Guide to Portable Swing Blade Sawmills. Portable circular saw mill

US6128994A. One man circular saw mill. Google Patents

Publication number US6128994A US6128994A US09/106,832 US10683298A US6128994A US 6128994 A US6128994 A US 6128994A US 10683298 A US10683298 A US 10683298A US 6128994 A US6128994 A US 6128994A Authority US United States Prior art keywords log circular saw saw support frame carriage Prior art date 1997-07-01 Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.) Expired. Fee Related Application number US09/106,832 Inventor Raleigh Hurtle Phelps Original Assignee Phelps; Raleigh Hurtle Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.) 1997-07-01 Filing date 1998-06-29 Publication date 2000-10-10 Priority claimed from US5137597P external-priority 1998-06-29 Application filed by Phelps; Raleigh Hurtle filed Critical Phelps; Raleigh Hurtle 1998-06-29 Priority to US09/106,832 priority Critical patent/US6128994A/en 2000-10-10 Application granted granted Critical 2000-10-10 Publication of US6128994A publication Critical patent/US6128994A/en 2018-06-29 Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical Status Expired. Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

• 241000763859 Dyckia brevifolia Species 0.000 claims description 34
• 241000282472 Canis lupus familiaris Species 0.000 claims description 18
• 229910000746 Structural steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
• 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 4
• 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 description 4
• 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
• 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 2
• 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
• 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
• 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 2

Images

Classifications

• B — PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
• B27 — WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
• B27B — SAWS FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; COMPONENTS OR ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
• B27B29/00 — Gripping, clamping, or holding devices for the trunk or log in saw mills or sawing machines; Travelling trunk or log carriages
• B27B29/08 — Trunk or log carriages with gripping means designed to pass the saw blade(s), especially for Band saws; Arrangement of gripping accessories thereon; Turning devices thereon
• B27B29/10 — Assemblies for laterally adjusting or controlling the clamping or turning devices with respect to the thickness of the board to be sawn

• B — PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
• B27 — WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
• B27B — SAWS FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; COMPONENTS OR ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
• B27B7/00 — Sawing machines working with circular saw blades, specially designed for length sawing of trunks

• Y — GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
• Y10 — TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
• Y10T — TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
• Y10T83/00 — Cutting
• Y10T83/202 — With product handling means
• Y10T83/2074 — Including means to divert one portion of product from another
• Y10T83/2077 — By kerf entering guide

• Y — GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
• Y10 — TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
• Y10T — TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
• Y10T83/00 — Cutting
• Y10T83/222 — With receptacle or support for cut product

• Y — GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
• Y10 — TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
• Y10T — TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
• Y10T83/00 — Cutting
• Y10T83/748 — With work immobilizer
• Y10T83/7487 — Means to clamp work

• Y — GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
• Y10 — TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
• Y10T — TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
• Y10T83/00 — Cutting
• Y10T83/768 — Rotatable disc tool pair or tool and carrier
• Y10T83/7684 — With means to support work relative to tool[s]
• Y10T83/7693 — Tool moved relative to work-support during cutting

• Y — GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
• Y10 — TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
• Y10T — TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
• Y10T83/00 — Cutting
• Y10T83/768 — Rotatable disc tool pair or tool and carrier
• Y10T83/7755 — Carrier for rotatable tool movable during cutting
• Y10T83/7763 — Tool carrier reciprocable rectilinearly
• Y10T83/7776 — With means to reciprocate carrier
• Y10T83/778 — And means to rotate tool

Abstract

The circular saw mill has an engine driven circular saw on a carriage. The carriage has a table that catches the sawn lumber and caries it back to the operator. The saw mill is laid out so one man can operate the mill, which eliminates the necessity for extra help. The set works for the saw mill has a hand lever at the operator station so the operator can advance the log towards the saw, controlling the thickness of the board to be cut. The log is held in a position for cutting by conventional dog asssemblies. The carriage is moved by a conventional chain and sprocket mounted on a hydraulic motor powered by a hydraulic power unit.

