Woodland Mills HM126 User manual

HM126 PORTABLE SAWMILL
Owner’s Manual
HM126
10/11/2015

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GENERAL SAFETY RULES --------------------------------------------------- 3
GENERAL MAINTENANCE INFORMATION ----------------------------- 7
SAWMILL ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS ----------------------------------- 9
SAWMILL SET-UP PROCEDURES ------------------------------------------ 25
BELT TENSION ------------------------------------------------------------ 25
BLADE TRACKING ------------------------------------------------------- 27
BLADE GUIDE ADJUSTMENT ---------------------------------------- 31
BLADE TENSION ---------------------------------------------------------- 32
SAWMILL MAINTENANCE ---------------------------------------------------- 33
CHANGING THE BLADE ------------------------------------------------- 33
REPLACING BELTS ------------------------------------------------------ 33
TROUBLESHOOTING ---------------------------------------------------------- 35
PARTS LIST ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 36
PART DIAGRAMS ---------------------------------------------------------------- 38
NOTES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43
CONTENTS

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Thank you very much for choosing the Woodland Mills HM126 Portable Sawmill. For future
reference, please complete the owner’s purchase date: _______________
Save the receipt for warranty and these instructions. It is important that you read the entire
manual to become familiar with this product before you begin using it.
This machine is designed for certain applications only. We strongly recommend this machine is
not modified and/or used for any application other than that for which it was designed. If you have
any questions relative to a particular application, DO NOT use the machine until you have first
contacted us to determine if it can or should be performed on the product.
For technical questions and replacement parts, please contact Woodland Mills Inc. at
1-855-476-MILL (6455)
INTENDED USE
This sawmill is designed for sawing logs while the mill is firmly supported on the ground.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Item
Description
Gasoline Engine
9.5 HP Kohler
Maximum log diameter
26" (660mm)
Maximum Board Width
19" (533mm)
Blade Size
1-1/4 x 144" (32 x 3657mm)
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
WARNING: Read and understand all instructions. Failure to follow all instructions
listed below may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.
WARNING: The warnings, cautions, and instructions discussed in this instruction
manual cannot cover all possible conditions or situations that could occur. It must be
understood by the operator that common sense and caution are factors which cannot be built into
this product, but must be supplied by the operator.
WARNING: Only operate the engine in a well ventilated area. Carbon Monoxide
produced by the engine during use can kill. Do not use indoors, near windows or in other
sheltered areas.
NOTE: All Federal and State laws and any regulation having jurisdiction covering the safety
requirements for use of the machine take precedence over the statements in this manual. Users
of this machine must adhere to such regulations.

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SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
WORK AREA
•Keep work area clean, free of clutter and well lit. Cluttered and dark work areas can cause
accidents.
•Do not use your sawmill where there is a risk of causing a fire or an explosion; e.g. in
the presence of flammable liquids, gasses, or dust. Power tools create sparks, which may
ignite the dust or fumes.
•Keep children and bystanders away while operating a power tool. Distractions can cause
you to lose control, so visitors should remain at a safe distance from the work area.
•Be aware of all power lines, electrical circuits, water pipes and other mechanical hazards
in your work area, particularly those hazards below the work surface hidden from the
operator’s view that may be unintentionally contacted and may cause personal harm or
property damage.
•Be alert of your surroundings. Using power tools in confined work areas may put you
dangerously close to cutting tools and rotating parts.
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE SAFETY
WARNING: Internal combustion engines present special hazards during operation and
fueling. Read and follow the warning instructions in the engine Owner’s Manual and the safety
guidelines below. Failure to follow the warnings and safety standards could result in severe injury
or death.
•DO NOT run the machine indoors or in an enclosed area such as a deep trench unless
adequate ventilation, through such items as exhaust fans or hoses, is provided. Exhaust gas
from the engine contains poisonous carbon monoxide gas; exposure to carbon monoxide can
cause loss of consciousness and may lead to death.
•DO NOT smoke while operating the machine.
•DO NOT smoke when refueling the engine.
•DO NOT refuel a hot or running engine.
•DO NOT refuel the engine near an open flame.
•DO NOT spill fuel when refueling the engine.
•DO NOT run the engine near open flames.
•ALWAYS refill the fuel tank in a well-ventilated area.
•ALWAYS replace the fuel tank cap after refueling.
•ALWAYS check the fuel lines and the fuel tank for leaks and cracks before starting the
engine. Do not run the machine if fuel leaks are present or the fuel lines are loose.
•ALWAYS avoid contact with hot fuel, oil, exhaust fumes and solid surfaces.

