Should I Get A Circular Sawmill ?
The circular sawmill is the earliest form of sawmill to have made it to the United States. And some people say it's still the best. But is it the best for your purposes? We'll examine the various challengers to the circular sawmills throne and and help you decide if it's still the best one for you.
There are three general categories of portable sawmills. These categories are chainsaw mills, bandsaw mills and the circular saw mill. Each has its own unique uses and advantages.
CHAINSAW MILLS:
These are often the least expensive saw mills. This makes them appealing to those on limited budgets, such as those buying one for the local farm. Prices can go as cheap as $100. On the negative side, they tend to run rather slowly. This means you shouldn't use them for major projects unless you have a lot of time to spend on one project. They also tend to make rough cuts, even with special chains. Finally, a chainsaw mill is known to waste lots of wood. One other thing to keep in mind is that a chainsaw mill will require some hefty power heads. It's quite possible your current chainsaw won't be powerful enough to run it. This means you would need to get a new chainsaw--thus doubling its cost.
BAND SAWMILLS:
If you're looking at sheer numbers, right now, the band saw mill dominates the market. Technology is largely to thank for that, since it makes them available in a vast array of operating systems and configurations. The bandmill is faster than the chainsaw mill but slower than the circular saw mill. It is, however, completely portable, meaning you can carry it with a trailer system or pickup truck. They are considered easy and safe to use. They also produce less waste and create smooth surfaces. They're much more expensive than the chainsaw mill, but much cheaper than the circular saw mill. Typically you can expect to pay about $3,500 for one.
CIRCULAR SAWMILLS:
And so we come full "circle" (Pun intended)--right back to the circular sawmill. This is the one with the most history to it, at least in the United States. Watch TV shows or movies about the early 1900s, and this is the type of mill that you frequently see being used. In fact, there was a time when any sawmill used a circular blade.
Even today, most big commercial operations still use the circular. And there's one thing that makes it still their preferred choice speed. Nothing currently available is faster. A circular saw will cut faster than a band saw or chainsaw. That means if you have a large volume of cutting to do, then you need the power of the circular blade. It's true that they are the most expensive of the three mills, but if you're in this as a business, then this should be considered a worthwhile investment.
Ultimately the choice of which sawmill to get. But here are a few tips to keep in mind: If you intend to make a business out of cutting lumber, then you absolutely need something that will make your time more efficient. So you should consider getting the circular sawmill. Also, don't buy the cheapest one you find. Instead, buy a name that is trusted in the field, such as Timberline. Follow these suggestions and you won't be disappointed.