Description

A screening search was run by Richard C. Litman, Registered Patent Attorney, and the following patents were discovered:

4,753,144 06/28/88 May 5,036,738 08/06/91 May 5,046,391 09/10/91 Lewis et al. 5,109,899 05/05/92 Henderickson 5,568,759 10/29/96 Peterson

Owners of tree farms want to maximise their return on investment in land and labor growing the trees. Owners of relatively small scale tree farms, under 500 acres for example, have a problem in maximising their returns on investments if they sell the trees directly to saw mills, or indirectly through logging contractors. Logging contractors usually want to clear cut, as opposed to selectively cut timber. Harvesting a few trees at a time is not of interest to most logging contractors.

Existing saw mill technology is such there is not an efficient one man saw mill. By this is meant that there is not, presently, a saw mill that can be efficiently operated by one man. Small mills exist, that are somewhat efficient, but they are typically set up so that for efficient operation, as many as four men would be required. The four men would include a sawyer, a log turner, and two men loading and unloading lumber. While devices exist for automating some of those functions requiring the manpower, those devices are expensive. Without an efficient one man saw mill, an owner of a relatively small scale tree farm cannot selectively harvest individual trees and process them into lumber in an efficient manner. Also, the extra help required for efficient operation of existing small mills increase the possibility of accidents. The kind of extra help an owner of a relatively small scale tree farm is able to hire is not necessarily the most safety conscious help available on the labor market.

Mills exist that use Band saws as well as electric motor driven saw blades. Limitations to Band saw blades includes a relatively short service life between sharpenings as compared to circular saws. Circular saws are much faster than Band saws. Also, many people, such as the Amish, do not favor electricity.

As will be seen in the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, these and other deficiencies in the prior art are overcome.

The present invention is a circualr saw mill operable by one person wherein an engine powered circular saw is mounted on a carriage that includes a platform for catching boards or slabs as they are sawn from a stationary log. The carriage mounted circular saw is moved through the log to saw slabs or boards from the log. The platform on the carriage catches the board or slab as it is sawn from the log. When the carriage returns to the operator of the saw mill, the operator can unload the sawn wood from the carriage as convenient.

FIG. 2 is a top view looking diagonally down on the present invention showing a log secured by dogs laying on blocks with a portion of the log being sawed off.

FIG. 3 shows a log secured by dogs laying on blocks with the sawn board laying on a lumber table which is returning to the operator.

FIG. 4 is a breakaway end view of a portion of a saw mill showing the blocks and uprights with a flat face end view of a log secured to an upright by the dog as the saw makes contact with the log.

FIG. 5 is the front end view of the same part of the saw mill as in FIG. 3, showing a log with a slab removed from two sides leaving two flat parallel surfaces with one surface laying on the blocks and the other at the top secured with a dog as the saw makes contact with the log.

FIGS. 1 through 5 show the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a one man circular saw mill. The saw mill comprises a carriage frame 5 which is mounted on wheels 3 which ride on tracks 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the carriage frame 5 comprises a circular saw assembly 40 which comprises an engine 1, a small pulley 2, a large pulley 4, a saw shaft 6, a lumber table 24, a saw guide 21, a circular saw blade 7, a lumber splitter 23, and bearings 31. The bearings 31 are used to mount the saw shaft 6 horizontally on the carriage frame 5. The circular saw blade 7 is mounted on one end of the shaft 6 and secured by an inside stationary collar 27 (Ref. FIG. 4) and a removable collar 28 (Ref. FIG. 5) on the outside of the saw blade 7 secured by a large nut 29 (Ref. FIG. 4).

The crux of the invention is the carriage 5 with the lumber table 24 which catches each piece of lumber as it is sawn and then carries the lumber back to an operator as the operator is positioning the carriage 5 with the circular saw assembly 40 for the next saw cut through a log. The sawed off piece of lumber falls naturally in place on the lumber table 24 as it is sawn from the log. The operator controls everything from his station near a hand lever 17, except for installing a log into the dog assemblies 10 as required. Means of setting, holding, and positioning the log, and the means of transporting the carriage 5 are not inventive in themselves, but are detailed in this specifictation to provide sufficient information for one skilled in the art to duplicate what is required to support the invention and make it work efficiently. The circular saw assembly 40 on the carriage 5 along with the table 24, powered by an engine, sawing through and catching lumber as it is sawn from a log held stationary is unique. An arrow shows the direction of rotation of the circular saw blade 7 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. This is a safety precaution to preclude lumber thrown by the circular saw blade 7 in the direction of the operator. This is fast and efficient as compared to the prior art discussed earlier.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show that blocks 8 are mounted high enough on a frame 12 to allow the end of the saw shaft 6, the large nut 29, and the removable saw collar 28 to pass under the beveled end of the blocks 8 when the circular saw assembly 40 is moved through the log to make a cut. A saw guide 21 is mounted on the carriage frame 5 at the front of the circular saw blade 7 which prevents lateral movement of the circular saw blade 7 when it is cutting a line. At the back edge of the circular saw blade 7 is the lumber splitter 23 which is a knife type lumber splitter, thin on the front edge, 3.5 inches wide and 12 inches high and aligned with the circular saw blade 7 so as to enter the kerf just made by the circular saw blade 7, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The flat surface of the lumber splitter 23 is against the log with the thicker part at the back edge keeping the board away from the saw teeth.

