Your Waterwheel Solution

Ben Russell Mill Restoration

Alexander City, AL

Newest and Largest waterwheel on the east coast of the US

35 foot 45 inch wide waterwheel installed September 2005

Outdoor Metal Primer metal finish

Russell Mill Old Building

Old picture of the mill site 100 year ago

Russell site before wheel
After a year of rock restoration, plans were put into motion for a new waterwheel
Russell site from the pit
Detail measurements were taken of the wheel site before actual design drawings were made. This is a view from the bottom of the pit area.
Waterwheel Factory's design drawings
CAD drawings were started to develop basic concept drawing.
Russell Mill metal braces

After the fabrication of the wheel, the 13,000 lb.. of metal parts were trucked onto the site

Russell Mill bucket sections

This is just 3 sections of the 48 buckets sections that comprised the wheel

Russell Mill Bearings

Because of the size/weight of the wheel and the need of cranes an outside fabrication company was brought in to assemble the wheel

This is a photo of the assemble of the bearings. These bearings accommodate the 6.4" axle.

Russell Mill Axle
The large axle was lowered into place.
Russell Mill Install Spokes
The last of the 32 metal spokes is installed.
Russell Mill Installation
Picture of the installation in mid stage.
Russell Mill Install
Internal 3/4" bracing for the wheel
Russell Waterwheel from the pit area
This wheel was designed to handle more then 5000 gallons of water a minute.
Russell Mill Waterwheel from the top grounds
The remainder of the water raceway will be completed and an old mill will be completed to finish the project.

An article was written on it in the Lake Martin Alabama Magazine

March 2006 by Kenneth Boone

 

Photo by K. Boone

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