It's the cold weather and frozen wood that caused it to break. When really cold steel is more brittle and as it travels on the band wheels it is perpetually bending a small amount. This with the cold snaps blades. Another issue is as blades get dull they develop micro cracks in the gullets. These develope into bigger cracks causing breakage. Proper sharpening can help prevent this type of breakage. As a tiny amount of metal should be removed in the gullet removing any micro cracks. Hope this helps from a old Sawyer that's done this along time.

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

That’s great info Ken. I appreciate hearing from folks like you with a ton more experience with this than I. Take care and have a great Easter weekend

@ballbeanking

3 жыл бұрын

So do they ever fly off when they break? I’ve not broke one or had one come off in a couple hours I’ve ran the mill but it sure scares me.. should I relax?

@kenjett2434

3 жыл бұрын

@@ballbeanking well it is important to keep the guards in place when running. But not running dull blades and proper sharpening are important in preventing breaking.

@ballbeanking

3 жыл бұрын

Ken Jett thank you

Good way to spend some time in the woods! I've taken to running synthetic Rotella T5 5W40 in my tractor, atv, small engines, and it seems to make winter starts abit easier.

You were so tenacious with that sub-zero cold cold cold startup. The Woodlander pulls through again.

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

I was putting the hammer down but the hammer wasn’t connecting haha

Another great video Sandy.

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks again James.

I live in Fairbanks Alaska and got an HM-126 this winter. I put it to use in November and it has been as cold as minus 15 Fahrenheit and only one day have I used it above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Most days it's been right around zero which is about 18 below Celsius. To start my mill at these temperatures, I have a helper hold the thrott le down about a quarter the way or because I normally don't have a helper, I use some twine to secure the throttle down about a quarter of the way. It normally fires up after about three or four pulls using that technique. On many days it is so cold the grease in the wheel bearings becomes stiff and the wheels don't turn at all or barely turn and the mill slides on the rails. The one day it was above 20 it was amazing to have the wheels actually roll freely!

@sawingwithsandy

3 жыл бұрын

I’m with ya on holding the throttle a little while starting. I try to do the same and it seems to work well. Thanks for watching and I hope your winter is going well for ya

I'd definitely prefer the starting fluid over all that pulling plus that was extremely hard on your pull rope.

Builds Character!!!

We made buck saw blades from our old blades that broke. The buck saw is a hand held saw I'm sure you know what a buck saw is they worked good for us 🍻

If you know anyone that has an annealing machine, you can have that blade welded back together.

On the cold starting. I do lots of cold weather sawing -20 even -30 if im feeling house bound, I use the exhaust off my skidsteer to warm up the mill engine using a metal dryer vent tube, you could use your sled exhaust. As for that blade breaking, if you listen to the sound of the engine stating to labour just before the break it was because of the knot, and you didn’t slow down on the pushing. But very good video to learn from.

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

That's an awesome idea! I never thought about the snowmobile but to be honest it sure does give off some hot exhuast. Definetly an idea I'm going to try. I also appreciate the tip about the knot. I went back and watched the video and do hear the engine labour a bit before breaking. I"ll be sure ot keep that in mind when I come across knotty wood in the future. Hope all is well. Thanks again,

@bluethunder1951

4 жыл бұрын

Nope all isn’t well, stuck in the house for awhile, slipped and busted my collar bone, had surgery to install a j plate, so, laid up for the 8 weeks or more, but, hey it’s giving me plenty of time to watch your videos and lots of others, and stay out of the public to self isolate. Take care be safe.

Hi Sandy, i really enjoy watching your video, i will purchase a Bandmill soon, and thanks for all your advice and recommandations....For your blade, if you watch again this video, you hear the engine bogging down a little bit, the rpm went down a bit then we hear the blade snap, i noticed it and i wanted to share it, have a great week-end Sandy :)

@ILoveGod1970

4 жыл бұрын

A split second before it snapped, you will notice the engine noise, the engine struggle a bit...then snap...

