breaking?

 

[RexHea]

Bob, I love that peckerwood sawmill. Do you have more photos. Sure like you to post some closeups on the WPF.

 

[rlundy90]

Hi Bob.You say that structure is a Keystone kit. I have never seen this one. Which kit is it. Thanks Ron.

 

[Railphotog]

Hi Bob.You say that structure is a Keystone kit. I have never seen this one. Which kit is it. Thanks Ron.

They called it the Danby Sawmill, don't have any idea if they might still be available. Keep in mind the modules on which my sawmill was located were started in 1984! You might be able to find the kit on eBay, think I've seen one at local shows a while ago.

Don't think mine had underfloor belt drives, it was a lot simpler than that.

 

[rlundy90]

Thanks Bob. I didn't realize it was the Danby Kit. They are still available and come up quite often on ebay for around $40.00. Ron.

 

[CNR Glen]

Don't think mine had underfloor belt drives, it was a lot simpler than that.

Sorry I thought that was one of your creations that did. I have seen some belt drives in your other work (the machine shop comes to mind) Could you tell me what those belts were made out of?

 

[rlundy90]

If you can get your hands on a piece of flat black monocote for covering model airplanes it works great. It sticks to itself and pretty much anything else if you apply heat to it. It also shrinks to tighten it. Works great as tiedown straps for loads too. Comes in many different colors including metalics.If you go to a hobby store that sells RC planes they may be able to sell you a small piece.Ron

 

[Selector]

I have one that still needs building. I got the kit from Valley Model Trains 21 months years ago. Good service, better price than the one you quoted. See their site.

 

[CNR Glen]

The Monocote is an intresting idea but I'll not comfortable with applying heat to my wooden sawmill. I thought of construction paper but that would be too thick. Maybe I'lll just wander into the craft store and see what I can find....

I have one that still needs building. I got the kit from Valley Model Trains 21 months years ago. Good service, better price than the one you quoted. See their site.

That's where I bought my Lucas sawmill. They are good to deal with.

 

[rlundy90]

As for heat it doesn't take much. Just heat up the tip of a screwdriver or something that will hold the heat for a few seconds. Aluminum is really good. Touch the tip to the monocote and it will activate the glue. To shrink it you can do the same way doing a little at a time . It really works good and is very strong. Also is very thin. I will be using it for the interior details in the SSLtd Jennings Lumber kit I am doing. One precaution though. Try it first on a spare piece so you know just how much heat you need to shrink it.Too much and you can actually melt it although it can handle quite a bit of heat.

 

[CNR Glen]

I decided not to go with the Moncote, but your suggestion made me get an Idea to use thin styrene. I have some HO scale 1X10 material that I can form over an aluminum tube and then just drape it over the pulleys. I only have to model the top end of the pulleys since the rest would be under the floor and so, not visible. Thanks.

 

[CNR Glen]

Okay I'm pretty much finished with the interior. I built the belts:

They are made from evergreen HO scale 1X8 that makes it thin enough to pass as belt material. I bent them around a piece of aluminum tubing (same diameter as the pulleys) and dipped them in boiling water. Then I trimmed the ends to fit their individual placement, painted them brown and glued them in place.

 

[rlundy90]

CNR Glen Does thatJV Models kit come with the interior details?

 

[OldGettysk]

Looks pretty good Glen !

 

[CNR Glen]

No I scratchbuilt all the interior machinery out of evergreen styrene shapes and brass wire (as well as some odds and ends). I can't take credit for the design though, it all came from an old MR article done by Jack Work in the sixies.