FIG. 3 shows a board which has been sawed off laying on the lumber table 24 which is mounted on the carriage frame 5. When the carriage frame is returned to the operator end for another cut, this lumber is carried back for removal by the operator. The operator end is the same end as a ratchet wheel 18 shown to the right of the FIG. 3. A large pulley 4 is mounted on the opposite end of the saw shaft 6 which is being driven by a smaller pulley 2 secured to the engine 1 shaft by a key and setscrew, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Power is transferred from the small pulley 2 to the large pulley 4 by V belts, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Logs are supported by a log support frame 12 constructed of heavy gauge angle iron in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The log support frame 12 is rectangular standing on upright support members 25 secured to a frame of like construction at the bottom. All corners at the bottom have right angles with the upright square and plumb, having cross members 26 to maintain its stance. The log support frame 12 is located parallel to and on a common plane to the track 22. The log support frame is located along a track 22 at a place which allows the carriage frame 5 to move back far enough to the operator end to leave a space between the circular saw blade 7 and an end of a log. A rail 19 is secured at the top of the log support frame 12 on the side next to the carriage frame 5 under which a roller 20 runs which is secured to the carriage frame 5 to prevent any vertical movement of the carriage frame 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cutting blocks 8 are mounted on the top of the frame 12 with the back end block 8 being slideable to allow for logs of different lengths. Each of two dog assemnblies 10 moves vertically up or down on an upright 9. The part of the dog assembly 10 that engages a log to hold it secure while sawing can be moved in or out horizontally to the needed position determined by the size of the log. The blocks 8 have a hole (Ref. FIGS. 4 and 5) bored through both sides at the back through which a long shaft 13 is inserted. Each block 8 has an upright portion 9 which is L shaped, having a groove on each side at its (9) base which runs the full length of the base of the upright portion 9 on the outside. A lever 11 attached to the uprights 9 can be moved back and forth to adjust the block 8 to compensate for log taper. A tongue runs the full length of the block 8 on the inside portion at the top at the flat surface with one tongue on each side. These mate with the groove on the bottom part of the upright portion 9 allowing the upright portion 9 to slide back and forth on the block 8. There is also a rack on the bottom side of the upright portion 9. Just below the grooves reaching the full length of the upright portion 9, the racks engage the pinion which is mounted in each block 8 on the shaft 13 with a key in a keyway. The keyway runs the length of the shaft 13 and the shaft 13 goes through each block 8. Thus when the shaft 13 is turned the upright portion 9 will move back or forth on the blocks 8. The front block 8 is welded in place which prevents any movement of the block 8 which would allow it to move out in front of the circular saw blade 7. The back block 8 has a guide welded to it (8) onto the bottom side against the parallel rails. The guide is at both ends of the block 8, allowing the block 8 to be slideable but preventing any lateral movement of the block 8.

Setworks 15, mounted on a setworks frame 14 which is constructed of a heavy gauge of angle iron, is a ratchet type system operated by manually pulling a hand lever 17. It has a bearing surface graduated in 1/4 inch increments with a hole and movable pin at each gradation. A slidable stop on the bearing surface stops the movement of the hand lever 17 when it comes to rest against the pin. The hand operated ratchet wheel 18 located on the end of the shaft 13 at the setworks 15 moves back the uprights 9 on the blocks 8. The shaft 13 extends through the hole 30 (Ref. FIGS. 4 and 5), provided in the blocks 8 and through the ratchet wheel 18 in the setworks 15 which is secured to the shaft 13 by a key and setscrew. On the shaft 13 inside each of the blocks 8 the pinion with a key in the keyway meshes with a rack on the bottom of the uprights 9. When the hand lever 17 is pulled, pawls in the lever assembly 16, engage the ratchet wheel 18 and the ends of the pawls drop into grooves on the ratchet wheel. This is how the log is moved out in front of the circular saw blade 7 so that the desired thickness is sawed.

