I don't know you tax status, but if you can sell some stuff, you can have a small business, even run at a loss for a couple years and get a lot of write offs on you taxes. That has the potential of helping pay for your equipment.
Not sure it is worth the effort on the scale I'm on now. I'm just a weekend hack - still very much a novice. I'm not going to sweat a $50 bit, but I do like my hobbies to be self sustaining and/or pay for new tools.
I have an old horz. Mill. Could rig a sanding drum on that or stack a bunch of cutters on the shaft, plus a couple Knee mills Grizzly 17" and Doall 24" bandsaws ( height on the 24 isn't all that great and its limited to 3/4" width blade or less) . just got some black Walnut short sections longest piece is maybe 4 ft x apx 1ft dia varies abit. Have some other Walnut pieces in the round that are about 5 years old now 4-6ft long maybe 8-10 dia. Just haven't got to slabbing it all up yet. its on the project list but of low prioity. Really been toying with the band mill - not a money maker here as there are at least 5 or more others with in 25 miles advertising. At least one is portable, pass it every morning on my way to my shop. So a chain mill for me might work out better to get to a rough cant then on to the bandsaws ( lot less cost also).
When going through some of the Silver Maple my tree service contact dumped in Feb 2014 I was lucky enough to find a few pieces with a real tight curl/cross grain just like that.Two with the densest pattern I roughed out with a hatchet & drawknife into blocks about 4" square x 14" or so long.Some of the larger pieces up to 5 x 12 x 12 had a little curl but mostly on their outer edges & not all through it like commonly seen.
Got down the shop for a bit last night, sawed up another chestnut oak log about 10" in diameter. Had an old split of white ash laying there too and couldn't resist. It's just a little chunk but I'll find some use for it in the future. Included a pic of my last load, you can see one of the logs I brought home on the right side of the bed among the rounds. I always try to toss a few in every time I cut. Think I might start leaving them longer and longer. I am falling in love with Chestnut oak more and more every day, love just adding more and more to the stash and can't wait to one day build something out of it. So much character and color and I didn't even include a pic with some oil or spirits spilled on it to truly show the grain - maybe I'll do that next time. White ash is under-appreciated in my oppinion - I absolutely love the look of it. I tossed a little motor oil on one of the ash trimmings in the last shot to accentuate the grain.
Been putzing around on a few different projects lately - finally got the old jointer cleaned up. Picked it up on craigslist for 60 bucks in working condition, just a little bed rust and distressed paint. Polished the bed and gave it a fresh coat of paint. Also sawed up some sassafras splits for a little project/gag gift I'll share with you guys when its done. Normally I wouldn't waste my time sawing such small splits but its local wood and the fact that its sassafras lends itself to family joke. The milling scrap pile is starting build up too, can't beat all the kindling! Nothing goes to waste.
Thanks Shawn, I love giving old tools a dose of TLC. The top was rusty, I cleaned the rust off and polished it with 400 grit. Then just a nice coat of wax and she was all set.
Well Razo, you've inspired me to get a saw. Found a decent Grizzly on CL and bought it today. Any tips you have to help a beginner would be appreciated. I have many tools but never owned a bandsaw. Found a good set up vid on yt, but I'm looking for technique tips.
You beat me to it! I was going to offer to resaw your maple for you. What size saw wheels, motor, etc. I have some "books" (you know, the things made out of paper) on tuning up and getting the best performance out of a band saw. I could dig them out for you if you are interested. However, I think Google for "band saw tune up" will get you plenty of good info to get you set up.
Mike!! I've been a pressman putting ink on paper for 26 some years!!! Spent 20 of them printing medical, scientific and technical journals. You may have had my work in your hands!! Them damm ipads, nooks and kindles put me out big time. Back on topic... it's a Grizzly G1148 15" (7.5" resaw)- 1 horse. That's as far as I got so far. Came with 12 blades (I know right!). 3 of them still new in the package!
And BTW I have tues-thurs left and then I officially retire from printing, so I will have plenty of time to play with saws
Congrats That's a nice saw https://d27ewrs9ow50op.cloudfront.net/manuals/g1148_m.pdf A couple of good books I have , probably find them at the library if ya don't want to buy em http://www.amazon.com/Band-Saw-Handbook-Mark-Duginske/dp/0806963980 The new one I don't have http://www.amazon.com/New-Complete-..._UL160_SR124,160_&refRID=02Z5QRN56DJZ0YZG0ZR0 http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Woodworking-Machines-Find/dp/0942391985/ref=pd_sim_14_4?ie=UTF8&dpID=514kwohtNML&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR122,160_&refRID=12FE62HZQ3M94X238J8Z
About 10 yrs. ago I picked up one of the last Made in the USA, Delta 14", 3/4 hp, bandsaws at a garage sale. I put the riser block in so I can technically resaw up 12". It will actually resaw that much, but it takes alot o f patience an TLC. I've always lusted for an 18-24". Not going to happen any time soon though. Oh yeah, I had a chance to buy a Woodmizer LT40, full hydro, accuset, 33 hp. Cummins diesel, from a local sawyer I know. But, there were waaayyy to many zeros in that price tag.
And yes, I'd love to borrow those books! There was one of them USA Delta's on CL near Philly. Didn't wanna drive that far and it was only 1/2 horse.
@Jason, I've got "The Bandsaw Book" Lonnie Bird, 1999, Taunton Press, Inc. and "Cutting Edge Band Saw Tips and Tricks: How to Get the Most Out of Your Band Saw." Kenneth Burton, 2004, Popular Woodworking Books. You are welcome to borrow them any time.
