Ledyard CT Up and Down Saw Mill
14 April 2012
http://www.ledyardsawmill.org/
Slide Show HERE and YouTube video HERE
I have visited the saw mill before ( http://neme-s.org/Ledyard_Saw_Mill_06/Saw_Mill_Park_Bkg.htm ) but when my wife saw that the mill would be running on Saturdays this spring I decided to make another visit. No problem really since it is only about eight miles from home! This time I had my video camera with me and that will be along in a couple of day, as usual.
Please take time to visit my other page as the is a lot more information about the mill with the photos there.
I will be working on the video from today's shoot tomorrow. Check back in a few days for the video.
This rack lifts and lowers the flow gate to power the mill
Large band saw
Ratchet mechanism that controls the advance of the "sled" that the log
rides on through the saw
The small wedge shaped pieces are what the sled rides on. some mills use
rails or rollers but this was uses these wedges to reduce friction as the sled
moves.
Top of the saw frame. The whole frame rides up and down to guide the saw.
The saw shown here is from a "pit sawing" operation. One man
stood on top of a frame and pulled the saw up, the other (unlucky) man would be
in a pit under the log pulling down on the saw and getting showered with saw
dust.
Where the action is. I learned today that the saw blade is canted slightly
forward to allow clearance when the blade is on the up stroke.
When I visited the mill the saw blade has reached the end of its useful
sharpness. It was time to change out the blade for a freshly sharpened
one. The mill usually cuts straight and true but when the blade dulls it
pulls to one side or the other.
To change the blade the saw frame must be tied in the up position.
Also in the mill building is this classic shingle mill
Another small saw in the building
This is the gear works under the sawing floor. turns out I couldn't be up taking
photos and video of the saw in action AND down here doing the same of the
gears. I will go back and get more photos of this section of the mill
These volunteers were doing hits work around the workshop building. Since
I was here taking pictures I wasn't home doing the same sort of work!
This is where the water funs away from the mill after it has done its work
View of the mill looking toward the mill pond