While not shown in the drawings, a safety panel should be mounted at the operator end of the saw mill to reduce the possibility of the operator coming into contact with the saw.

Not shown in the drawings is a prior art drive for the carriage, which in the preferred embodiment of the invention is a hydraulic motor, powered by a small engine driven power unit, which has a sprocket and chain arrangement for moving said carraige back and forth. A conventional hydraulic gear or vane pump controlled by a directional valve suffices for direction and speed control.

As stated earlier in this specification, the crux of the invention is the carriage 5 with the lumber table 24 which catches each piece of lumber as it is sawn and carries it back to the operator as the operator is positioning the carriage 5, which also carries the circular saw assembly 40, for the next saw cut through a log. The operator controls everything from his station near the hand lever 17, except for installing a log into the dog assemblies 10 as required. The present invention makes it possible for a small tree farmer to cut lumber on a commercial basis with a minimum of investment and without hiring labor. With only one person operating the mill, as opposed to four as a usual miminum for other small mills, it is a much safer operation, as the operator only has to worry about himself, not about other people getting in the way. Experience is a major factor in working safely. Inexperienced help, which is often the best a small scale operator can afford, tends to be accident prone.

These descriptions and drawings were taken from a prototype which meets the objective, which is to provide a circular saw mill that can be efficiently operated by one person. It is to be understood that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Although the description above contains some specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.

Claims ( 4 )

a log support frame located parallel to the tracks for holding a log in a stationary position, said log support frame including a guide rail extending parallel to the tracks;

a saw carriage driven longitudinally, between an operator end and a cut end, along the tracks in parallel with the log held stationary in the log support frame, said saw carriage including a roller for engaging the guide rail of the log support frame for preventing vertical movement of the saw carriage;

an engine powered circular saw assembly mounted on the saw carriage, wherein the engine powered circular saw assembly includes a circular saw blade and a lumber splitter for producing vertical cuts along the log held stationary in the log support frame for producing lumber pieces in various thicknesses;

a lumber table positioned alongside the circular saw assembly for catching the lumber pieces produced by the vertical cuts of the log; and

a means for mounting the lumber table to the saw carriage such that the lumber table moves with the saw carriage for delivering the lumber pieces to the operator when the saw carriage returns to the operator end.

The circular saw mill of claim 1, further comprising a large pulley mounted to a saw shaft of the circular saw blade and a small pulley mounted to an output shaft of an engine of the engine powered circular saw assembly.

The circular saw mill of claim 1, further comprising wheels mounted on the saw carriage for guiding the saw carriage along the tracks and a holding mechanism for securely holding the log on the log support frame.

setworks mounted to the log support frame at the operator end of the circular saw mill for adjusting the thickness of the lumber pieces to be cut, wherein the setworks includes an elongated shaft extending the length of the log support frame, a ratchet wheel and a hand lever;

a pair of support blocks mounted on a top side of the log support frame, wherein each of the blocks include a hole for receiving the elongated shaft, wherein the shaft includes pinions located in the blocks;

a pair of uprights extending vertically from the top side of the log support frame and slidably mounted in the support blocks, wherein each of the uprights include a rack for engaging the pinions on the shaft in the blocks;

wherein movement of the hand lever rotates the shaft such that the uprights are moved toward and away from the circular saw assembly thereby adjusting the thickness of the lumber pieces to be cut.

