What You Should Know About A Chainsaw Mill

Having the ability to mill lumber yourself using your chainsaw is quite simple and easy with the help of a chainsaw mill. A chainsaw mill, also known as an Alaskan mill, is a sawmill used to cut logs into timber planks using an ordinary chainsaw.

What Is A Chainsaw Mill?

The chainsaw mill is created by fitting a chainsaw with an attachment that is comprised of two parallel rails that fit onto the bar of the chainsaw and guide the chainsaw along the face of the wood creating even planks. The chainsaw is attached to the rails using a bar wrench which makes it extremely easy to set up and start milling. The plank depth is determined by how far apart the rails are positioned, and the length is only inhibited by the length of the log itself is. The rails are adjustable and lock into place using lock screws to ensure safety during operation. Different sized mills are available and finding one that suits your needs is important as using a large mill on a smaller log can create more difficulty for the operator to achieve the results they want.

One Or Two Chainsaw Mills?

Depending on the size of the job one or two chainsaws can be used for your chain saw mill. A single chainsaw requiring only one operator is perfect for logs narrower than a single chainsaw blade. However two chainsaws can be attached on either end of the rails to accommodate larger logs. The larger double chainsaw mill requires two operators and uses a special device to connect the heads of both chainsaws to allow for a clean cut without damage to either chainsaw. There is also a portable chain saw mill that has some use for smaller jobs. However, a portable sawmill is no substitute for a regular sawmill, especially for large, heavyduty jobs.

The First Cut

The very first cut usually requires the use of rails, known as slabbing brackets, attached across the top of the log to give the mill an even surface reference. After the initial cut however the mill can be guided by the surface of the previous cut. The initial cut of wood is not usable for lumber projects and is simply made to create a smooth surface for the following cuts.

As with any and every milling and cutting device that involves high powered blades; practice extreme caution. It is advised that when near chainsaw mills, you wear protective gear such as:

  • Gloves
  • Hard hat
  • Leg chaps
  • Goggles
  • Steel toe boots
  • Hearing protection
  • etc.

It is also wise to be prepared when beginning work with a mill. Make sure you have enough correctly mixed fuel, and bar oil. It also would be wise to keep on hand a chain file that has a protective handle, a first aid kit, some maintenance tools, and a small magnetic-head screwdriver

The Chainsaw Mill, An Ingenious Device

The chainsaw mill is a very simple solid structure which makes it the inexpensive, easy to use option. The chainsaw mill is also very mobile and can be moved around with ease allowing you to cut felled timber where it lies. So whether you are working in your back yard or the back forty, the same tool will guarantee that you cut beautifully even planks of wood from whatever logs you’re working with. The chainsaw mill is therefore an ingenious device for serious and hobbyist woodworkers alike.

Granberg, Alaskan Chainsaw Mill

It is not every day that one goes to a chainsaw mill to have a log of wood milled; in fact, many people don't know what a chainsaw mill is. A chainsaw mill is a simple and effective tool for making lumber for many projects such as building a deck, building a home, building a greenhouse and furniture for both indoors and outdoors. That's a lot of wood.

A review by Hank Will, Editor in Chief in the Daily Commute says that ever since his boat building days he has wanted to mill his own lumber from trees on hand, but could never justify the expense until a few weeks ago when he purchased a Granberg Small Alaskan Chainsaw Mill with slabbing bars and other items for his trusty Husqvvarna 357XP saw. He finally got to put the tool to use after felling a 20 inch diameter pine which had died two years earlier. Since he had promised to build his partner a new kitchen island as part of their kitchen makeover, he wanted to make it special by using as many of the natural resources on the farm.

Granberg's Alaskan Mill Make it Easier

Granberg International manufactures saw chain maintenance tools to repair and sharpen saw chain and attachments for a chain saw to mill your own lumber.

  • The company has been in business for more than fifty years and in that time has introduced many innovative tools to continents around the world with perhaps the exception of the Antarctica.

  • Their mill attachments are the most popular and are portable; environmental impact is minimized.

  • The Alaskan Mark III chainsaw mill and the Mini Mill II chainsaw mill portable chain saw mill attachments allow the user to efficiently saw trees on site and produce lumber for building or woodworking projects.

Asking The Question: How Thick Can The Mark III Cut?

The answer is that The Alaskan Mark III Chainsaw Mill Attachment can cut boards as thin as half an inch and as thick as 13 inches.

  • You set up and make your first cut, remove the first slab, then use the Mini Mill II to edge the log which will give you a three-sided cant from which dimensional lumber can be cut - or, the Alaskan Chainsaw Mill can be used for all of the cuts in various ways.

  • You lower the mill and make a second parallel cut and then roll the log 90 degrees and make a third cut, which will give you a three-sided cant.

  • If your mill is not wide enough to make the second cut as described, the log can be rolled and the sides removed to reduce the diameter and to allow the mill to fit across the log.

Another question frequently asked is how much power your chain saw should have. The answer is that the more power your saw engine has, the faster your cutting speed. Almost any engine that runs will cut; it depends on how much time you want to spend milling your lumber.