A chainsaw mill is usually quite an easy tool to use, as long as you follow the guidelines and take the right basic safety precautions. It is also important to set up the mill properly, most do not need a lot of work to do so, especially the smaller ones. Here is a look at how to use a chainsaw mill and three good models to consider.
- Make sure the log you are cutting into is stable. You can use chocks under it to stop it from rolling.
- Make sure you follow the safety rules by wearing face protection, gloves, ear protection and substantial footwear.
- Make sure the chain is sharp, having a blunt chain is not just inefficient it is more likely to jump and is a safety issue.
- On the first cut because of the uneven bark making a clean cut impossible you need to use a guide.
- Edge mills have a length of pre-cut board that is screwed on, horizontal mills have a jig affixed to the log. Something like an aluminum ladder can work if you need to fix something up yourself though purpose-built jigs tend to be easier to adjust on a chainsaw sawmill.
- With the outer layer off it is now a lot easier to make the consecutive cuts.
Granberg Alaskan Mark-IV
This chainsaw mill is great for overall build quality, how easy it is to use and how versatile it is. It is sturdy in its construction with heavy-duty steel that is zinc plated and aluminum. When you purchase one it takes about 30 minutes to put it together but then after that, any adjustments and clamping are quick as it has very clear depth scales marked. It is very portable at 20 pounds.
It is designed to take a chainsaw that is a maximum of 36 inches and has a motor capacity of 70cc or more. Keep in mind with this one that the bar clamp means the cutting capacity is reduced by 3 to 4 inches. If you are using a 20-inch bar it means the cut is limited to 16 inches.
Carmyra Portable Chainsaw Mill
It is well constructed using aluminum and high-quality steel and is a premium mill at an affordable price. Assembly takes some pre-understanding as the instruction only goes so far but once it is done, it is durable and has great capacity. It says it has a cutting width of 36 inches but with the clamp, it reduces that losing about 5 inches. It can take smaller chainsaws, as small as 14 inches but experts suggest sticking with something 30 inches or longer.
HiHydro Portable Chainsaw Mill
When you are not looking to mill large logs this chainsaw sawmill might be what you are looking for. The 24 inches is more popular than the 36 inch and it can cut 1/2inch to 12 inches in thickness. It is good for hobbyists and woodworkers and semi-professionals too. Compact so it fits in the trunk of a car and it is constructed well so it is durable. Putting it together takes some patience.