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PERSONAL SAFETY
•Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating a power tool.
Do not use a power tool while you are tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol or
medication. A moment of inattention while operating power tools may result in serious
personal injury.
•Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing, dangling objects, or jewelry. Keep your hair,
clothing and gloves away from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewelry or long hair can be
caught in moving parts. Air vents often cover moving parts and should be avoided.
•Use safety apparel and equipment. Use safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields
which comply with current national standards, or when needed, a face shield. Use as dust
mask in dusty work conditions. This applies to all persons in the work area. Also use non-skid
safety shoes, hardhat, gloves, dust collection systems, and hearing protection when
appropriate.
•Do not over reach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times.
•Remove adjusting keys or wrenches before connecting to the power supply or turning on
the tool. A wrench or key that is left attached to a rotating part of the tool may result in
personal injury.
•Never make blade guide adjustments, remove or install blades or conduct any other
maintenance or make any other adjustments when the engine is running. Always shut
the engine off, remove the ignition key, and keep the engine off before carrying out any of the
aforementioned procedures. Consult your engine manual for safe shutdown procedures to
prevent accident ignition.
TOOL USE AND CARE
•Always be sure operator is familiar with proper safety precautions and operation techniques
before using machine.
•Never touch the engine or muffler while the engine is on or immediately after it has been
turned off. These areas get hot and may cause burns.
•Always close fuel valve on engines when machine is not being operated.
•Avoid “kick-back” by knowing what conditions can create it.
•Do not force the tool. Tools do a better and safer job when used in the manner for which
they are designed.
•Never use the sawmill with a malfunctioning switch or throttle.Any power tool that cannot be
controlled with the switch is dangerous and must be repaired before using.
•Turn off the engine and place the switch in the locked or off position before servicing,
adjusting, installing accessories or attachments, or storing. Such preventive safety measures
reduce the risk of starting the power tool accidentally.

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•Secure logs with the log screw clamping device instead of with your hand or another
individual’s help. This safety precaution allows for proper tool operation using both hands.
•Storing sawmill. When the sawmill is not in use, store it in a dry, secure place or keep well
covered and out of the reach of children. Inspect the sawmill for good working condition prior
to storage and before re-use.
•Maintain your sawmill. It is recommended that the general condition of the sawmill be
examined before it is used. Keep your sawmill in good repair by adopting a program of
conscientious repair and maintenance in accordance with the recommended procedures
found in this manual. If any abnormal vibrations or noise occurs, turn the sawmill off
immediately and have the problem corrected before further use.
•Keep saw blades sharp and clean. Properly maintained bandsaw blades are less likely to
bind and are easier to control.
•Cleaning and Lubrication. Use only soap and a damp cloth to clean your sawmill. Many
household cleaners are harmful to plastic and rubber components on the sawmill.
•Use only accessories that are recommended by the manufacturer for your model.
Accessories that may be suitable for another sawmill may create a risk of injury when used on
the HM126 sawmill.
•Always operate machine with all safety devices and guards in place and in working order. DO
NOT modify or make changes to safety devices. DO NOT operate machine if any safety
devices or guards are missing or inoperative.
•Never leave sawmill running unattended.
•Coiled blades can spring apart with considerable force and unpredictably in any
direction. Always deal with coiled blades, including those packaged in boxes, with the utmost
care.
•Never use the equipment to cut anything other than lumber or for any purpose other than
cutting lumber as described in this manual.
EQUIPMENT OPERATION
1. Wear heavy-duty work gloves, ANSI-approved goggles behind a full face shield, steel-toed
work boots, and a dust mask.
2. Operate only with assistance.
3. Fill the lubrication tank with clean water and liquid soap.
4. Start and operate the engine according to the provided engine manual.
5. Depress the throttle to bring the blade up to speed.
6. Throttle should be fully depressed when the saw is under load.
7. Cut branches off the lumber to be processed.

