Best Chainsaw Mills 2024
A chainsaw mill is one of the most efficient and effective tools when it comes to converting wood into lumber. Lumber is a very effective raw material that can be used for a variety of purposes. Be it for firewood or be it for construction purposes, you can certainly utilize lumber for whatever you need. While large-scale sawmills are also very effective when it comes to converting wood into lumber, they’re inconvenient because of their size. Large sawmills are also expensive and difficult to move into the required location, making them unsuitable for a lot of tasks and projects. Fortunately, chainsaw mills, also known as Alaskan sawmills, are the perfect solution that everyone needs. These sawmills can do just about everything that a large-scale sawmill can do, making them highly efficient, which is why you should check out the top chainsaw mills in 2024.
Our Top Picks
Best KW(s) of 2024 Reviewed in Detail
Best Overall
The portable Alaskan sawmill by Carmyra is amongst the best options that you can get right now. To begin with, this product is made of high quality steel and aluminium, making it a very strong and durable product. You can use this chainsaw mill to process different types of wood including walnut, oak, and cedar and convert them into lumber. This machine is capable of milling lumber with thickness ranging from 0.5“ to 13“ and the maximum width that it supports is 36”. It is a very convenient product as you can attach it to a chainsaw without a drilling bar.
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Upto 36” of width supported
Cons
- Can be slightly difficult to put together
Runner Up
The Timber Tuff lumber cutting guide is a really good product if you’re looking for something that gets things done. You can use it to convert wood into clean lumber in a very effective manner. Be it a DIY project or a construction project, this Alaskan sawmill will let you cut pieces of wood as per your requirements. This equipment can be assembled easily and quickly and it comes with a powder-coat finish to prevent corrosion. The build-quality of this chainsaw mill is also quite strong, as it is made of heavy-duty steel.
Pros
- Made of heavy-duty steel with powder-coat finish, making it durable
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Operational instructions that come along the product are not clear enough
Honorable Mention
The chainsaw mill by Alaskan Granberg is one of the best products in this category that you can opt for. 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. You can also attach this to your chainsaw without a drilling bar, given that the bar length of your chainsaw is 20” or less. The quality of this product is also really good, as it is made of high-grade aluminium and zinc-plates steel.
Pros
- Comes with properly labeled parts and instructions, making it easy to assemble
- Great build-quality for maximum durability
Cons
- Takes some finesse to really get it cutting right
Contender
The portable chainsaw mill by Zchoutrade is one of the best products out there in the category of Alaskan sawmills and there are multiple reasons for it. To begin with, this equipment is made of high-quality aluminium and steel, making it a very durable option to go for. You can use it to cut oak, cedar, and walnut. This product is capable of cutting lumber that is up to 13” thick and 36” wide, allowing you to process larger pieces of wood. Moreover, you do not need a drilling bar to attach this chainsaw mill to a saw.
Pros
- Easy to use and assemble
- Rigid design
Cons
- Not the most suitable for heavy-duty usage
The portable chainsaw mill by Carmya is one of our top picks for this category and rightfully so. It’s a great product, designed to fulfill your needs and requirements in an efficient and effective manner. You can easily mount a chainsaw to this mill using a wrench and proceed to milling wood. This equipment is capable of cutting slabs with thickness varying between ½” to 13” and the maximum supported width is 27”. You can process walnut, oak, and cedar into high quality lumber using this product. Moreover, it’s a well-built product made of quality steel and aluminium.
Pros
- High quality design and construction
- Upto 13” of thickness supported
Cons
- The mill uses upto 5” of the bar length
Best Chainsaw Mills Buying Guide
Buying an Alaskan sawmill is always a great decision but it can be a confusing decision to make. With the demand for these sawmills rising, you can now find thousands of models with different specifications, features, and variations out there. While some models might be more powerful and bulky, others would be less powerful but more portable. Moreover, there are multiple factors that you will have to consider while purchasing a sawmill. If you get a sawmill that’s more powerful and equipped beyond your needs, it would be an overkill since you’d be spending more money. Similarly, if you get a sawmill that is not powerful enough and does not have the features that you require, it would be an underkill since it won’t be fulfilling your needs. Consequently, it is very important to gauge your needs and requirements and go for the product that is aligned with them. We’ve evaluated and reviewed the highest-rated chainsaw mills in 2021 to help you make the right decision and choose the product that suits your needs.
Why Do You Need a Chainsaw Mill?
There are numerous benefits that an Alaskan sawmill can provide if you ever need to convert wood into lumber and smaller pieces. Not only does this equipment have several advantages over similar conventional equipment, but it’s also very effective and efficient as far as accomplishing the task is concerned.
