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06.05.2023 Golticage band, lumber, mill

Complete Guide to Sawmills

Wood is one of the central elements of our lives. Wood supports our homes and the roofs over our heads. We eat on wooden tables, cook with wooden spoons and enjoy the architectural detail of wooden cabinets. We even place our paintings in wood frames. Yet many people take wood for granted, never stopping to think how we get the wood that is a foundation for many things in our lives.

If you want to know how sawmills process wood, this complete guide to sawmills will provide all the information you need. Learn about the sawmill throughput process and how raw logs turn into finished wooden products. We’ll answer questions like:

Things have changed since the old days when sawmills required manual labor and brute strength. The original sawmills were dangerous places. Today, sawmills rely on highly technical systems and computerization to maintain high production. At York Saw Knife, we’re proud to supply high-quality blades to enhance modern sawmills’ power and efficiency through Oleson Saw Technology. If you would like to learn more about sawmill blades now or find that you have more questions along the way, reach out to us at 1-800-233-1969, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Chapter 1: What Is a Sawmill?

The term sawmill could refer to two different concepts within the industry. The first is a location where people mill lumber. The sawmill is all the land on which the sawmill sits — the log sort yard, milling machinery and the area where wooden planks are sorted and stored. A sawmill also has areas on-site for the mill’s administration and maintenance.

A sawmill also refers to the specific cutting or sawing mechanism. These machines turn round logs into rectangular timbers for use in manufacturing. Technically, the sawmill industry calls the core sawing machine a head rig, but the head rig needs an extensive support structure to function correctly. Perhaps the most accurate definition of a sawmill is that it’s the entire system that turns logs into lumber.

Whether you use the word to refer to the individual sawing machine or the entire lumber milling operation, sawmills are inherently bustling places. Most modern sawmills are enormous commercial enterprises with high productivity. Some of these locations employ hundreds of workers and schedule rotating shifts around the clock to keep lumber production efficient.

When Was the Sawmill Invented?

Prior to the invention of the sawmill, people cut, split and planed wooden boards by hand using hand tools. Later, people used a whipsaw, a long blade that cut logs as men pulled the saw. This process was tedious and tiring and needed improvements.

The history of sawmills dates back to the Roman empire. The first known sawmill is called the Hierapolis sawmill and dates to around the third century A.D. The sawmill was discovered when archaeologists examined the sarcophagus of a miller in modern-day Turkey, what used to be Asia Minor. On the sarcophagus was a raised relief of a waterwheel with a crank slider mechanism and two saws cutting through blocks.

The Roman waterwheel-powered saw represented a significant advancement in engineering and production. Around the sixth century, water-powered stone sawmills were popping up throughout the Byzantine Empire. By the 11th century, these sawmills spread from Spain and North Africa to Central Asia.

Who Invented the Sawmill?

The design of the sawmill remained essentially the same until the Industrial Revolution, when someone invented the circular saw blade. Historians typically credit Samuel Miller, who was awarded a British patent for the blade in 1777. Others claim the Dutch developed it in the 17th century or that it was the American Shaker Sister Tabitha Babbitt. Whoever invented it, the bandsaw’s high price and inferior blades meant it wasn’t used widely until the middle of the 19th century. Today, most sawmills use industrial-sized Band saws.

What Can I Get at a Sawmill?

A sawmill can produce high quantities of all kinds of lumber, although most sawmills specialize in a specific type of lumber. Sawmills in North America process one of two kinds of trees, softwood or hardwood.

Softwood trees are evergreens or conifers with permanently attached needles. These species include cedar, pine, spruce, hemlock, fir and redwood. Hardwood trees are deciduous species that shed their leaves in autumn and produce new ones in spring. Species like walnut, maple, beech, cherry, elm and oak are all hardwood trees.

These species require different machines and tools to process. Some sawmills buy the equipment to process both types of trees, although this is uncommon. You can generally find softwood materials in rough carpentry and building framing, which light commercial construction industries use. Residential construction uses hardwood lumber for finished products like furniture, flooring, staircases and plywood panels.

Most sawmills make three main products on their production line:

Timbers

Timbers are large-cut posts used in construction. These products measure over 5 inches thick and provide essential structural support. Construction companies use timbers as beams or posts when building projects like houses or barns.

Dimensional Lumber

The most common product coming off the sawmill production line is dimensional lumber. These wooden planks are smaller than timbers and measure according to standardized sizes. For instance, dimensional lumber can be between 2-5 inches thick and 2-12 inches wide. Standard sizes for dimensional lumber include two-by-fours (2x4s) and four-by-fours (4x4s). Many construction and manufacturing applications use dimensional lumber for joists, studs, headers, plates and rafters.

Sawmills also plane dimensional lumber to a specific size and smoothness. Dimensional lumber sizing can be somewhat tricky, as planing the wood reduces its size slightly. A rough-cut plank coming from the head rig is precisely 2 inches thick and 4 inches wide. However, the actual dimensions of a 2×4 exiting the sawmill’s planer are 1 ½ inches thick by 3 ½ inches wide.

Boards

The third type of lumber product made at a sawmill is the board. Boards are thin planks that usually measure between ¾ of an inch and 1 inch thick. Boards can range from 2-12 inches in width. Companies use boards to form plank floors, sheathing structures and frames for furniture. Rough-cut boards work well in pallets and crates.

Other products you can find at a sawmill include wooden planks with specialized shapes and contours. Sawmills can produce interlocking tongue and groove shapes, shiplap edges and rounded profiles. All of these planks are used in decoration and architecture. Some sawmills will also custom-make orders according to the customer’s specifications. Select locations will also source wood from foreign or local markets.

What Are the Types of Sawmills?

Depending on the production needs, sawmills can either be stationary or portable. Stationary sawmills are large-scale constructions in fixed locations and mounted on a foundation. Portable or mobile sawmills are smaller productions and might be mounted on a truck or trailer. These sawmills range in size and are designed with certain specifications to fit their intended purpose and production level. Each type of sawmill can also accommodate different numbers of operators or workers.

Stationary sawmills are often built near water sources. Historically, this placement made production easier. Most sawmills during the industrial revolution were powered by steam, which required a stable and renewable source of water for production. It was also practical to have the mill near a waterway so employees could use the water to transport logs to and from the mill. Storing logs in the river or lake prevented them from drying out prematurely.

Modern sawmills don’t use steam. However, many sawmills remain in the same location as their predecessors. These sawmills have evolved, but they are still built near water. In contrast, portable sawmills don’t require source of water or a specific amount of land. The operators can move these machines between sites whenever they need to.

Sawmill types are also categorized by the type of blade they use. Most modern sawmills use a combination of blade types, including circular blades and Band saws. Consider the differences between the two blades:

Circular blades: Circular sawmill blades can efficiently perform cross-cuts or buckle logs into the desired length. These blades also tend to be thicker than Band saws, giving them additional strength. Their design leads the saw kerf to create more waste.
Band saws: Band saws are excellent for cutting logs laterally. Band saw blades are thinner with thinner kerfs. These blades increase sawmill efficiency by creating less waste during the wood finishing process.