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8. WARNING: to avoid death or serious injury. Do not cut lumber with foreign objects in
it such as nails, any metal pieces, etc.
9. Place the lumber to be cut on the supports.
10. The operator and any assistants must stay clear of the front and back of the blade
whenever the engine is on.
11. Move the saw head slowly along the track and against the lumber to make the cut.
12. Trim off the rounded sides of the log.
13. When the log is squared-off, boards or posts can be cut to custom specifications.
14. To prevent accidents, turn off the engine and disconnect its spark plug wire after use. Wait
for the engine to cool, clean external parts with a clean cloth, then store the equipment out of
children’s reach.
MAINTENANCE
Proper and routine maintenance is critical to operator safety, achieving good milling results and to
prolonging the life of your investment.
1. Bandwheel Bearings — Should be inspected before use to ensure they are not worn.
Bearings are sealed and do not need to be greased.
2. Blade Guide Bearings — Inspect before use for excessive grooves or scoring in the
bearing case. Replace if necessary.
3. Blade Tension — Grease threads of tensioning “T” handle when dry or as required. Use
multi-purpose, extreme-pressure grease.
4. Log Clamps —Spray cam mechanism with dry silicone spray frequently.
5. Belts —Periodically check the condition and wear of the drive and idler belt. Ensure that
the blade does not ride on the bandwheels.
6. Drive Belt — Periodically check the tension of the drive belt. It should deflect by no more
than 1/4".
7. Sawhead Locking Cam Handles —Grease assembly every 30 days or as required.
8. Sawhead Vertical Posts —Spray posts before use with a silicone spray lubricant such
as 3-in-1 or Jig-A-Loo.
9. Bandwheel Guards —Routinely remove any build-up of sawdust that may collect inside
the bandwheel guards.
10. Lubrication Tank —Only fill with a water/laundry detergent mixture or in winter months,
use windshield washer fluid. Do not leave lubricant in tank if temperatures fall below 0
degrees Celsius.

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11. Blade Lubricant —Never use diesel fuel or kerosene as blade lubricant. These
substances lead to premature wear of your belts and poor sawing performance. For winter
operations, replace the water lubricant with windshield washer fluid.
12. Engine —Check the engine oil level before each use and maintain the engine as per the
instructions set out by the engine manufacturer in the engine manual. The engine is
equipped with an oil alert system and will not start without adding oil before starting.
13. Sawhead Lifting Cables —Regularly before, during and after operations, inspect the
cables for any wear or kinks. Ensure that the cables are in perfect condition. Oil coiled part
of cable often to prevent premature wear. Replace with new cables as necessary.

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SAWMILL ASSEMBLY
#1 – INSPECTION
Take all of the parts out of the shipping crate and lay them out. Check for any damage or missing
parts.
#2 – TRACKS
Assemble track system and secure loosely with provided nuts & bolts. It is important not to fully
tighten the bolts at this stage. This will be done after the head is assembled and rolled along the
track. It is ideal to assemble the tracks on a solid and level footing that is a minimum of 4” off of
the ground. This will allow for easy cleanup of sawdust from under the tracks and height
adjustment of the log supports.

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Attach track cross supports to “L” channel with the provided nuts & bolts. The joining plate is used
at the seam joint to join the two sections together (shown in top right image). Ensure to only hand
tighten at this stage. The bolts will be fully tightened once the head assembly is free to roll on the
tracks and provide the correct track width.
Assemble carriage stops at the ends of the tracks (4 stops total) and tighten bolts.

