If you do not need a large-scale sawmill, there’s absolutely no need to spend more money on one and you would be better off with a chainsaw mill. In order for you to be able to fit your chainsaw into the sawmill, it must be compatible or else it won’t fit. Before you proceed with purchasing a sawmill, you need to make sure that your chainsaw and the sawmill are actually compatible, unless you plan on purchasing an additional chainsaw.
Like we stated in the intro, chainsaw mills aren’t worth it for four reasons: labor, cost, time, and waste. I know I’ve been pretty critical of chainsaw mills up to this point, but there is one reason why a chainsaw mill could be worth it. Chainsaw mills aren’t worth the physical and time demands required to mill the logs.
Chainsaw mills are small sawmills designed to be used by just one or two operators to mill logs into lumber. More elaborate chainsaw mills consist of a track and frame system to which the chainsaw is mounted. For these reasons, a chainsaw mill is definitely not to be used for optimizing the amount of lumber that you can yield from a log.
The cost of buying a chainsaw mill from an online retailer varies between $40 and $400 depending on the type of mill and the options that come along with it. A lumber cutting guide is a type of chainsaw mill that consists of a bent plate and a clamp, it is the cheapest and most basic type of chainsaw mill and can be purchased for $40. Cutting guide mills create a vertical cut down the side of a log rather than across the top. The Timberjig mini sawmill is part of the Logosol Big Mill System but is designed to be a stand alone ultra portable chainsaw mill.
is chainsaw milling worth it Related Question:
Is saw milling 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 it cost to mill a chainsaw?
Re: How to charge for chainsaw milling It can be difficult to accurately figure board feet with natural edges, taper, crotches, etc. Around here, the common rate is $65-85 per hour.
Is milling wood worth it?
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.
Is it cheaper to buy lumber from a sawmill?
Though it may not appear bad, the cost of lumber in big box stores is VERY expensive. You don’t realize it because you don’t have anything to compare it to. Buying your lumber directly from a sawmill can be significantly less, though there may be additional preparation needed before it can be used as we will see below.
Can you make money selling rough cut lumber?
When you first get a sawmill, the primary ways to make money are selling lumber or cutting for people. However, cutting for people is kind of tricky, because you’ll want to have some experience before you start doing that. If you’re cutting by the board foot and you take your time it doesn’t really matter too much.
How much does it cost to mill lumber?
By the Board Foot Pricing varies by species and location but ranges from $0.25 to $0.50 per board foot of sawn lumber. This pricing method places all of the risk of productivity on the sawyer since the customer is only paying for the lumber they receive.
How do you price rough cut lumber?
For example: if you want to know how many BF are in a 4 x 6 x 10 you multiple that together: 4 x 6 x 10 = 240 and then divide that by 12, 240 / 12 = 20 BF. To determine the price, you multiple the BF by the price/BF, so in this case a 4 x 6 x 10 is $. 80/BF, so the price per piece is $16.00.
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.
Can you make money with your own sawmill?
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 long does fresh cut lumber need to dry?
Depending on the species and your climate, it can take from 2 to 12 months to bring 4/4 lumber from green to air-dry (12- to 20-percent moisture content, depending on your location). Air-dry isn’t dry enough for indoor use.
What size chainsaw is needed for milling?
What you need is a chainsaw powerful enough to get the job done with a chainsaw mill. You will want to have a saw that has at least a 50cc displacement and can run a 20-inch chain. However, if you’re cutting smaller logs and milling smaller boards, you can use a smaller saw.
How long does it take to mill a log with a chainsaw?
In the world of chainsaw milling, the more powerful the saw the better. You can mill with a smaller saw; however, it’s going to be really slow. On average, it takes me about 10-15 minutes to make one cut using my saw, based on the size logs that I typically cut. Expect that a smaller saw will cut slower.
How many cc is a chainsaw 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. Consult the chart to see if your chainsaw has enough power to do the job you want it to do.
Is Rough Cut lumber stronger?
You may have heard the term rough sawn (or rough cut) lumber before. What it essentially means is that this lumber type is untreated and cut into planks. It is generally stronger than other types of lumber, but also carries extra moisture because it hasn’t been kiln-dried.
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.