Family

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US20040244555A1 ( en )	2003-04-08	2004-12-09	Keuro Besitz Gmbh Co.	Circular saw machine
US20050268765A1 ( en )	2004-06-04	2005-12-08	Chun-Jen Chien	Reciprocal bi-directional table saw
US20070095179A1 ( en )	2005-10-28	2007-05-03	Mccarty Michael J	Systems and methods for cutting woven blinds
US20070163408A1 ( en )	2006-01-17	2007-07-19	Buck William C	Table saw guard
US20070186739A1 ( en )	2006-02-16	2007-08-16	Eastway Fair Company Limited Of Trident Chambers	Riving knife clamp for a table saw
US20080105335A1 ( en )	2006-11-03	2008-05-08	Martin Janzen	Method and apparatus for profiling a log for use in building timber or log homes
US20100206436A1 ( en )	2009-02-17	2010-08-19	Cordell Henry L	Method and Apparatus for Turning a Log for Processing in a Sawmill
US20110203702A1 ( en )	2010-02-24	2011-08-25	Errol Sheehy	Gauge and frame for a portable sawmill to make wooden box culvert
US20120042756A1 ( en )	2010-08-18	2012-02-23	Advanced Machine Engineering Co.	Saw blade stabilizer and method
RU2526558C2 ( en )	2012-09-18	2014-08-27	Кирилл Геннадьевич Кашкаров	Radial saw machine with rotary saw disc
US20150000493A1 ( en )	2013-06-29	2015-01-01	Mark Fianza Boseman	Table saw traversing mechanism
US9266249B1 ( en )	2014-06-09	2016-02-23	Harvey E. Moore	Wood cutting machine
US20160257021A1 ( en )	2015-03-06	2016-09-08	Chao-Ying LEE	Self-Contained Docking Arrangement for Head Saw Machine
CN106003252A ( en )	2016-06-29	2016-10-12	湖州拓高机械有限公司	Floor surface archaizing treatment equipment
RU209382U1 ( en )	2021-08-30	2022-03-15	Сергей Николаевич Пеильев	LOG SAW MACHINE
RU209686U1 ( en )	2021-08-30	2022-03-18	Сергей Николаевич Пеильев	LOG SAW MACHINE

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US7127978B2 ( en )	2003-04-08	2006-10-31	Keuro Besitz Gmbh Co. Edv-Dienstleistungs Kg	Circular saw machine
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US8695465B2 ( en )	2010-08-18	2014-04-15	Advanced Machine Engineering Co.	Saw blade stabilizer and method
RU2526558C2 ( en )	2012-09-18	2014-08-27	Кирилл Геннадьевич Кашкаров	Radial saw machine with rotary saw disc
US20150000493A1 ( en )	2013-06-29	2015-01-01	Mark Fianza Boseman	Table saw traversing mechanism
US9266249B1 ( en )	2014-06-09	2016-02-23	Harvey E. Moore	Wood cutting machine
US20160257021A1 ( en )	2015-03-06	2016-09-08	Chao-Ying LEE	Self-Contained Docking Arrangement for Head Saw Machine
US9707693B2 ( en )	2015-03-06	2017-07-18	Chao-Ying LEE	Self-contained docking arrangement for head saw machine
CN106003252A ( en )	2016-06-29	2016-10-12	湖州拓高机械有限公司	Floor surface archaizing treatment equipment
RU209382U1 ( en )	2021-08-30	2022-03-15	Сергей Николаевич Пеильев	LOG SAW MACHINE
RU209686U1 ( en )	2021-08-30	2022-03-18	Сергей Николаевич Пеильев	LOG SAW MACHINE

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Legal Events

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

Effective date: 20121010

Guide to Portable Swing Blade Sawmills

Swing blade sawmill technology was introduced in 1988 in New Zealand by inventor Carl Peterson. There are now several swing blade mill manufacturers all over the world. The technology of these mills is gaining in popularity and the industry is growing.

Swing Blade technology works similar to Band sawmills in that a movable head travels along a track to cut a stationary log. It uses a circular blade that swings from a vertical position to a horizontal position. This feature allows the sawyer to cut while moving the head in both directions, thus increasing production over a similar size Band sawmill.

Production Capabilities

Production on swing blade sawmills seems to outpace similar sized Band sawmills most of the time. This is in part due to the fact that you can cut in both directions with a swing blade mill. Another factor is that the log does not need to be rolled once the cutting starts. This is important for momentum—if you have to stop sawing to turn the log, you lose momentum.

The amount of yield per log is also increased with a swing blade sawmill. You can cut a log with precision, it is like dismantling the log instead of slicing it. By edging the boards as you cut them you can maximize your output. This is something that you have to see for yourself to understand fully. It is recommended that you watch one of the many swing blade sawmill videos on the web showing one of these machines at work.