The changing technology of saw blade construction benefits every sawmill. For example, companies have developed superior products like Stellite tipped blades and tungsten carbide to replace old-fashioned materials. These new saw blades last longer than hot- and cold-rolled steel and provide greater efficiency.

How Are Sawmills Powered?

As with most forms of technology, a sawmill’s power source has evolved significantly over the decades. The initial mills had waterwheels, which gave way to windmills. Both of these systems were subject to changes in the weather. Workers couldn’t operate the sawmills if a water source dried up or the wind stopped blowing. These types of sawmills also used inefficient cranks and rods that didn’t saw continually.

In the early and mid-19th century, steam was the primary source of power for sawmills. Sawmills could reuse their wood waste by using the scraps to fuel the steam boilers. The boilers powered turbine shafts, which turned the circular and Band saw blades. These boilers were used primarily because of the abundance of wood waste, so oil-fired burners never became widely popular.

By the middle of the 20th century, most stationary sawmills phased steam power out and replaced it with electricity. This power source continues to be the primary source in effect today. Portable sawmills typically don’t use electric power since the mill sites that use them are usually off the electric grid. Instead, mobile sawmills use diesel and gasoline power sources. There is currently no serious shift toward solar power sources for sawmills since the production process requires vast amounts of energy.

Besides turning blades and conveyors, sawmills also need power for other systems. Modern sawmills use computers to scan logs and determine the optimal cutting efficiency. The computer systems then send the digitized information to the sawmill components to meet daily demands. All of these advanced processes require electric energy.

How Does a Sawmill Work?

Modern sawmills operate in essentially the same ways they have for hundreds of years, just more efficiently. The mill takes raw lumber and sends it through mechanized steps that refine and smooth it until the finished product emerges. Modern sawmills increase throughput through automation. This process is an on-demand system that takes wood from front-end loggers and makes it ready for the tail-end marketplace.

The sawmill lumbering operation involves several stages. Despite technological advancements and increased use of sophisticated computerization, modern sawmills still rely on experienced sawyers. These workers use their sharp eyes and quick movements to direct lumber efficiently. Here are all the steps a sawmill takes to get the job done:

Felling: The first step in sawmill production is to cut the trees. Loggers on the front end of the process fell standing trees from second- or third-growth woodlots because there are few original, old-growth forests in America today. Loggers primarily use gasoline-powered chainsaws to cut trees before loading and transporting them to the sawmill. Other tools for felling trees include feller bunchers.
Debarking: Once the logs are on-site at the sawmill, they must be debarked. Most sawmills use machines like mechanical ring cutters to strip each log of its bark. Others use water-jet blasters. Whatever method they employ, sawmills keep the bark waste to use as landscaping mulch or to fuel the kilns. In the debarking stage, a circular saw will buck or cross-cut logs into the correct lengths.
Metal detecting: Sometimes, standing trees have pieces of metal from nails or fencing wire embedded and covered by years of growth. It’s vital for sawmills to examine logs for metal contamination before sawing them. Undetected scraps of metal can ruin blades or send shrapnel flying. If a log contains metal, it goes for a second examination. Depending on whether the metal can be removed, a log returns to the production line or is cut into smaller pieces for salvaging.
Merchandising: Modern sawmills use computer processes to merchandise logs before sawing them, a critical step for peak efficiency. Computers use camera viewing or laser scanning to estimate each raw log’s maximum cut value by measuring the length and girth. The system then determines which sizes of boards, dimensional lumber and timber the log can provide. The merchandising step also assesses logs according to standing orders and market conditions.
Head rig sawing: Logs are clamped to the conveyor and move to the head rig for sawing. Some sawmills have conveyors in a stationary carriage, which the head rig moves over with its blades while it saws the log lengthwise. Other locations use a fixed head rig that cuts the log as it moves along a mobile conveyor. With either method, head rigs are typically fitted with Band saw blades. Technologically advanced head rigs follow the log’s natural curve.
Canting: As the head rig cuts the log, it creates sections called cants. The first breakdown creates a flat surface the head rig can use to square the workpiece for secondary cants. This breakdown is called the best opening face. After this, secondary cants turn the log into rough sizes for the lumber products. Any waste slabs are recycled into mulch, pellets or chips.
Resawing: The large cants that the head rig creates go to the resawing process. In this step, several Band saw blades cut the cants into smaller pieces according to the merchandising instructions. Resawing can create many profiles, including twin or quad bands, horizontal and vertical bands, Band center splitters, circle gangs, double arbor gangs, Band line bars and more. The resaw step also uses curve sawing to get an accurate profile.
Edging and trimming: The newly-cut timbers, dimensional lumber and boards have their edges cut to the correct grade size. The products continue to a trimmer, which cuts the specific lengths. Most sawmills cut wood products in 2-foot increments starting at 8 feet and going to 24 or more.
Grading, drying and planing: Finally, the products go through the quality control process. Grading is essential for ensuring lumber pieces emerge in batches of similar products. Then the sawmill dries the lumber to reduce its naturally high moisture content. Lumber products are either air-dried or force-dried in kilns. After that, planers create the products’ ultimate appearance and size. Then the products are marked with finished grade stamps and bundled for shipping to market.

Where Can I Get Sawmill Supplies?

York Saw Knife has supplied top-quality saw blades to American sawmills for over 100 years. We are your best source of sawmill supplies to keep your sawmill sharp and working efficiently. You can find our industrial machine knives and precision saw blades in some of the most productive stationary sawmills in the world.

Our Oleson Saw Technology division designs and manufactures a complete custom sawmill blade line. Whether you need variable pitch (VPD) circular or wide Band saw blades made from carbide or Stellite you can find them at York Saw. You can also find a wide selection of tooth patterns and sets, along with other sawmill supplies for every application.

Check out our sawmill products today or contact us online for more information. You can also call us at 1-800-233-1969.

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About LOGOSOL

Logosol was founded in 1989 by Bengt-Olov Byström and the company is still owned by the Byström family in Härnösand, Sweden. We have sold over 30.000 sawmills and more than 10.000 planers and has over 30 years experience as a market leader in wood processing. We have daily contact with customers worldwide who fulfill their dreams of wood.

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The Smartest Range of Portable Sawmills

For over three decades, Peterson Portable Sawmills have been the passion and livelihood of thousands of satisfied sawmillers worldwide; from farmers and woodlot owners, to custom sawyers, arborists and commercial operators who enjoy after-sales service that is second to none.

With Peterson, you get what you pay for; well designed, efficient and versatile portable sawmills with innovative features that will SAVE you money on running costs and help you to work smarter not harder! We proudly cut, weld, treat, build, and individually test every single machine with love and care and to the highest workmanship standards, right here at our factory in New Zealand.

As Butch says, don’t settle for anything less

“After looking at 1-2 man manual saw mills for 5 years I am certain that a swing mill is the best for most needs and Peterson certainly makes the most versatile of the lot. I am sure glad that I waited to purchase a mill until I could afford the best and didn’t settle for less!” – Butch Cherrington, USA

Peterson Sawmill News Articles

Niue Recieves First Sawmill in Years

It has been a number of years since there has been a working sawmill on the South Pacific Island of Niue. Seeing the demand for access to local timber, and knowing that no one can supply this demand left Anton Nemaia one choice.

