My experience is that a circular saw is larger heavier and more robust, but produces rougher lumber and has more waste. The band saw also runs off a small engine, where the circular saw runs off a larger diesel. Pulling a log through a saw means you’re also placing boards and slabs to the opposite side of the saw, without having to pull it off the top of a log.
The log dogs that came with the mill hold the log steady, and the mill puts very little pressure on the log. From contributor J: Grade sawing on a swing mill is simple and realistic as *three* faces are show! Half logs can easily be achieved providing that the logs are 20″ and under. The only reason I said I would buy a swing blade is because of the big logs I can’t get on my mill.
Currently, you have four common options for a mill such as portable bandsaw, circular sawmills portable, or stationary, large stationary band sawmills and chainsaw mill. If you are aiming for a hobby, A suggested choice would be to buy a chainsaw mill, or a portable band saw sawmill for a small business. Tool to Use: You have four main options for this: circular sawmill, Large stationary band mill, portable band sawmill, and chainsaw sawmill.
Circular saw machines, or cold saws, use blades that are thicker and more rigid compared to band saw blades, to reduce vibration and provide a better finish. “Band saw machines are versatile and cut larger cross sections than circular saw machines, which are limited to a 80” blade diameter. If a job requires thinner cuts, the kerf loss will help determine if a band saw machine is a better option; however, compared to cutting rates, a carbide circular saw machine is hard to beat.
I’ve started this thread in response to a request from phill-nz who was wondering why the bandsaw is not well received in New Zealand and asked if I could identify the pros and cons for each type of saw. The two types are the horizontal bandsaw and the circular swingblade saw. Typically the style of mill for the bandsaw would be the Woodmizer and for the swingsaw the Lucas.
band saw vs circular saw sawmill Related Question:
What type of saws do sawmills use?
Sawmills are traditionally large stationary band saws or circular saws with dedicated frames designed to guide logs to the blade in order to cut smooth, flat, even boards. However, these days you can find various styles of sawmills designed to be portable for milling lumber in the field.
What is the difference between a band saw and a circular saw?
Circular saw machines, or cold saws, use blades that are thicker and more rigid compared to band saw blades, to reduce vibration and provide a better finish. They require more power consumption and a rigid machine structure because they cut wider slots.
What is the most versatile type of saw?
The table saw, in my opinion, is the most versatile tool in the shop and should be your first major purchase. Next up is the Miter Saw. The miter saw does one thing but it does it really well. The Miter saw will cross cut wood better and faster than pretty much any other tool.
What do sawmills do with sawdust?
In the cold months, the mill uses the sawdust to power its own furnace for heat and to run its kilns that dry the lumber. But when the weather warms up, it sells its supply to dairy farmers for animal bedding and to plants that manufacture wood pellets that are burned in woodstoves and furnaces.
What type of saw would best be used with a miter box?
What Kind Of Saw Is Used In A Miter Box? While almost any type of hand saw will work in a miter box, the typical saw you’d use with one is called a back saw. A back saw is a type of hand saw with a stiff metal backbone that prevents the blade from flexing and adds some downward pressure to the blade.
What is the difference in band saws?
The band saw blades are thicker and more reliable than a scroll saw blade. This makes them faster at cutting but makes the cut a bit more coarse. You can’t make super tight turns, like with a scroll saw, but you can use thick wood, which a scroll saw won’t accommodate.
How much does a miter saw cost?
A basic compound miter saw starts at $100, while miter saws with sliding blades start at $125. Dual-bevel miter saws start at $200, and professional-level miter saws with special features can cost as much as $800.
What is band saw machine?
A bandsaw (also written band saw) is a power saw with a long, sharp blade consisting of a continuous band of toothed metal stretched between two or more wheels to cut material. They are used principally in woodworking, metalworking, and lumbering, but may cut a variety of materials.
How thick of wood can a band saw cut?
Band saws are the undisputed champ when it comes to cutting curves and slicing through thick material. Many small band saws can slice though lumber a full four inches thick, and bigger saws handle six-inch cuts.
What are the disadvantages of quarter sawn lumber?
Quarter-Sawn Lumber produces much less usable lumber than Plain-Sawn lumber, making it more expensive. It is often still sought after becuase it is more stable. It is less likely to cup or twist and there are fewer surface checks and splits. It also wears more evenley.
How can I tell if my wood is quarter sawn?
A board with growth rings running roughly parallel—usually in arches—relative to the face of the board is called a plain-sawn (or flat-sawn) board. If the growth rings are at a steep angle relative to the face, the board is said to have quartersawn grain.
How much more is quarter sawn oak?
For low/medium fleck quarter sawn you can expect to pay between $4.08 to $24.20 per board foot based on 8” to 16” widths. For higher fleck quarter sawn it is approximately $4.58 to $27.20 based on the same widths. Use your square footage measurements to calculate how much the planks will cost you in total.
How long do logs need to dry before milling?
Depending on the thickness of the lumber and where you live, weather and time of the year, it will take anywhere from 6 weeks to 4 months. Most lumber is in the 1” to 2” thickness and the time above applies to thicknesses. Drying cants, timbers, posts will take considerably longer.
Is it worth it to mill your own lumber?
Milling your own lumber can produce quality material for a fraction of the price of a lumber dealer. In fact, if you purchase your own mill, like I have, you can actually make a profit off of it by selling lumber to other woodworkers and by offering to mill other people’s logs.
Can you build with fresh cut lumber?
Building with green lumber for timber frame construction can save time, money and energy. With green timber, you can begin building right away without having to wait for the wood to dry, or having the added cost for kiln drying, which uses environmentally damaging fossil fuels during the drying process.