Cutting Capacity

It is tougher to cut small logs on some swing blade sawmills. Big logs are where they really earn their keep. You can cut the log where it lays by setting up the machine over the log. This eliminates the need to roll the log onto the bed of the mill.

One caveat is that you are more limited in the size of lumber you can cut with one of these mills. Maximum lumber sizes range from 4” x 8” to 24” x 24” depending on the make and model you choose. Many manufacturers offer a slabbing attachment which consists of a bar and chain like a chainsaw to cut wide slabs. The downside to this is speed—the barn and chain cut slower because it has a thicker blade. This makes more resistance and takes more energy to make the cut.

Saw Blades and Kerf

The saw kerf on a swing blade mill is thicker than on a Band sawmill. There is a trade-off with this, in that more sawdust is produced but the kerf is thinner than on stationary circular sawmills. You must determine if you are more concerned with accuracy or saw kerf.

The circular blade on a swing blade mill has carbide teeth, so it will stay sharp longer and can be sharpened without removing the blade from the mill. Replacement blades are rather expensive, but they will last a very long time. It is best at cutting timber that is clean. If you cut a lot of logs that could contain metal, it would be best to go with a Band sawmill instead.

Price and Resale Value

Swing blade mill can range from 6,000 to 40,000 depending on the model and options you choose and they retain their value very well. You can expect to sell a well maintained used mill for anywhere between 70% and 90% of its original price.

Portability

Most makes and models of swing blade mills can be transported in an 8′ bed of a pickup. They break down so they can be carried to the log even if there is no vehicle access to the log. This is great if you have to cut the log where the tree was cut, such as in a backyard or out in the wilderness. The saw head can be heavy to carry, so portability is limited to how far you can carry the saw head.

Portable circular saw mill

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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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When ordering online, we will get back to you with a shipping cost after your order has been placed. You will have a chance to approve or disapprove the shipping amount before your order will be shipped.

Copyright © 1989. 2015 LOGOSOL AB (Head Quarters)

Fox Forestry (Based in Maine) | 1504 Happytown Orland, Maine 04472 | Telephone: 1 (207)667-6703 | foxforestry@logosol.us

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Portable Sawmills. What Should You Buy?

Steve Nix is a natural resources consultant and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. He is a member of the Society of American Foresters.

Portable sawmill manufacturers are thriving in today’s economy. There are nearly 80 brands of mills represented and sold in the United States and Canada. There are over 200 companies producing components and accessories. Do-it-yourself sawmills are attracting more and more people. and people have a real penchant for cutting their own trees or finding salvage trees and sawing lumber from them.

The timber owner who wants to saw his or her own lumber for personal use can purchase from a large list of portable mills. Also, people who want to saw commercially, both part time and full time, are buying mills by the thousands. Every potential buyer has a unique set of specifications that will determine how much of a mill is needed and what type of a mill should be purchased. These specs influence both the price, the accessories, and design of the sawmill.

Daily users need a different mill than a person sawing part-time or in his private forest. A mill that provides an income should be of a different quality with different specifications than a weekend mill used to saw personal lumber. Sawmilling is physically demanding and the right machine should be purchased that will give some advantage to the inevitable stress and strain on the machine and the user.

We have compiled a list of helpful sites including sawmill dealers, service companies and much more.

What Will You Cut?

You always should determine the log size and product you want to cut before selecting a mill! A mismatch of mill to log and/or products can cause you much aggravation and can wind up costing you money and wasted raw material.

The log diameter and length of the average tree you intend to use should determine the size of mill you purchase. A mill designed for large logs just may not handle small logs the way you want. The expense of a larger mill may be more than you need to pay. On the other hand, a mill too small can be easily damaged by large logs and will waste both your time and valuable wood. Mismatched mills can also be very dangerous.

The products and tree species that you want to cut also need to be considered when choosing a sawmill. The importance of the amount of wood lost to sawdust (kerf) increases with the value of the wood you intend to cut. Chainsaw mills generally have a kerf of about.40 inches; circular sawmills have a kerf that ranges from.20 to.30 inches; bandmills have the smallest kerf of between.06 to.12 inches.

Size of Operation

Total mill production should be a major determining factor for the kind of sawmill you purchase. A hobby sawyer does not need a mill that is capable of producing 20,000 board feet per day, seven days a week.