Source the best darn sawmill money can buy!

Are portable sawmills worth it?

Jesse purchased his slabs from sawmills, but discovered that they simply could not produce the material he wanted. “Nobody could slab up a 6-foot-diameter log, or even a 4-foot-diameter log,” he recalled. The solution was to set up his own sawmill.

Mohaka River Community add second Peterson to their inventory

Having owned their first Winch Production Frame for 2 years, Mohaka River Sawmilling have now invested in a second to provide more quality, affordable and timely materials for their construction businesses and community building projects. They bought it second hand and came to Peterson HQ to have it refurbished.

Canadian housing project provides opportunities for indigenous people

After working for several big mills in the area, Craig saw an opportunity to work with local First Nations communities and get them into small scale milling. While working for Toosey Indian Band, Craig was able to purchase their first used WPF in 2014.

Peterson vs Lucas

As the owner of both a Peterson 8” swingblade and a Lucas Mill 8” swingblade, Bill Shore is uniquely qualified to discuss their similarities and differences.

Read how he progressed from an Alaskan Mill to the worlds best portable swingblade and how he compares them.

Stories from Peterson Owners

Petersons have thousands of happy customers operating mills in every corner of the globe. Some of them are so proud of their Petersons and the work their mill allows them to do, they want to share their story with you.

Better Return on Investment with a Peterson

Improve Your Production Rate

Reports of increased milling productivity come in weekly from commercial operators with some stating that the Peterson is the “best forestry or agriculture machine” they’ve ever purchased. One example is Australian miller Andrew Smith who has almost doubled the production of his previous manual model sawmill (competitor brand) since he purchased Peterson Automated Swingblade Mill

Mill Wide Boards Slabs With Ease

An innovative and unique feature of all Peterson Portable Sawmills, is the ease of true double cutting by a single operator. There is no need to turn the mill head around like imitation sawmills.

Wide boards and slabs can be twice as valuable as dimensional lumber. Witness the ease of Double Cutting with Peterson Portable Sawmills

Save Time and Money With Peterson Blades

Peterson blades last for 2-6 years with normal use and maintenance. However, some swing blade sawmill owners have been using the same blades for over 10 years! To decrease downtime, the Peterson blade can be sharpened while it is still on the mill in less than 10 minutes, and without having to remove any guards. For your convenience the sharpener is included and pre-set to fit your blade size which makes for much more productive sawmilling.

Smarter Track Design

No log-turning required, a Peterson mill cuts dimensional lumber straight away and you can grade as you go. A Peterson swingblade can handle large, abrasive logs with ease. Petersons Hi/Lo track set up comes standard on the ASM models, and as an optional extra on the WPF DWS The Hi/Lo tracks allow the operator to load logs over the track on the low side, or roll logs under the high track, giving the utmost in versatility for mobile or fixed site applications.

“My friend has a big bandsaw mill (Woodland Pro 4000), but he can’t handle long and large diameter logs. So my Peterson mill, with extra rails, was just what was needed to do the job. Now I have more work that no other mill in the area can do!”

Outstanding Customer Support and Service

Peterson Portable Sawmills design and manufacture the best range of portable sawmills on the market today and stand behind our products 100%. Our staff are proud of the robust, high quality machines they manufacture, and provide unmatched outstanding customer service and advice both pre, and post-sale. Our factory support team are available to you via phone, email, Skype, WhatsApp or Messenger seven days a week.

You only have to read the multitude of positive testimonials from Peterson mill owners for assurance that we will take care of you and make sure you get the best out of your new machine.

Exquisite craftsmanship

I’ve worked on high-tech aerospace hardware for nearly 30 years and this mill is built as well as anything I’ve ever seen launched into space. The craftsmanship is exquisite, and I’m simply astounded that such a machine can be purchased for such a reasonable price. I will work for NASA the usual two days this week, and the space telescope work is great, but it actually pales a bit when compared to the satisfaction one gets from producing such beautiful and useful material with the Peterson mill. You folks bring a lot of joy to the world, not to mention some of the best machinery, lumber, exercise and peace of mind available anywhere. The sawmill has been working flawlessly and it was exciting to see that 40 foot beam getting lifted off the mill.

Jeff Sincell, West Virginia, USA

Two mills working in tandem

I love how I don’t have to reconfigure the setup and that I can use both my WPF and my DWS anytime.

Maintenance is easy

It’s relatively easy to perform general maintenance and to replace wearable parts like bearings etc. myself, especially when you compare the relative simplicity of this mill to fully hydraulic ones.

Very Happy With The Service That Peterson’s United States Agent Has Provided

As our Wood-Mizer aged, we started to realise that the downtime for maintenance and repairs was higher than the uptime. We were running in to problems that just don’t occur with a swingblade mill.

Always making a profit

Contract and tree work is as competitive as it’s ever been. winning the bid depends on finding ways to reduce costs where others can’t. With my Peterson mill I can always make profit out of the driest and knottiest wood out there. When the tree work isn’t coming in, I’m pulling a profit from logs that most others are sending to the landfill or burning in the stove.

A swing mill is the best for most needs

I purchased a Junior model back in January, my mill had a couple small issues that they took care of pronto. I now have close to 50 hours on the mill. About 20% of my needs so far have involved double cutting. After looking at 1-2 man manual saw mills for 5 years I am certain that a swing mill is the best for most needs and Peterson certainly makes the most versatile of the lot. I am sure glad that I waited to purchase a mill until I could afford the best and didn’t settle for less!

Butch Cherrington, Ohio, USA

Buy the best, you only cry once!

The swing blade sawmill is genius. I wish I had thought of it. I recommend swing blade sawmills to anyone who doesn’t have all the heavy equipment. Price might be the one you consider the most. But I say “Buy the best, you only cry once!”.

Mike Schaas, USA

It is very exciting working with this machine

We enjoy working with the Peterson mill! The one I am using was bought in 2005 and to date nothing has gone wrong. Now, with good experience, me and my little brother can set the machine with the log and mill it at once. The ATS is very light and versatile to go on any slope. It is very exciting working with this machine.

Wale Tobata, Solomon Islands

The epitome of eco-recycling

Small portable sawmills are the epitome of eco-recycling. The three legs of sustainability (environment, social, and economic) are all served well by the Peterson machines.

Ark Yingling. Illinois, USA

Small portable sawmills are the epitome of eco-recycling. The three legs of sustainability (environment, social, and economic) are all served well by the Peterson machines.

My Peterson is one of the best investments I’ve ever made

My Peterson is one of the best investments I’ve ever made, it is by far the best swingblade sawmill on the market. While I don’t use my sawmill every day, it’s always ready for me when I need it. Even though I use the saw mostly in the same place it’s always good to know if I need to move it, it’s fairly easy to do so.

