Steam Sawing 7 Hardwood Logs With Spark Show - Part 1 - Overview

Sawing 7 Hardwood Logs With Steam
21-75 Baker Uniflow, with a Spark Show
Air Set Sawmill, Hydraulic Turner
Now With A Laser!
Part 1 - Overview
This overview shows approximately half of the total cutting time. Parts 2 + 3 will focus on the operation of the sawmill. There will also be some more videos from the show.
The engine is a 21-75 Baker Uniflow, the middle of the later Baker line of 19-65, 21-75, and 23-90 (drawbar and belt horsepower). Each of these engines produces well over their rated belt horsepower, as was the practice in the days of honest horsepower ratings, with massive torque. The Uniflow design has exhaust ports in the middle of the cylinder, similar to a 2-stroke IC engine, so that power is not lost pushing the spent steam back out through the valve chest. The result is more power, and the ability to run at higher RPM than most steam engines, again increasing horsepower. A smaller flywheel/belt pulley is used to maintain standard belt speed.
This is an old sawmill, upgraded with air and hydraulic assist. The dogs are air set, the kickers are air, while the chain turner and deck chain are hydraulic. The air compressor, hydraulic pump, and edger are all belt driven from the main shaft. The only gas engine is a little Honda driving the sawdust blower. A stationary gas engine like this is permitted within the rules of this Amish community. The laser cutting guide is new this year.
Originally, many steam traction engines were powered by wood or straw, which produces voluminous sparks. This is the reason that drive belts are so long, to keep sparks away from the thresher or sawmill. Nowadays, coal, which produces little or no sparks, is used most of the time, but sawdust bricks are used for the spark show.
Buckeye Steam & Gas Reunion
Middlefield Steam Engine & Railroad Park
Middlefield, Ohio
July 7, 2023
The whooshy sound heard part of the time is another engine running a Power Eater behind the camera.
LG G7
0707232122.mp4 to 0707232214a.mp4
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NOTE: My videos are not monetized! Most of my videos are to help multiple nonprofits, thus allocating any income would be a nightmare. YT is throwing ads where they shouldn't be! Worse, many of the ads are obnoxious or offensive.
230707l_Sparks_Overview_Part_1.mp4

[@markeholbrook]

That's fantastic!

[@forgemasterwolf290]

Impressive i always find steammills impressive