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

You’re absolutely right. On second view I saw what you mean. I think my blade must’ve been getting full and the knot I was going through must also have been solid. Oh well. Guess I live and learn. Thanks for pointing that one out. Take care

@andrelacroix3732

4 жыл бұрын

@@sawingwithsandy Hey Sandy !, I am looking forward to buy a sawmill soon and making saw dust myself too, but i have learned a LOT by looking at your Videos, Thank you very much, i enjoy all of them ! God bless you my Canadian Brother ;) (I am in New-Brunswick)

I am learning alot & also had good laugh ,I am thinking about getting portable sawmill ,i know now not to cheap out on electric start

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked the video. Yeah I definetly like electric start whenever I can get it. And you know the reason why after watching this video haha

So it is a couple years now since you posted this video. Any new thoughts on why the blades break? I've been using my Woodmizer LT15 for a few months now, cutting mostly cedar, but a few pines and oak. Seems I am getting a broken blade about 10 logs on average. Not at the weld. First on a cedar where it had a ring around the log, reminding me of where a fence might have once been and the tree had grown around it. The rings were not consistent with any sort of fence and many of the cedars have similar features. No metal in the wood either. Most of the breaks have been on cedar, but that is also most of the logs I'm cutting. Woodmizer factory blades is what I am using. And its pretty warm here, nothing like those cold temperatures you experienced. Learned a lot watching your videos. Thanks for posting.

@sawingwithsandy

2 жыл бұрын

I believe the blades are breaking because they develop stress cracks that aren't ground away when sharpening and/or the ongoing heating up (expansion) and cooling down

A nice day to be outdoors. I’m inside doing paperwork for my business ( and squeeze in a vid wth my lunch ) minus 13 here today but nice and sunny . I would rather be out in the shop or cutting some firewood. Any way certainly not telling u how to start your engine but I have 26 different small engines in my business. When it first sounds like it wants to start I turn the choke off or at least halfway off . I couldn’t tell if u did that or not . And not sure if that would help or not . And does the cold effect the blade . Thanks for sharing . I can’t wait to buy one!!

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

I can’t remember if I did move the choke or not either. Whatever I did surely didn’t work too well for me haha. I’m always appreciate of suggestions though. Thanks for checking out the video

Hi there Good stuff and happy day be safe god bless From pa usa 🇺🇸👍👍

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

Hey July Mash, thanks again for all the support.

If there is an exposed nut on your crank case (end of the crank shaft) you can put an appropriate size socket on your cordless drill and you will start the engine more easily. Michael from Alberta

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

That’s a great idea. Unfortunately there’s a cover over it but maybe I’ll Jerry rig something like that up. Thanks for the idea

Sandy maybe it is time to think about getting a new hn130 Max 😁 to help you in your sawing for cold times.😁

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

Haha. If I ever find that money tree in my woods that I’ve been searching for I’ll be adding the 130max to my collection

@billybubbabaisden783

3 жыл бұрын

@@sawingwithsandy from my research it's a little expensive to put a starter on a Kohler, but not as expensive as a new mill lol

Hi Sandy, I have the 126 setup too. 9.9 hp. Thigns were going great this week until I snapped 2 blades. It happened on a bigger pine log. I knew the blades were struggling early on. I had gotten them sharpened but the dude did not adjust the teeth. The mill started to shake even though I mill real slow. From your experience do you think poorly set teeth and aging blades are more prone to snap. Tech support at woodland mills wants me to check alignment of everything even to the point of ensuring the clutch is parrallel to the drive wheel using a steel bar. Anyhoo im still learning but your opinion would mean the world

@sawingwithsandy

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Paul great to hear from you. I"d say if the teeth where not set correctly the blade could've also caused wavy cuts as it pulled one way or another. I'd also imagine that if the blade was breaking it could've been caused by stress cracks in the blade. From what I know that could be due to stresses put on the blade like overheating and things like the full tooth not being lightly touched when sharpened.

looks like fun,arkansas Rob

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

Nice to be getting the fresh air. Hope all is well with you

Hey buddy how are you? I’m thinking super cold!!! I’m glad your safe, the blade was contained inside the machine. When its this cold no bugs hehe! I was thinking what to do with the broken blades. How about cutting to 6 in length stack them maybe then weld into a block and hand forge into a cool Damascus bush knife. Super neat use of the blades. Oops dreaming again hehe. Thank for the cool video. Have a good one buddy

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

That’s a great idea about the blades. I do have a lot of them as you can see. Never really thought what to do with them. Would be a near project and I can try out my black smithing. Just missing the forge now.