A pleasure to work with

Y’all have a recipe for customer service success like I’ve never seen. It seems there are always hassles to get things done or made right but never once with Peterson. Thank you so very much for being such a pleasure to work with.

Truly portable

I move around a lot and the Peterson is truly portable and easy to operate. The mill is quick to set up and break down, light and easy to carry around and operate, yet stable and safe.

You can’t do this with a Lucas

For background, my principle interests are cutting very long and large beams for timber frame-type applications and quartersawing. These goals narrowed my selection down to a swing blade as opposed to a Band mill. First, Peterson basically invented the swingmill concept that both they and Lucas use. Second, you can double-cut with a Peterson mill without having to pick up and turn the carriage. You can’t do this with a Lucas. I often work alone and this was an important feature for me. Third, their customers consistently rave about them. Fourth, you can cut a bigger cant with the Peterson than you can with the Lucas. Considering my goals, this was also important.

Scott Smith, North Carolina, USA

For background, my principle interests are cutting very long and large beams for timber frame-type applications and quartersawing. These goals narrowed my selection down to a swing blade as opposed to a Band mill. First, Peterson basically invented the swingmill concept that both they and Lucas use. Second, you can double-cut with a Peterson mill without having to pick up and turn the carriage. You can’t do this with a Lucas. I often work alone and this was an important feature for me. Third, their customers consistently rave about them. Fourth, you can cut a bigger cant with the Peterson than you can with the Lucas. Considering my goals, this was also important.

Durable design

The mill is easy to use and simple design that is durable. Cuts are extremely accurate and consistent from end to end. I just wanted to let you know what a good job Russell Wilkins is doing representing Peterson. I e-mailed him with some questions about Peterson mills on Sunday and this Monday evening he called me to answer my questions. We talked for about an hour, and I had all my questions throughly answered. I did not expect to receive this kind of personal service, so needless to say I was very pleased. This is the kind of help that keeps customers happy and coming back for more business.

The Peterson is simply much better made than the Lucas Mill

One of our members, a qualified engineer, looked at the mechanical engineering of both the Lucas Mill and the Peterson, and concluded that the Peterson is simply much better made than the Lucas Mill. We have owned it and run it since 2003 with 10 operators in our group and have had no serious mechanical failures.

Great product and super staff

Thank you for all your support beginning with the purchase, the technical support, and the selling of the tracks. You have a great product and a super staff.

Mike Heili, Missouri, USA

Thank you for all your support beginning with the purchase, the technical support, and the selling of the tracks. You have a great product and a super staff.

Compared to other brands, a Peterson seemed to be much more versatile and efficient

I still enjoy milling, even now that I’m nearly 80 years old. Taking on the challenge of a log feels bloody good!

Ready to saw in around 20 minutes

It was amazing how quick the mill was assembled and how quickly we were sawing. The two of us were able to unload and have the mill ready to saw in around 20–25 min. Not too shabby for our first set-up. I really couldn’t believe how easy it was and how smoothly everything went. We produced 2 dozen 12’ 1×6’s in almost no time at all. And they were perfect! I would like to take the credit for how well they came out, but I think that the credit goes to the mill. My WPF was worth every penny. I bought an 8” with a 27hp Kohler and couldn’t be happier. I still can’t believe the amount of lumber that I have gotten out of it in a very short amount of time.I’m sure you will enjoy your Peterson as much as I do mine. The word is starting to spread that I have a mill, and everybody was right. logs are finding me!

Jerome Lauzon, New York, USA

It was amazing how quick the mill was assembled and how quickly we were sawing. The two of us were able to unload and have the mill ready to saw in around 20–25 min. Not too shabby for our first set-up. I really couldn’t believe how easy it was and how smoothly everything went. We produced 2 dozen 12’ 1×6’s in almost no time at all. And they were perfect! I would like to take the credit for how well they came out, but I think that the credit goes to the mill. My WPF was worth every penny. I bought an 8” with a 27hp Kohler and couldn’t be happier. I still can’t believe the amount of lumber that I have gotten out of it in a very short amount of time.I’m sure you will enjoy your Peterson as much as I do mine. The word is starting to spread that I have a mill, and everybody was right. logs are finding me!

A lot of pluses

I’ve been using my Peterson 9″ swingblade since 1998. We make a good deal of trailer planking and flooring stock. It lets me get at almost all the quartersawn lumber a tree has to offer. The blades hold up well against incidental hardware and urban logs have more than their share. Being able to face off and flatten trees too large for my circular mill is another plus. Resawing and ‘surface skinning’ rough stock are weekly requests. Breaking down large trunks into movable cants for further processing helps in situations where time and tempers won’t allow unlimited cutting. I’d buy another one.

Charles Prymula, Illinois, USA

I’ve been using my Peterson 9″ swingblade since 1998. We make a good deal of trailer planking and flooring stock. It lets me get at almost all the quartersawn lumber a tree has to offer. The blades hold up well against incidental hardware and urban logs have more than their share. Being able to face off and flatten trees too large for my circular mill is another plus. Resawing and ‘surface skinning’ rough stock are weekly requests. Breaking down large trunks into movable cants for further processing helps in situations where time and tempers won’t allow unlimited cutting. I’d buy another one.

Unless you’re hiking into the bush, the WPF is honestly the only viable option

When I looked at sawmills to buy, I thought I wanted “simple/ basic”. And unless you are hiking into the bush and need portability, the WPF is honestly the only viable option. The concessions to raise and lower the saw and or tracks manually are just not accurate or Rapid enough to be efficient. With a labourer pulling boards off the log a WPF can be sawing easily 95% of the time, the other units just can not be that efficient.

Jim McGuiness, California, USA

The ultimate in portable sawmills

We are really pleased with our amazing machine! I think it is the ultimate in portable sawmills. I have sawn approximate 12,000 board feet of high-quality lumber with it in under a year. I bought it because I had property with quite a bit of timber on it and I needed a quick and inexpensive way to make it into lumber for my buildings.

We paid off our house mortgage quicker thanks to Peterson

In 2004 we bought a Peterson WPF to supplement our bandmill. We use it to cut any logs over 30” in diameter. It has increased our production so much that we now sell lumber on eBay to customers around the world and were able to pay off our 30 year home mortgage in less than 11 years.

Mark Tammy Allen, Illinois, USA

In 2004 we bought a Peterson WPF to supplement our bandmill. We use it to cut any logs over 30” in diameter. It has increased our production so much that we now sell lumber on eBay to customers around the world and were able to pay off our 30 year home mortgage in less than 11 years.

Very impressed with the engineering and ease of use

My company has a Lucas Mill, but we will probably need to add a second mill within the year and the Peterson, especially the ASM, is high on my list. I was very impressed with the engineering and ease of use that I saw at Sawlex, the sawmill logging expo.

Tom Kimmerer, Kentucky, USA

My company has a Lucas Mill, but we will probably need to add a second mill within the year and the Peterson, especially the ASM, is high on my list. I was very impressed with the engineering and ease of use that I saw at Sawlex, the sawmill logging expo.