Affordability and cost-effectiveness
To begin with, Alaskan sawmills are significantly cheaper compared to the traditional large-scale sawmills. 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.
Moreover, these sawmills are often very long-lasting and durable, which means that it would be a good investment and won’t have to be replaced that often. These products also usually come with a warranty, which means that your investment is safe and will have good value-for-money.
Portability
The Alaskan sawmills are smaller compared to large-scale sawmills. If you do not need a large-scale sawmill, you should definitely get the Alaskan sawmill as it is more portable and you can move it to any location that you want to.
Convenience
An Alaskan sawmill enables you to do tasks and projects that would otherwise be very difficult to manage. You can use this equipment to cut wood into smaller and cleaner pieces, which can then be used for a variety of purposes. You can customize the raw material according to your requirements.
Easy-to-operate
Another one of the biggest advantages that this chainsaw mill offers is that it is very easy to operate. Unlike other equipment, you do not need a large team or staff to operate this equipment. All you need is one or two people to operate this machine and you’re good to go.
Why Is Compatibility Important While Buying a Chainsaw Mill?
An Alaskan sawmill is essentially a sawmill that incorporates a chainsaw, allowing you to conveniently cut pieces of wood. The fact that it has to incorporate chainsaw makes the compatibility factor extremely important. Compatibility is often the first and the foremost thing that you should consider before purchasing a sawmill.
A lot of times, people already have chainsaws with them and they need to purchase a sawmill to convert it into an Alaskan sawmill and this is where compatibility comes into play. 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.
What Factors to Consider While Buying a Chainsaw Mill?
Once you’re past the compatibility factor, there are a few other important factors that you should definitely consider before purchasing an Alaskan sawmill.
Capacity of the bar
Bar capacity is a very important factor that you need to take into consideration while purchasing a sawmill, as it can be a very important constraint. The bar capacity determines the maximum width that can go through your sawmill. Equipment with higher bar capacity would be bigger and consequently more expensive, which is why you need to make sure that the equipment that you purchase has enough bar capacity to process the pieces of wood that you wish to treat using your Alaskan sawmill.
Cutting depth
Cutting depth refers to the maximum depth that your equipment can cut. Different models have different cutting depth settings and you can adjust the depth for most models. However, you cannot adjust the maximum depth that a chainsaw mill can process, which is why it’s important to gauge your requirements and get a product accordingly. If you’re able to take this factor into consideration, you can make sure that the maximum thickness of lumber that can be milled using the sawmill is in accordance with your requirements.
Weight
The weight of a chainsaw mill is another factor that you need to consider, as it determines the portability of the product. A lighter sawmill is naturally more portable; however, you might be compromising on the stability that you can get by choosing a lightweight model. This is why it’s important to find the right balance between portability and stability, in order to get your hands on the equipment that works fine for you.
Operating personnel
Chainsaw mills usually require one or two personnel to operate the equipment; however, the number can vary in accordance with the type and size of the equipment. You should definitely take this factor into consideration, in order to make sure that you’re not overstaffed or understaffed to operate this equipment.
Durability
Durability is one of the most important things that you should consider while buying a chainsaw mill. Products like these are usually long-lasting, making it a one-time investment and this is why you need to make sure that you’re investing in one that will last long and that won’t give up on you right after the warranty period expires.
What Are the Safety Considerations While Buying a Sawmill?
Before purchasing a chainsaw mill, you need to ensure that you’ve taken proper safety precautions. To begin with, you should have the required protective gear before you can operate this equipment. The safety gear for the sawmill includes adequate head protection, eye protection, protective pants, gloves, proper footwear, and hearing protection. Operating this equipment without adequate protective gear can be dangerous for you and for others around you.
Moreover, you also need to make sure that you’ve placed your sawmill at a location that is not accessible to pets and children, as it would be extremely dangerous to operate this equipment around pets and children.
Chainsaw Mill FAQ
Do I need a ripping chain for my sawmill?
A ripping chain is a special type of chain that cuts with the grain. You should get a ripping chain if your project specifically requires one, otherwise you do not need to purchase it.
Is it necessary to purchase protective gear along with the sawmill?
If you do not already have the required safety gear with you, you should definitely purchase it in order to keep yourself safe from accidents.
Are chainsaw mills expensive?
Any equipment that is supposed to last long won’t come cheap. Given that this equipment is a one-time investment, it will certainly cost you a decent amount, but it’s still cost-effective if it lasts long enough.