You must carefully consider the features peculiar to both the chainsaw mill and the bandsaw mill before you choose either of them. Both a chainsaw mill and a bandsaw mill are used to turn logs into lumber. If you have a portable sawmill that has limited cutting capacities in terms of length, you can add a chainsaw mill to your arsenal, use it to cut down larger logs into manageable sizes, before fitting the smaller log onto your portable chainsaw mill.
Guys…. Im ready to get serious but…. Im debating on building a “Pro-Cut” chainsaw mill or buying a used band mill…. I want to saw when I can to start gaining experiance as well as collecting lumber to buiold a timber frame house of aprox 3000 Sq Ft. So Im open for all suggestions…. Home built mill – Milling logs to build a home for the family. If you have plenty of spare time and there is no rush to get things done, then the chainsaw mill will do the job, if you have plenty of time and no money, again the chainsaw mill comes into play again. If you have plenty of wonga, hire in a band mill to do most of the donkey work and finish off with a Ripsaw, which is a superb chainsaw driven band mill or get a medium sized chain mill and do the same, A procut mill is a very good alternative to a band mill, and afterwards you could add a band mill conversion to it with little fuss, check out the many different home made band mills on the WWW, which I have just decided to go down this path myself.
Moving the logs is a key consideration, so the fact you have the means to do that is important if you decide on a bandsaw mill. “I use a chainsaw mill because I have trouble moving logs. I minimize waste by milling everything 9/4, after drying I resaw on my bandsaw in my shop, this is one way I get around the waste factor. I also think I get less warping with my lumber while drying. Last year I milled well over 30 logs with my chainsaw mill, most logs around 7 feet long, but many of them well over 24” diameter. Another option to consider is to get a bunch of logs, move to a site you can mill them, and then hire a sawyer with a bandsaw mill.
A chainsaw sawmill is actually quite different in that it is effectively the enhancement of a standard chainsaw to produce a viable solution for milling lumber. Because of that, bandsaw mills are admired for their low kerf rating, or the small amount of wood lost in each cut due to the thickness of the blade versus a chainsaw blade, which generally produces a rougher cut. Regardless of the wood’s size and density, one very important thing to remember with a bandsaw or chainsaw sawmill is that the blades need to be sharpened regularly.
Chainsaw mill will also cut you a more uniform board. If it’s a large amount I would look at a bandsaw, if it’s a few boards a year and you desire a nicer board then a chainsaw mill may be the thing. Chainsaw mill is for cutting oversize slabs …. that is all.
There is one situation wherein a chainsaw mill is clearly superior to a bandsaw mill. A chainsaw mill with a huge motor can handle a bar length of 48 or even 60 inches, thus allowing you to mill logs which are beyond the capacity of a more expensive bandsaw mill. Full disclosure: I have a Wood-Mizer bandsaw mill that cost a bit under $40,000, and for occasional use, I employ the Granberg Alaskan chainsaw mill with 48 inch bar that cost about 5% of the bandsaw mill.
I used a chainsaw mill to cut beams that I used in my house, and I bought a Hudson 18″ band saw mill that I used to cut all the lumber for my cabin at the lake. The Chainsaw mill is a lot cheaper, more maintenance and easier to drag to a site, the chainsaw mill is a lot more, bit more to set up, but cuts at about 1/16″ thick cuts, the chainsaw mill at about 1/4″ to 3/8” cuts. The long and short of it is that I would always use a bandsaw mill if I had the choice, the chainsaw mill would be ok if you just need a few cuts, but to build a house, you would be wasting your time on a chainsaw mill…. Last edited by starlite9; 12-03-2009 at 02:57 PM. Location: Interior alaska.
Customers are regularly impressed with the quality of the cut from the chainsaw mill, imagining that the chainsaw will necessarily make a terrible cut with a nasty surface finish, which it does not. As far as I am concerned, any mill which uses a chainsaw chain and bar is a chainsaw mill, no matter the setup. If you didn’t own a chainsaw and decided that you wanted to cut some lumber, you could be making your own lumber for about $500, for a small chainsaw and the Alaskan mill attachment.
alaskan mill vs bandsaw mill Related Question:
Are Alaskan sawmills any good?
ALASKAN Granberg Chainsaw Mill It’s a great product overall and is designed to get the job done with maximum convenience. It’s a very handy and lightweight product that can process nearly any timber. The machine is capable of processing wood which is up to 13” thick and 17” wide.
Is a bandsaw mill worth it?
A portable sawmill can be worth the investment. It can provide a source of wood for your own projects and give you a side business. For a source of lumber, as well as a profitable business, a portable sawmill can be a key piece of equipment on your farm.
How big of a saw do I need for an Alaskan mill?
Most Alaskan mills require at least 3 inches extra at the end of the bar for attachment. I also recommend going with a saw with an engine size of at least 60cc for smaller logs and softer woods. A minimum of 90cc would be best though.
What is a ripping chain?
Ripping chain is chainsaw chain designed specifically for cutting with the grain. Ripping chain is always micro chisel or semi chisel chain which features a re configured cutting angle of 10 degrees.
Is owning a sawmill profitable?
It’s true that owning a sawmill can be a very lucrative business venture, and in the right circumstances it is not only possible but very likely to earn you a significant profit on a regular basis. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that building a business with only profit in mind is not sustainable in the long term.
How much does a good sawmill cost?
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.
Can a sawmill pay for itself?
If you are looking to build for yourselves, the sawmill will quickly pay for itself once you start looking at the cost of wood at lumber/hardware stores and comparing it to what you are cutting.
Where are Wood Mizer sawmills made?
Wood-Mizer is a sawmill manufacturer that also produces sawmill blades. Modern manufacturing facilities in Indianapolis and Batesville, Indiana USA and Kolo, Poland guarantee maximum quality at an affordable price anywhere in the world.
Where are woodland sawmills made?
Woodland Mills sawmills are indeed manufactured in China. It’s stated under the FAQ’s on their site.
Do you need a ripping chain for Alaskan saw mill?
Details matter which is why we work so hard to provide quality products for every part of our Alaskan® Chainsaw Mills. A properly sharpened and maintained ripping chain is critical to achieving the best possible end result when chainsaw milling.
What CC is Alaskan mill?
In general, you will need at least 50cc to run our smallest mill (G777). The more powerful your saw, the easier your milling experience is going to be.
Can you use a chainsaw on lumber?
Yes, you can use a chainsaw to cut wet wood.
What is the advantage of a ripping chain?
Ripping Chain – What You Need to Know Here are some of the advantages of this particular type of chain: Smoother Finish – As this chain doesn’t cut along the pores and mills with the grain, the finish is smoother and cleaner in comparison to alternatives available on the market.
Does a ripping chain cut faster?
The teeth on most crosscut chains are sharpened at 35 degrees, while ripping chain teeth are commonly sharpened at 10 degrees, which makes for much faster and more efficient cutting, especially for milling work.
How long should pine 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.