I don’t know any American companies that stand by their products or care the way you guys do

I am writing to tell you that I have sold my sawmill. Thank you for your years of excellent customer service and fabulous product that you provided me with. I had the mill for 13 years and it works as good now as the day I bought it. What an amazingly strong and wonderfully engineered piece of equipment. Sad to see it go. I hope the new owner appreciates it as much as I did.

Hans Petersen, California, USA

A fantastic machine

My sawmill is an early model yet still allows me to turn old native logs I recover from the local river into beautiful straight timber. It’s really easy to operate by myself and very precise. Fantastic machine.

John Henare, New Zealand

Quick to set up

The first time setting up the mill took us 45 minutes and breaking down the mill took 45 minutes too. Now we can do so in just 15 minutes.

The Peterson is the only mill we’ve come across that cuts true and square

As a log home company we have built in excess of 60 homes using the mill. We are using our Peterson all the time, it has definitely been a key component to our success.

JP as a stepping stone

The JP is the perfect sawmill for a part-time miller. It’s a simple machine really, and easy to use. For me, it was the logical first step to blade milling.

Bandsaw vs swing blade

I’m very happy with how it has made my life easier compared to operating my old bandsaw mill. That machine produced wavy boards and involved a lot of manual handling of logs and blade sharpening. With the Peterson, my job is much less physical, which suits me well.

I’m very happy with how it has made my life easier compared to operating my old bandsaw mill. That machine produced wavy boards and involved a lot of manual handling of logs and blade sharpening. With the Peterson, my job is much less physical, which suits me well.

Still happy with my Peterson sawmill after 21 years

I would like to thank Petersons sawmills for their customer service and support over the last 21 years. I love my sawmill just as much today as I did when I first started using it.

Paul Noordanus, Tasmania, Australia

I would like to thank Petersons sawmills for their customer service and support over the last 21 years. I love my sawmill just as much today as I did when I first started using it.

It never skips a beat

We here at Johnson Bros Sawmill still use our Peterson WPF regularly, and are completely satisfied with its performance over the several decades we’ve had it. It never skips a beat.

Bill Johnson, NSW, Australia

We here at Johnson Bros Sawmill still use our Peterson WPF regularly, and are completely satisfied with its performance over the several decades we’ve had it. It never skips a beat.

Doing my research

While I could see the advantages of a swing mill, I wasn’t impressed with the quality of the Lucas mill brand. Further research led me to Peterson and it was obvious to me that the Peterson mills were of better quality.

Highly satisfied all around

(Additional feedback, received after David has been milling for over 12 years:) I think anyone who looks at both Lucas and Peterson will buy the Peterson mill. I know that I have never regretted buying mine. It’s a good, solid, well-engineered machine. Easy to set up, tear down and move. I mostly work alone and can set it up in about one to two hours, depending on how level the terrain is.

David Emerson, New York, USA

I went to a demo of the Lucas and was about to buy one when I saw an ad for the Peterson in Sawmill Woodlot, called the 0800 number and they sent me a DVD. The quality of the machine was very clear. The winches both at the head end of the mill and no overhead cross link to duck under as the Lucas had. So I bought the Peterson. I have sawn a 32 x 36 barn for myself as well as assorted other lumber for the farm. Altogether a very nice basic portable mill and the people at Peterson are outstanding to work with on any problems or questions. (Additional feedback, received after David has been milling for over 12 years:) I think anyone who looks at both Lucas and Peterson will buy the Peterson mill. I know that I have never regretted buying mine. It’s a good, solid, well-engineered machine. Easy to set up, tear down and move. I mostly work alone and can set it up in about one to two hours, depending on how level the terrain is.

Thanks for a great mill and great staff

I wanted a mill that I could use by myself, that was low in maintenance, was accurate, durable, and that I didn’t have to have 2 or 3 people with me to run it. I own a tree farm and have been in the metal fabrication for 35 plus years. I was VERY pleased with the welds and workmanship of your mill. A friend of mine who is a woodworker just couldn’t believe how even my boards were in thickness and how smooth. Aluminum and stainless steel are not the easiest metals to work with. So I bought a Peterson. I want to thank all of you for a great mill. All of you have been very easy to get along with, answering questions and concerns and anything else. Please accept my thanks for a great mill and a great staff.

Ultimate Guide to the Best Portable Sawmill

From childhood it’s always been a dream to build our own home. specifically a timber frame house.

Call us dreamers, but we never gave up the hope.

A couple years ago we decided to purchase rural land and, among other things, begin learning to make our own lumber and beams.

We had dabbled with chainsaw mills to see if we could make it work and reduce cost. Did we forget to mention debt free was also part of the vision for this home?

While the chainsaw mill proved formidable, the sheer size and volume of beams and lumber needed made us realize if we wanted to mill a precise frame in a timely manner and with reasonable labor, we were going to need a portable sawmill of some kind.

We hope that this page can serve as a resource to others looking to do research on the best portable sawmill for their needs.

We’ll share which sawmill we chose, things we’ve learned from that choice and our experience with the sawmill so far… the good, bad and even downright ugly.

The Best Portable Sawmill: A Consideration Guide

If you’ve been researching portable sawmills for more than five minutes you’ve realized that portable sawmills can be had in many different sizes, configurations and even different designs.

Suffice it to say we’ve learned there is no such thing as the best portable sawmill; all sawmills have their pros and cons.

Here are some of the major considerations you’ll encounter when deciding which portable sawmill is right for you and your needs.

How will you be moving logs?

I’ve got a bomb to drop on you; LOGS ARE HEAVY.

When folks peeped our logs and then our portable sawmill they said, “You and what army and gonna get those up on that mill?”

Probably the first thing I’d ask someone looking to buy a mill wouldn’t be about the mill at all; It’d be about logs!

Our average log while milling our timber frame was a 20″ green Douglas Fir, 28 feet in length and weighed in at approximately 2000 lbs.

Have you ever tried to push a 20′ long car with cant hooks and knots on its wheels up a ramp? Good, now that we’re on the same page…

One major awakening that happened within a day of getting our mill was the sobering realization of moving logs to the mill.

Formerly, we’d only moved logs 30 yards or less using mostly block and tackle or let gravity to do the work.

Then we brought our chainsaw mill the log from which we could easily move the slabs we created.

Mind you, all we created was 1.5″ rough-sawn slabs. I doubt we could have carried anything over 2″ thick; slabs that thick are just too heavy, even for two people.

When you’re looking at a mill you first need to think about how the heck you’ll get the mill to the log like a trailer mounted mill with good road access or you’ll use heavy equipment.

Can you move logs by hand?

Unless you’ll be making very small lumber (under 8 feet in length) and working with logs under 20″ in diameter, moving by hand is not only a chore but physically dangerous!

You can do it, but do so with full disclosure!

Lumber mill band saw sharpener

Can you drag logs on the ground?

Dragging logs is a terrible idea.

If the bark is left on initially the bark can provide protection but you’ll be forced to debark the log before milling or risk doing crazy damage to your blade(s).

Debarking is a good idea anyway as bark is full of blade-gobbling matter.

