Pedal powered bandsaw, build thread

After building a business using a now 112 year old, treadle powered printing press I was sold on the ability of human powered machines. My press was 1000 lbs of cast iron that moved like butter under the gentle press of my foot. I’m dreaming of a fully off-grid workshop, utilizing human and direct solar power. Aside from boatloads of research and experimentation, this is my first attempt at making this dream a reality. So far I’ve got a working frame and drivechain. I hope to install a sprocket onto the bandsaw and have it running shortly. I fully expect to tear it apart and rebuild it a few times. That being said, the first major problem I’ve found is with the direction of rotation. I’m orser to pedal while cutting the rider has to pedal backwards. The best solution for inverting roller chain involves 4 sprockets. Any other ideas that won’t cost much more than free?

Also, please excuse my ugly welds. I’ve tested them harder than I should have, but they aren’t pretty at all. This is my first big welding project in 15 years.

to reverse the direction of the chain, make it into a figure-eight. the trick then is to keep the chain from rubbing against itself. I can think of a couple ways to do that, but I'm guessing you can, too.

for all but the lightest work, I think you'll probably want a stout flywheel involved if there isn't one already. maybe the existing bandsaw wheels are enough, though.

I plan on adding a flywheel to the mix just to make the load lighter, but from my experience small kerf blades need a fraction of the torque of larger ones (bandsaw vs tablesaw).

I like the idea of a power takeoff on tractors because you can have one portable power unit and multiple things that can attach to it.

The figure 8 suggested should work. I have seen pvc guide tubes well greased used to reduce chain chatter and occasional contact...
Looks cool...

I don't know if this would introduce new problems like increased friction or earlier failure, but if the chain sprocket under the saw had a gear next to the sprocket, on the same shaft, and that drove a gear on the same shaft as the pulley or whatever drives the saw blade, I'm pretty sure that would reverse the direction.

I know that's a run on sentence. Let me know if it's unclear. Maybe I could draw something or mark my idea on your photo.

If you're using an old-school english-thread bottom bracket (meaning non-cartridge) you could always take apart the bottom bracket (and repack it with fresh grease and bearings) and switch the spindle 180 degrees so that the long half of the spindle is on the left side of the bike. Then you could simply switch the wheel 180 degrees and bingo: you can now pedal conventionally.

very clever concept and popular in the1970's

What about just turning the seat? I assume riding the bike while sawing isn't a good idea anyway.

Just musing based on those larger 'Wood Mizer' type saw mills.... (photo below).   You would probably need to incorporate a 90-degree gear box into the design, but I'm envisioning a bicycle frame attached to a moveable track.  By pedaling, you would be turning the 90-degree gearbox which would have a drive-shaft running forward ahead of you and attached to a drive system for the bandsaw blade, arranged similar to that in a wood mizer.  The pedalling *also* would actuate a worm-gear that **very slowly** would move the bike frame AND bandsaw forward on the moveable track.  Thus, you could have long lumber into which you would **slooooowly** be driving the bicycle and saw as the band-saw blade was spinning and cutting the wood.  Engineered appropriately and you would have a pedal-powered moving track sawmill.  You could call it "the DaVinci"........ :-)