The lower production of the swing mill does not necessarily bother me as any production advantage of the band mill is overshadowed by what the many head mills in the area can do anyway. If you can work with a swing mill owner and a band mill owner – maybe just helping out on one of his jobs, you’ll get a quick feel for what you like and need. I own a band mill that I built, but am considering building a swing mill as well.
From contributor E: I have a band mill and would take a swing blade any day. “What a Lucas and other swing mills will do better than bandmills is cut big logs without having to first cut them smaller! The only other common choice for big logs are dimension mills, which cost at least twice as much. I’ve got five 45+” logs right now and don’t know of any band mill that I could afford that can cut them. This, in my opinion, makes the swing blade mills more complete machines.
Log size – The mills really shine when you get to cut big logs. You can cut small logs as well, but you loose the advantage over a bandmill and you need to give some thought to the log bunks and some sort of clamping. The mills work like they say they do, how you set up your business and get customers is up to you though.
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.
Swing Blade technology works similar to band sawmills in that a movable head travels along a track to cut a stationary log. Production on swing blade sawmills seems to outpace similar sized band sawmills most of the time. 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.
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.
swing blade vs bandsaw mill Related Question:
Who makes swing blade sawmills?
The circular swing-blade portable sawmill has been Lucas Mill’s flagship product for over 23 years. These machines are designed to suit the harvesting of both hard and soft timber species, and can be operated on any terrain.
What is a swing blade?
A swingblade sawmill utilizes a single circular sawblade which pivots about a 90 degree point, to saw in both vertical and horizontal planes. The single blade travels horizontally in one direction down the log, and returns in vertical position, thus removing a sawn piece of timber.
What is the best blade for a sawmill?
9° Sawmill Blades – Ideal blade for lower horsepower (24HP and below) sawing frozen wood, hardwood, and small diameter logs. 10° Sawmill Blades – Very popular all-purpose blade for sawing mixed hardwoods such as red oak, cherry, walnut, soft maple, and poplar.
Can you make money with a bandsaw mill?
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 much is a swing blade sawmill?
Swing blade mill prices 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.
How much does a turbo saw mill cost?
$35,000 USD. M12-37A – 12″ x 12″ standard cut, 11″ x 24″ double cut, fitted with Kohler CH1000 37hp (gross) engine. $37,000 USD.
What is a swing saw used for?
A swing saw is used for cross cutting wood in a sawmill, or for cutting ice off of a frozen body of waters. The saw is hung on a swinging arm, sometimes with a counterbalance weight.
What kind of steel are sawmill blades?
Carbon steel is the most common metal used to manufacture sawmill blades and performs well for high production.
How thick is a sawmill blade?
Thinner plates can be used for lower density woods. If the plate is too thin, however, it will vibrate and the saw will wander in the cut. The plate of a circular saw blade is typically 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch thick.
Is running 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 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.