If you can lift and carry the logs you can often get by without debarking which saves a lot of labor! Blades are cheap compared to a chiropractor.

Moving logs with equipment.

In the end, we opted to buy a backhoe.

This wasn’t exclusively for moving logs but for a host of things including building our home, snow removal and digging our water system to name a few.

Moving logs was high on the list, however.

Even for this 15,000 lb machine, a 28 foot long 24″ green Douglas Fir log proved formidable.

With practice we got it down to a few minutes to load a log without jarring the mill, risking injury or damaging our grapple.

What about log loading ramps and cant hooks?

When our mill first arrived we purchased log loading ramps which included cant hooks.

It took us ONE log to realize for our use, primarily beams for our timber frame home, this wasn’t just hard work, it was potentially lethal.

In one afternoon we had attempted to safely move a 20 foot 18″ green Larch (Tamarack) butt from our flatbed to the mill using ramps and scared ourselves silly.

One wrong move is all it takes.

Consider bringing the portable sawmill or chainsaw mill to the log.

If you can’t move logs then you’ll want to FOCUS on a mill that you can bring to the logs themselves.

For going-to-the-log applications we’d FOCUS on circular saws or chainsaw mills.

Their portability and ability to be set up in difficult locations make them a clear favorite.

Have equipment or small logs (under 16″)? Then a bandsaw mill might be just right!

There’s more to consider of course, but to get the most from a bandsaw mill being able to safely move logs is vital.

Keep in mind that having a mill in a fixed setup and moving the log is far more efficient overall. Moving the mill to the log has many inherent inefficiencies.

Plan to make lumber, beams or both?

The second question I’d ask someone looking to buy a mill would be about the primary use of the mill.

I say primary because most all mills are pretty versatile and can make a lot of cuts with some creativity.

It’s about what you plan to do day-to-day that really should be the FOCUS.

This will make it far less confusing when shopping for a mill as the different mills have clear strengths.

Bandsaw mills are great for large beams.

For us lumber is important, but not as important as the beams we’d be using to make our 36’x36′ Douglas Fir timber frame house.

What made this frame challenging to mill was the length of the longest timber at 27 feet (final dimension in the frame is 25 feet 6 inches, but we always over saw!).

This one fact put the circle saw family out of contention. For many of them the longest cutting length is 24 feet.

Then let’s look at the largest beam we’d need to cut at 8 inches by 15 inches.

Even for the largest, non-production circular sawmill available, 15 inches is a substantial cut and would require creativity to produce.

With a 10″ kerf you’d need to make two passes and hope they’re spot on!

We needed 8 of these pieces… So while it’s within the abilities of the circular mill, pieces this size are by no means a strength.

Most entry level bandsaw mills have no problem with this beams of this dimension.

For us the bandsaw mill with it’s “limitless” track extensions, ability to make large and long consistent cuts for the beams made it the clear winner.

The cost of the timbers made it very worthwhile for us to mill all our own beams.

Circular saws may be better for lumber.

For lumber production a bandsaw mill often requires more steps to produce lumber than a circular saw.

Additionally the circular sawmill can cut in both forward and back passes (bandsaw mills cut only on the forward pass) cutting operator fatigue in half.

There’s another perk to circular saws when it comes to smaller lumber under 10″.

Because of how the mills are designed, you can “flip” the blade from a vertical position to horizontal. This feature makes it possible to literally “carve” a laundry list of pieces out of a log.

On one pass you might want to harvest 8″ tall pieces. You only need two pieces of lumber say 2 inches by 8 inches, you could use maybe a couple 8 inch by 8 inch beams and maybe a couple 4 inch by 8 inch pieces you could later trim to 4 inch by 4 inch pieces.

That’s all doable quickly with the circular sawmill. The same cuts would take quite a bit more processing with a bandsaw mill.

For mass produced common dimensional lumber it would be a close tie.

The bandsaw mill would require more effort for the same product as the log must be rotated to make additional cuts.

Remember that the circular saw blade could “swing”? That ONE feature removes the need to re-position the log.

Length to be Milled

We’ll hit it again in case you jumped straight here!

For us, the primary use of our mill was to cut the timber frame for our home. Our longest timber was 27 feet.

Just this one fact put our needs outside those of even the largest non-production circular sawmills.

We were forced to FOCUS our research on bandsaw mills.With their “limitless” track designs you can cut to nearly any conceivable length.

Of course at some point the curve of the earth begins to become a factor…. you get the idea.

If you intend or at least need to have the option for long lengths, let’s say over 20 feet, you might want to consider a bandsaw mill.

Circular sawmills are however available and capable of cuts upwards of 25′, but you begin diminishing the strengths of that type of mill such as portability.

Width to be Milled

As we looked at the timbers needed for our mill we wanted to consider our largest timber.

This turned out to be our carrying beams measuring 8 inches by 15 inches.

While this is feasible with the larger, non-production circular sawmills, it would require creativity.

This just put one more vote for us in the bandsaw mill direction.

For most circular sawmills, the largest single pass cut depth, vertical or horizontal, is 10 inches.

If you’re looking to make mostly dimensional lumber or posts under 10 inches you’d be set.

Can you cut larger? Yes, but more effort and skill are needed and the process becomes a bit cumbersome.

Most bandsaw mills can easily handle cuts in the 28-inch range and the top-of-the-line mills can make 36-inch cuts.

Something worth noting is the design of the mill head, however.

So while a 36-inch cut is possible you will be limited on the depth of that cut.

Most mills have drive belts which have a cover that intersects the “throat” of the cut.

When cutting at maximum width you’ll be limited on depth.

Sorry guys, you can’t cut a 10 inch by 36 inch slab… DARN!

Here we’re not so much discussing slabbing. We’ll touch on that now!

Slab Work

Slabbing really is it’s own animal!

When we talk about choosing a sawmill most of us want some versatility.

Slabs, however, require a lot more thought and the right equipment to do well, creating quality pieces that have high value and maybe most importantly, reduce effort.

When most people are talking slabs, we’re looking at single pass cuts 36 inches and larger.

Most bandsaw mills aren’t set up for cuts this size.

Most max out around 36 inches and at that width their depth can be limited.

This is in part due to their inherent design and also somewhat attributable to physical limitations of the blade length.

There are people who have built massive slabbing bandsaw mills however, so it can be done!

For mills on the market, however, the selection gets quite narrow.

If your slabs are 36″ or less, bandsaw mill is a great option!

For a dedicated slab machine, or to keep your slabbing options open, a circular sawmill with a slabbing conversion can be a great option!

This opens the door to cut slabs up to 9 feet.

Wait, there are still logs out there that big?

SERIOUSLY! Gonna need a crane for that sucker!

Production Business vs. Hobby

When maintaining profitability matters, choosing the right mill takes on a whole new level of seriousness.

While side jobs and “favors” can be done with most any mill, profitability is often ignored.

Hands down, profitability often comes down to a couple of things: reducing labor and increasing production.

It really depends on your “niche” though.

Portability over complexity could be more profitable if you’re frequently milling on location.

Either way, bandsaw mills here really start to shine.