@heyyoubuddy6749

4 жыл бұрын

Sawing with Sandy maybe a propane bottle furnace with home made burners. I made a blast furnace that burns waste motor oil. I have a lot of oil and it’s free. Use a electric weed blower and a syphon valve I made out of brass pipe fitting. Gets steel white hot

Since the blade was welded to start with can they be welded after a break?

@sawingwithsandy

3 жыл бұрын

I’ve heard they can but I’ve not tried it

Good evening, I already watched your video, but I forgot to it like fr Steve st.Stephen N.B

@sawingwithsandy

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for tuning in Stephen. Hope all is well with you

I just had my blade jump off my Hm126 before I cut the log. Apparently it hit the blade guard and took out a few teeth. Removed the blade and now I can’t get it back on the wheels. Ever have that happen where the blade won’t go back on easily? All blade tension is released.

@sawingwithsandy

3 жыл бұрын

Likely the follower wheel is stuck and with a little bump it will move as it should when the tension is released.

@wildbitshomestead8811

3 жыл бұрын

@@sawingwithsandy that was it. I loosened it a bit more and was able to give it a push. Funny how that’s not in the manual I received.

How many acres are you on Sandy?

Good video. What brand of blade do you use. Im still on my bundle i bought with the woodland mills. Mine have broke at the weld.

@mickymerrill826

4 жыл бұрын

Same here had two break brand new less than 120bf.

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

Hi Mike, Sorry didn't see your comment until now. I use the Woodland MIlls Lennox blades

I wrecked two chainsaw chains one time by trying to buck up a tree that I had previously used for target practice with my rifle. The chainsaw kept hitting the bullets embedded in the tree! I gave up on the log eventually as I was tired of having to change the chains all the time.

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

I’m not sure I want to continue cutting on this log either. Could be something hidden in there that came before my time.

I been -10° to -15° last two morning here. Subzero wind chills also. No outside for me

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah that’s a tough temperature to want to go out in. A lot of my equipment doesn’t like those temperatures either

LMBO 😂 just watched this one lol. I have the same engine when it's really cold I take a piece of wood and put it under the throttle handle to make it fast idle and it fires right up ..

@sawingwithsandy

3 жыл бұрын

That’s not a bad idea using a piece of wood. I may have to rig something up myself

@billybubbabaisden783

3 жыл бұрын

@@sawingwithsandy I use a wedged shape piece of wood just push the throttle down some and stick it in the top of handle. When it's cold it helps tremendously.!. Btw I really enjoy your videos. I've learned allot. Allot of good ideas and a few what not to do's lol

@robertward553

3 жыл бұрын

When he said to take a piece of wood, my mind went to a slightly larger piece, like a log and take a few swings at it. But that might be just me.

What happen to the blade ? Nail or old ?

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

Think it was old and broke

Can you weld the blade back together or does that just make another weak point that increases the potential for the blade to snap again?

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

I’m not too good of a welder but I bet someone with skill could. For me I end up replacing them when they break

@kenjett2434

4 жыл бұрын

Band blades can be rewelded but requires a special type of welding machine. It can be done by hand with silver soldering but is very tricky to get adequately square and straight with mixed results of it properly holding.. Long as teeth are not damaged you can send them back to manufacture for rewelding and sharpening for a cost of course.

As a former meat cutter it would scare the crap out of you when you broke a blade when you were cutting

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

I get scared just watching meat saws in action haha

@larrykluckoutdoors8227

4 жыл бұрын

@@sawingwithsandy You do get used to it.

I got my hm130 with electric start last may glad i did I'm 65 i cant do that.

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah the headache like today was a bit much. I’m pretty patient but I tell ya haha

To cold for me.

@sawingwithsandy

4 жыл бұрын

It was a bit chilly that’s for sure. Dreaming of a siesta key beach these last few days