Is A DIY Bandmill Right For You?
Is a DIY Bandmill Right for You?
Maybe you consider yourself a true "do-it-yourselfer," but still wonder if a DIY bandmill (otherwise known as a bandsaw mill) is something you should pursue. After all, this is not exactly like fixing a leaky faucet. We're talking heavy equipment here. So let's discuss the things you should consider when deciding whether to build your own bandmill and sawmill equipment.
First, let's talk about what band mills are. These are large bulky machines used at home, but resembling the sawmills that large corporations use for cutting timber. A band mill lets a person push large logs or pieces of timber from one end of the sawmill and, after cutting them down, get the smaller slices from the other end.
When we say a band mill is large, this is no exaggeration. In some cases, they might fill up an entire workshop. For this reason, they're normally found outside, but covered when they're not being used.
So here then are some reasons you should consider building a DIY bandmill. First, it's much more doable now than it was just a decade or two ago. This is largely thanks to the Internet. Because of the Internet, there are people who will gladly advice you on building a bandmill--people who have done it themselves. There are also valuable and helpful kits that can guide you through the process. For instance, one of the best kits available for assisting in building a home-based sawmill is the Peterson Guide. Just do a Google search on Peterson Sawmill.
Another reason to consider doing this is because it might be the best chance you have of getting your own bandmill. And down inside you know this is something you've been wanting. Otherwise you would not be reading this article. Other sawmills can run you literally thousands of dollars. This is a way to have one for just an investment of a few hundred dollars.
And an investment is just what it is. Not only will running yor own sawmill be a great hobby, but it's something you can turn into a business. Consider that as the economy recovers, people will start building again. And they will need lumber. All you need to do is take a trip to the local LOWE'S or other home improvement store and see how much they're charging for lumber. Thanks to your cheap-to-run sawmill, you can now undercut them on those prices and advertise your lumbers around town and on the Internet. Instant profits!
And perhaps the most important reason to consider creating a DIY bandmill is the satisfaction you'll have in knowing that this is something you did, from start to finish. In a way that nobody else can do, you'll be able to say that you literally built your business from the ground up. This gives you incredible bragging rights! And it turns you into an authority on the subject for your friends--who now will undoubtedly want to build their own bandmill. And that's okay--as long as they promise not to compete with you!