With features like hydraulic loading, hydraulic turning, debarkers, automated head drivers, programmable repeatable cuts and board returns much of the “heavy” lifting is done by the mill.

Quickly, any of the weaknesses of the bandsaw mill are equalized and production soars while operator fatigue drops.

With the ability to have the mill basically “set up” on a trailer the time it takes from arrival to milling is just a few minutes reducing “windshield time” and increasing billable time!

Expect to see handsome cost increases for features like those on a production mill, but this cost is quickly realized in profitability.

For hobby mills, maximum features at a budget friendly price point is often desirable.

For this you’ll once again find bandsaw mills shining bright.

Models are available that can be expanded as needed keeping the initial investment low.

These entry-level models often have less automation and require more effort to operate.

A tradeoff to reduce both purchase cost and also overall maintenance costs.

Portability, Mobility Setup

When discussing one feature of sawmills it’s hard not to touch on others because they’re all so intertwined.

We’ve touched on portability a couple times now when thinking about our ability to move, or not move, logs.

This also came up when we talked about running a business versus a hobby mill.

Portability can range from “toss it in the back of your pickup” to trailer-mounted with hydraulic stabilizers!

A host of factors need to to be considered.

For us we wanted… well, all of it!

We wanted to ability to anchor the mill for a prolong period of single-location milling as we cut our 118 piece timber frame from 55 logs.

After all that was done, the mill turned into a road block, restricting access and use of our property (only because we have yet to mount it to its trailer).

We also wanted the ability to travel to mill for ourselves and help others.

How to mill lumber with a band saw

Sometimes moving logs is much harder or less convenient than moving the mill.

For this reason we opted for a mill that can be mounted on a trailer as well as stand alone.

For “arrive and saw” operations the trailer mounted, tow behind, bandsaw mill is hard to beat.

Towable behind most full sized pickups (ya know to carry all the other stuff you’ll need to run a mobile mill!) and setup requiring under 15 minutes you can be milling more and assembling less.

If chasing logs that can’t be moved is your thing a circular sawmill is the way to go, but it’s quite a specialty and keep in mind that you’ll need special accessories to open the door to slabbing.

Why else would you go all that way to a log you can’t move?

Several mills offer a lower cost entry level stationary option with the ability to add a trailer package later.

As we always say, “Never say never!”

Milling Hardwoods

One of the trophy that belongs bandsaw mills is their narrow kerf at under 1/8″. Why is this so important? Two reasons!

WasteWe never saw it (no pun intended) coming, but we created a MOUNTAIN of sawdust with our chainsaw mill making lumber from just ONE pine tree.

We harvested enough lumber for our hot tub deck decking.

For every 4 boards we cut we turned one potential board into sawdust or about 20% waste. The kerf on our chainsaw, even with a narrow kerf ripping chain, is right at 3/8 inch.

The larger 10 inch circular saw mills feature a 5 tooth blade with a kerf at 1/4″.

The kerf on a properly “set” bandsaw blade is under 1/8″. 1/3 the kerf of our chainsaw mill and 1/2 of a circular saw mill!

Even with this “thin kerf” we still managed to create over 10 cubic yards of sawdust when milling the 55 logs that make up our timber frame.

WOW! Unless you’re in it for the sawdust, anything you can do to reduce waste is more lumber in your….uh…? Kiln. IN YOUR KILN!

Aside from a sharp blade/chain the next factor that dictates effort required is the width of the kerf.

With the chainsaw mill a “fast” cut on a 8′ long 16″ log took about 3 minutes.

That same cut with a sharp bandsaw blade would take under 30 seconds. E.F.F.O.R.T!

When you’re at this for 3 straight weeks, 12 hours a day, that effort becomes apparent VERY QUICK!

Using the same math it would have taken us approximately 4.5 MONTHS to mill our frame with a chainsaw mill!

And it would have been WAY less accurate.

NO. THANK. YOU!

Budget

Hands down bandsaw mills provide incredible value for the dollar!

Used units can be found for several hundred dollars.

Those on a budget can own a fantastic little mill.

High production, automated, feature rich models will require a much larger investment topping 70,000!

If that mill generates an income this investment will provide a healthy return for years or generations to come!

Circular saws are harder to acquire, often require more shipping and have an overall higher acquisition cost starting in the 8,000 range.

To be fair, an entry level circular sawmill is a formidable machine.

To gain access to the larger 10 inch circular saw mills expect a much larger price tag.

When contemplating budget consider a few things beyond the features.

What about upkeep, maintenance, repairs, warranty and resale?

All of those contribute to what the vehicle industry calls “true or total cost of ownership”.

It’s a way of looking at not just the price you’ll pay at the showroom, for example, but to actually operate, maintain and ultimately the price you’ll be able to fetch if you decide to sell.

Let’s just call these “intangibles”.

It’s not a secret that the companies who’ve been around for decades and their core business is sawmills are going to provide a better “after sale” experience.

Some of these companies even provide amazing support to second hand owners of their mills.

It’s really a tribute to their longevity when an early generation of their mill is still in operation.

What better way to build a legacy than to support these owners!

Often lower priced “hobby” mills come with little or no support, can be more difficult (or VERY DIFFICULT) to service, repair and maintain and resale value is weak for all the same reasons.

If your skill set leans toward DIY and you’re up for the challenge this might be less intimidating than someone who needs or wants a more “plug and play” mill.

Parts, Serviceability Warranty

Sawmills break. Fact. After-sale serviceability is perhaps more important than anything!

Hit something metallic in a log, break a belt or drop a log in the wrong spot, all real and common things that happen.

The ability to get your mill repaired and back in service without major headaches should be considered in the buying process.

The best companies don’t just make sawmills, they’ve got as many or more people dedicated to servicing, repairing and improving their products.

Some even keep all service records for customers so when they sell the mill the new owner has an entire service history.

Kinda like that guy who kept all his oil change receipts on that Honda Civic for 300,000 miles?

If you plan to use the mill professionally or operate VERY remote, having easy maintenance and serviceable parts on hand is imperative to success.

Downtime is money for any sawyer, but when parts are out of reach and the job must get done you won’t regret having a machine built with service in mind.

Then again if milling is your hobby, maybe grinding, welding and fabricating is too?

So if you love to tinker, all you need to know is will your grounding clamp fit on the steel! It is made of steel, right?

Blade Sharpening

Steel SHOULD not, in nearly every case, dull from exposure to wood.

However other things like heat (friction) and debris like rocks and dirt from moving logs, whether barked or not, will most certainly dull any blade over time.

Many sawyers lament that they went all day on a blade and then all of a sudden hit something and BAM; the blade was dulled in an instant.

An all too common experience with sawing logs.

Sharpening is probably the most frequent and most challenging maintenance required to keep your mill running cool, cutting accurately and productivity high.

Bandsaw blades requires an additional process called “setting” the teeth.

This establishes a slight opposing bend to alternating teeth establishing the “kerf” to be slightly thicker than the blade to prevent binding during cutting.

This needs to be done each time the blade is sharpened and must be very consistent.