An income producing mill has to have production capacity capability as well as durability. In most cases, you would use a circular saw rig for production efficiency. Band mills are “kerf” (loss of wood to sawdust with each pass) efficient and cut out as much as 20% more wood than circular saws. However, all but the most expensive Band mills are slow producers and should be avoided if production is important.

You have to remember that the price you pay for a mill is in direct proportion to the production of the mill. Most portable sawmill manufacturers are quite frank about the production realities of their mills. Some manufacturers will give you the names of some of their customers for you to talk with. You definitely need to talk to other users!

Generally, the less expensive the mill, the lower the production. New portable sawmills range in price from less than 4,000.00 to over 80,000.00 depending on the amount of production you need.

Hydraulics

Hydraulics make sawing easier and faster. That’s a simple fact.

But they can add thousands of dollars to the cost of a sawmill. To some people, hydraulics are absolutely necessary because they minimize log handling time which increases production and they also take the back-breaking work out of sawing. Hydraulics can reduce manual labor, the need for extra equipment, and maybe even money.

It comes down to buying a mill with hydraulic loading arms as compared to running a front-end loader; employing hydraulic turners vs. using cant hooks; Running hydraulic or motorized feed-works vs. manually pushing the saw. The degree of mechanization is a major issue when sizing up a mill.

Accessories

Most portable sawmills come with some accessories. However, you will be tempted with the trailer package, with extra bands or bits and shanks, with sharpening systems, with a sawyer’s seat. you get the picture. These accessories can add major costs to the sawmill. Many times they are necessary but sometimes they are not, depending on your type of operation.

An automatic sharpener/setter system for Band blades normally costs a couple of thousand dollars. Some sawyers find that sharpening their own blades is the most cost-effective way to operate; some send their blades to a sharpening service (roughly 6.00-8.00 per blade including shipping costs); some people simply dispose of their blades after 4 or 5 hours of usage. Your production requirements will determine which of the three options is the best for you.

Buying a Band Mill

Band mills are very popular and lead in portable mill sales. Here is what Sawmill Exchange suggests are the choices and price ranges on popular Band mills:

• Manual: The least expensive. They have no labor-saving hydraulic features which increase the amount of work you must do. New models with a trailer package generally cost between 4,000.00 and 9,000.00.
• Power Feed: The blade is mechanically powered into the cut, but you must load and turn the logs manually. New models with a trailer package generally cost between 9,000.00 to 14,000.00
• Fully Hydraulic: This category of portable sawmills features the most labor-saving devices that minimize the workload and maximize production. The more expensive models normally have larger power units and other accessories designed for higher daily production. New models with a trailer package generally cost between 16,000.00 and 32,000.00.
• High Production: These mills are designed for professionals and normally require a higher level of expertise. They offer specialized features designed for higher production sawing, such as high-powered engines, wider bands, and more productive log and lumber handling equipment. New models with a trailer package generally cost between 35,000.00 to over 100,000.00.

Take wood milling to the next level with one of these high-performance tools.

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Sooner or later, homesteaders and folks who regularly convert trees into usable (and valuable) lumber may wish to own a portable sawmill. These devices consist of a track that clamps onto a log, allowing the user to make straight cuts accurately. While chainsaw mills are a cost-effective option for modest-size logs and low production, serious sawing demands a step up in scale.

Fortunately, there are plenty of high-performance machines to choose from and a wide variety of specifications to suit different needs. Those new to these types of sawmills should learn which features provide real value. Our concise look at the best portable sawmills currently available will help buyers find the right solution.

How We Chose the Best Portable Sawmills

I have considerable experience using chainsaws and with small-scale milling, so although these portable wood mills are larger and more powerful, I do have a thorough understanding of the engineering.

To support my own knowledge, the Bob Vila team researched all the leading brands and the specifications of machines they offer. We considered mobility, cutting capacities, and cost. We also compared results from other reputable portable sawmill reviews.

Rather than simply comparing similar tools, we aimed to provide examples of the best portable sawmills at various levels of productivity. In doing so, we’ve discovered products for a range of users, from small homesteaders to full-time logging professionals.

TimberKing 1220CRZ Portable Sawmill

When looking into the manufacturer of the best portable sawmill, we found the TimberKing brand consistently ranked highly in independent reviews and on homesteader websites. The company has been making portable sawmills since 1929, and it has an unrivaled reputation for performance and durability.

