Tips And Information On Portable Saw Mill Rental
The world of the portable saw mill rental has come a long way since the 1970s when the demand for personal mills began to rise. Since that time, companies like TimberKing, LogMaster, Enercraft, and Peterson have driven innovation by constantly improving the performance of portable sawmills.
Because more industrial style mills are necessary for producing finished lumber, portable sawmills today are more frequently marketed towards do-it-yourself individuals interested in log construction, furniture men who cut a small amount of hardwoods for their wares, and builders who need large posts for timber framing.
Easy Transport
The key advantage of portable mills, of course, lies within the name itself. Because moving logs is sometimes impractical or indeed impossible, the portable mill offers the convenience of being easily transported to the site of the tree. Additionally, portable mills represent a significant cost savings for the builder who has the capital to purchase his own sawmill.
Industry Categories
It is important for the novice do-it-yourselfer to recognize that the "portamill" industry itself can be broken into four categories of saws, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.
Chainsaw Style Portable Sawmills
They offer a significant cost advantage and can be procured for only a few hundred dollars. The ‘Alaska sawmill’ can be finicky in comparison to its brethren and sends a preponderance of sawdust towards the miller.
Band Mills
Are driven by gasoline engines and allow for a comparable advantage in the yield of logs from a single tree. However, due to the configuration of band mills, most require a lot of work in pulling each slab of board from the top of the log.
Swing Mill
Has been made popular by the aforementioned Peterson. These saws are set up over the top of the log and allow you to edge your lumber before your final cut and also feature a five foot chainsaw bar that is great for cutting wide tabletop planks. However, the swing mill cannot cut to a depth of more than eight inches, and produces a lot of sawdust.
Dimension Mill
These portable mills feature more than one blade, which allows you to produce a 2x4 in a single cut. However, while these automatic feed machines offer great benefits, they are also the hardest to transport.
Band Saw Blades vs. Circular Blades
As you can see, the options and configurations for portable sawmills are extremely varied, but the industry as a whole has recently seen a marked shift in sales from circular blades to band saw blades, which use a smaller kerf to decrease waste and increase the yield. Additionally, most portable sawmills now have a walk-along feature where the saw moves over the log while the log remains stationary. Other technological advances include the use of hydraulic loaders and hydraulic blade movement.
Portable Sawmill Rental
Of course, the problem with buying a portable sawmill outright is that it can be expensive, especially if you only have a limited amount of work to do. That's why the portable saw mill rental has become so popular. It gives an affordable option for those who don't want to be in the saw mill business full time. Likewise, used portable band sawmills provide another cost-cutting option.
All in all, for a person with a small project requiring modest amounts of timber for a home project (or once off project), it makes far more sense to research available portable sawmills for rental in their area, than it does to seek out the services of a larger, commercial mill. The cost benefits of renting a portable sawmill alone should make the decision for you, but the added satisfaction of completing a project using your own hands is something that can't be bettered anywhere.
Before you settle on a particular portable saw mill rental, remember that each one has its strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, make sure you do your research before selecting the portable sawmill that is right for you.