Inconsistent “set” will create inconsistent and undesirable cuts.

Thankfully the cost of sharpening for bandsaw blades is quite affordable to have done professionally by a service like Woodmizer ReSharp.

At around 7 per blade you simply ship the blades in a box, they sharpen, set and ship them back to you in about a week.

Blades that have excessive damage or are at end-of-life are simply recycled.

We purchased two boxes (15 each box) of blades.

Once we consumed the first box (cut over 20 logs) we sent it in for sharpening and used the second box in the mean time.

If you’re sawing constantly like we were we’d go through a box in about a week, roughly the time it takes to send in a box for sharpening.

Circular saw blades can be sharpened on the mill by the owner with jigs provided by the saw manufacturer.

Keep in mind that circular blades have a much higher overall cost than bandsaw blades.

Hitting something like a rock, spike, fencing or conduit (yes, people hang conduit on trees!) can render a blade junk, beyond sharpening.

If you plan to be sawing logs or materials that have a high probability of containing debris then a bandsaw might be the only way to go due to reduce blade cost.

Engine Type Altitude

The second you’ve committed to which platform you’ll choose, bandsaw or circular saw, you’ll suddenly realize there are now many more options that must be chosen.

One of the biggest decisions, and hardest to later change, will be engine type and power output.

Currently the most common power plants available are single and two-cylinder four stroke gasoline engines ranging from 10hp up to 25hp.

Some companies do offer a single cylinder two stroke diesel option on some mill models.

Electric models are also available if you’ll be installing your mill near a power supply.

When looking at power plant options consider blade width, production speed, hardwoods, longevity and NOISE!

You’ll want to take your time considering where you plan to saw (altitude reduces power) as well as noise (urban nor suburban milling might restrict decibels allowed) before making your selection.

We chose the 25HP Kohler on our mill for it’s excellent cost/value/power/efficiency balance.

We can saw large logs, at higher altitudes (above 5000′ above seal level) and maintenance costs are very low.

Noise is acceptable and we aren’t anticipating excessively high hours of operation over it’s lifetime.

Portable Bandsaw Sawmills

Ease of loading
Ease of transport
Availability very good new and used units
Longest milling length
Deepest / Widest single pass cut upwards of 36″ wide and 16″ deep
Available diesel engine
Blades are affordable, quick easy to replace
Very narrow kerf 1/8″ or less
Hydraulic systems available to increase production, reduce labor
Hook up and tow portability
Available automated milling features
Production speed making lumber
Production speed creating wide mix of output from single log (2×4, 4×4, 4×6 etc)
Moving large or old growth logs onto mill can be impossible
Blade sharpening not easy for mill owner
Sensitive to foundation, easy to mis-calibrate
labor to operate (rotate log, cuts only on forward pass)

Portable Circular Sawmills

Ease of sharpening, can be done by mill owner
High production, cuts in both directions
Creates “circle sawn” look, which is value added
Set mill up around massive logs, mill in place, no need to move log
Production speed creating wide mix of output from single log (2×4, 4×4, 4×6 etc)
Less labor, no rotating log to make cuts
Available slabbing attachment for up to 60″ wide slabs
Availability
Length of cut limited to 18′. Longer length compromises portability./li
Depth of cut limited by diameter of circular saw, often 10″ or less in single cut
Portability and Setup
Thicker kerf = more waste, more effort
Blades are costly if damaged by metal or stones in logs

Extras Bonuses

Look for Demo Models

Many manufacturers attend regional events open to the public including agriculture shows, home shows, construction trade shows and logging conferences.

At these shows they offer demonstrations and a chance to test some of their equipment.

It is common that the units used at a show are available for sale at a reduce rate given their previous use, but have all the same warranty benefits of a new machine.

Event Specials

At those same shows it’s common to find show specials offering a reduced price for sales made at the show. Just ask!

Refurbished Portable Sawmills

Many of the companies who’ve been around for many years have units that either were leased, sold with financing and later had to be reclaimed due to default or a customer may have returned a mill shortly after purchase for one reason or another.

These mills are then serviced and available for sale with a limited warranty. They probably sell fast though!

Buy Used (From Someone Wanting to Upgrade)

Many first time sawyers start small and over time either find themselves wanting to pursue sawing professionally or their needs change and are looking to upgrade.

Sales reps have such a close relationship with their clients that they might be aware of someone who is ready to upgrade once their current mill is sold.

Just ask if someone knows of someone looking to upgrade!

Call Local Dealer Ask About People Who Want to Sell

There are times when a mill is for sale but maybe the owner doesn’t know much about it or would rather let someone else handle the sale.

Kind of like a consignment.

Whether a family member is deceased or maybe someone is simply too busy this can be a great way to find a used machine not listed elsewhere.

Must-Have Portable Sawmill Accessories

Equipment / tools to move logs
3000 lb Log Grapple
Bed extensions if you’ll be milling long logs
Trailer package if you plan to mobile mill without requiring disassembly
2 (yes 2) Cant hooks. One person can create more force with two hooks. Less damage. Less effort.
Laser Level to level long logs or logs with lots of taper
Log ramps if you don’t have equipment
Taper wedge (prevent log from rolling off mill and help adjust/hold tapered end)
C clamps to prevent taper wedge from moving on bed
Spare blades
Spare belts
Engine cover
Hour meter, if one isn’t included to aid in maintenance intervals
Blade tension alignment tool
Blade tension gauge
Belt tension adjustment tool
Operation manual
Various wrenches for retightening and adjusting mill
Impact driver to speed up assembly or maintenance
Framing square for marking beam on butt cut
Loggers tape measure for quickly measuring long logs and log diameter
Large air compressor to remove sawdust from track, drivebelts and head height adjustments
Wood stickers to stack lumber and beams
Chainsaw to cut up and remove waste slab wood for firewood or chipping
Board foot or cant size calculators for maximizing log yield
Moisture meter to monitor drying
Quality construction work clothes that can stand up to sawmilling

10 Bandsaw Mill Tricks for EASY ACCURATE Cuts

Blow off entire track after each cut
Slow down on your first two cuts, make sure they’re square. Less waste. Less effort.
Square off the mill deck for accuracy
Fasten or secure the mill to prevent frequent mis-calibration moving logs
Change your blade right before your final cuts
Calibrate the mill before final cuts
Push cants off the mill forward to process into firewood
Think ahead about what lumber you’ll actually use down the road, instead of making random thickness cuts
When decking logs, place log butts at the mill head end for easier leveling
Use a floor jack to raise tapered end to centerline to maximize usable board footage
Keep in mind your mill head max cutting diameter includes cruck, taper, bow and knots!

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While we enjoy sawmilling and timber framing, most of our time is spent doing other tasks on the build such as icf construction, installing our radiant floor heating, drilling concrete, soaking in our diy hot tub… you get the idea Learn about our entire build here.

Sources:

https://www.yorksaw.com/guide-to-sawmills/
https://www.logosol.us/store/portable-sawmills/Band-sawmills/
https://petersonsawmills.com/amp/
https://kerfonline.com/portable-sawmills/