Unlike cheap portable sawmills that need to be carried to and from a site, the TimberKing 1220CRZ is fully mobile with pneumatic tires and standard vehicle hookup. The immensely strong frame is made from 2×6 box beam steel. It is heavily cross braced to resist the flex under load. The saw head is supported by four posts, further adding to the impressive rigidity that ensures accurate cutting. Saw drive comes from a powerful and very reliable 23-horsepower v-twin motor that has push-button electric starting.

The TimberKing 1220CRZ takes logs up to 33 inches in diameter and over 17 feet long. Board thickness is set with a hand crank, with a depth gauge that allows remarkably precise cutting to 1/32 inch. Feed is also by hand crank. It takes a little practice to produce consistently smooth cuts, and it can be tiring when working all day, but it is far less expensive than hydraulic models.

• Maximum log diameter: 33 inches
• Maximum log length: 17 feet, 9 inches
• Power unit: 23-horsepower V-twin with electric start
• A 4-post head provides rigid saw support for consistently accurate cutting
• The heavy-duty cutting deck resists flex and offers terrific durability
• The American-made V-twin engine is both powerful and reliable

Get the TimberKing portable sawmill at TimberKing.

Other Product Recommendations

The following machines are also excellent and, depending on individual requirements, deserve further investigation.

Best Bang for the Buck: Sawyer Portable Sawmill

With a maximum log diameter of 21 inches, this Sawyer is a small portable sawmill at a budget price. Assembly is required.

Available at Hud-son.

Best Mid-Range: Norwood LumberMate LM30

This model has a maximum log diameter of 30 inches and comes with a wide choice of power units and custom add-ons.

Available at Norwood Sawmills.

Best Hydraulic Loading: Wood-Mizer LT35

Large diameter logs can be very heavy, especially hardwoods like oak. This model makes work easier with hydraulic lifting of logs up to 32 inches across.

Available at Wood-Mizer.

Best Chainsaw Mill: Granberg Alaskan Mark IV

Chainsaw mills remain a budget-friendly option for those with modest needs, and the highly rated Granberg can accept chainsaws with bars of up to 36 inches.

Available at Amazon.

FAQs

Beyond trying to decide on the best portable sawmill for one’s needs, a number of questions associated with machine operation and productivity crop up regularly. The following provides clear, concise answers.

Q. Is it cheaper to mill your own lumber?

There’s no easy answer to this question. Even comparatively cheap portable sawmills demand a significant investment (see below). If you just need a couple dozen 2x4s for a project, it will probably be cost effective to buy them at your local big box DIY store or lumber yard.

On the other hand, if you regularly fell your own trees or have access to a supply of whole logs, owning a portable sawmilling machine can not only save a lot of money over time, but also gives complete control over lumber quality. Buying a used portable sawmill can be a cost-saving option, but expertise is required to assess the condition of these machines. It’s not something we would recommend to novices.

Q. How much does a portable sawmill cost?

The cost of a portable sawmill varies considerably. The above article includes some excellent examples from across much of the price range. High-quality entry-level portable sawmills start at around 2,500 for self-assembly models or somewhere over 3,000 assembled. At the other end of the scale, those with big capacities and hydraulic log lifters can top 50,000.

Q.How long do the blades last on a portable sawmill?

Leading portable sawmill brand Wood-Mizer recommends changing blades for fresh ones every 1½ hours. A random sample of users gave figures of three to six blade changes per day. Much depends on the wood being milled, however. Softwoods like pine saw much more easily than oak, for example.

Running a blade when blunt is false economy, as it’s one of the main causes of blade breakage. Sharpening services are widely available, or you could do it yourself using a jig and a rotary tool.

Q. How long should logs dry before sawing?

Logs should be sawed (milled) as soon as possible after felling. There is no advantage in leaving them on the ground. In fact, doing so might attract beetles and fungi that cause damage. Once milled, lumber requires time to dry properly: The general rule is 1 year per inch of board thickness. Commercial operations often use large drying sheds (called kilns) to speed up the process.

Why Trust Bob Vila

Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.

Tools and machinery specialist Bob Beacham has been writing consumer advice articles for national publications for more than a decade. He comes from a farming background, is a qualified mechanical engineer, and ran his own woodshop for a decade. He has a reputation for providing information that is thorough yet easy to understand.