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#3 – LOG DOG & SUPPORTS
Assemble log dog pieces as shown below and use grease on threaded handle and “T” handle.
Attach assembly to the track using the provided nuts & bolts and tighten.

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Attach log dog assembly to track as shown above with the 4 nuts and bolts provided. Note that
there are various locations along the track where this assembly can be bolted. Depending on how
many track sections are being used, select a log clamp position that will secure the log firmly
against the log supports.
Insert log supports into track cross supports and secure with “T” handles as shown in above left
picture. The “T” handle threads should be coated with grease. The sawmill includes two sets of
log supports – a short set and a long set. The longer set is ideal for larger logs and the shorter set
is ideal for small logs and square cants. The picture on the above right shows how to attach the
leveling feet to the track. The bolt can be turned to either raise or lower the round feet to get your
track level. If setting the track on wood blocks, screws may be used in the four holes to secure the
foot in place.
Clamp should
be tilted forward
towards log.

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#4 – CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY
Lay the above carriage pieces out.
Assemble round vertical post (shown on left) to wheel assembly using the two bolts and back
plate. Repeat same step for the square vertical post assembly (shown on right).

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Place a moving blanket on the shipping pallet that the sawmill crate was strapped to. The blanket
will prevent the blade guard covers from becoming scratched. Using a minimum of two people
or a mechanical advantage system, remove the head assembly from the sawmill crate and place
face down on the blanket. The head assembly is very heavy, proper technique must be used to
avoid injury or damage.
Insert vertical post assemblies into corresponding locations in head assembly as shown above.

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Insert the rear square frame into the carriage base until it bottoms out on the pulley bolts. Tighten
the four 16mm bolts (shown in right image) to secure it in place.
Lock the cam handles on both the round and square post to prevent the head from moving when it
is stood up in the coming steps. Ensure that when activating the cam handles, the clamps
securely lock on the round and square vertical post. If they don’t, a 13mm wrench will need to be
used to tighten the adjustment nut. This will allow the clamps to lock on the post better.
With one person on each post, stand the head assembly up on the wheels as shown above. Again,
using a minimum of two people, set the saw head assembly on the track system ensuring the
carriage wheel grooves rest on the “L” rails. The square vertical post should be on the same side
as the log supports.
Adjustment
nut here

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Slide the top cross support over the round post and insert the pulley, collar and bolt assembly into
the hole.
Install the nut on the inside of the round post to secure the pulley. Using a 16mm wrench to hold
the nut, tighten the bolt.
Insert the bolts into the back plate as shown in above left image. Align the square post holes with
the corresponding black top cross support holes. Tighten using an 18mm socket.

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Place the measuring scale bracket as shown above and insert bolts and nuts. It is important to
alternate tightening of the nuts (top then bottom) to ensure the black round clamp begins to
compress evenly on both the top and bottom until flanges meet at outer edge. Tighten nuts using
a 13mm socket.
Install the square indicator rod to the sawmill using the two bolts and tighten using a 10mm
socket.
Slide the scale indicator over the square rod and tighten.

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Attach the crank handle assembly to the rear square frame using the two 16mm bolts provided
(left image). Next, attach the cable bolts to crank handle assembly as shown above in right image.
Route the cables on both sides as shown in the above two images.

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Using a tape measure, take a measurement from the blade to the top of the log bunk on both the
left and right side. The distance should be equal on both sides. If it isn’t, you will need to adjust the
cable ends at the rear handle to either raise or lower one side. Refer to below step for adjustment
instructions.
Using a 14mm socket, turn the nut either clockwise to raise one side of the saw head or
counter-clockwise to lower one side of the saw head. Double check the blade height as discussed
in the previous step. Once measurement is consistent on both sides, tighten the corresponding
nut to clamp securely against tab.

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Install the cover and tighten the two bolts on the top and two on the bottom to secure it in place.
Use a 10mm socket for all four bolts.
Install the aluminum lube tank to the top cross support using the four nuts and bolts provided.