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About Portable Sawmills

Sawmills are machines that use large circular blades or band-style blades to cut, mill, or process raw wood into finished planks of lumber. Portable sawmills are small enough to move the sawmill to the timber instead of the timber taken to the sawmill, as had historically been required. While portable sawmills cannot match the sheer volume of large stationary mills, their ease of transport makes them a good choice for tree care and forestry operations that will not always operate in a single location.

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2023 Hud-son HFE-30 Homesteader Portable Sawmill

History Of Portable Sawmills

Portable sawmills have been in use for over 100 years. Before mechanization, logs had to be cut by hand using pit saws. Then came water- and steam-powered sawmills in the 19th century, which had to be assembled on-site and then dismantled to move to the following site. These new sawmills featured large circular blades and conveyed the log to the blade. Most modern portable sawmills move the blade while the log remains stationary.

The Wood-Mizer portable bandsaw mill came to market in 1982. It differed from traditional mills by having a thin-kerf blade, like that of a band saw, instead of a circular blade. This not only reduced the weight and cost of the sawmill but also reduced the size and weight needed for bearings and support blocks. The smaller kerf meant a greater per-log yield, and band blades enabled new designs where the blade and a power source were put together in the head, which can move back and forth as the log stays still.

Types Of Portable Sawmills

Bandsaw Mills

This is the most common sawmill type. Bandsaw mills use a continuous band of toothed metal between two or more wheels to make cuts. Because the tooth load is evenly distributed, they provide more uniform cutting. Bandsaws can also make irregular or curved cuts and smaller kerf, which makes them popular in woodworking.

Chainsaw Mills

This type uses a pair of clamping brackets on a rectangular frame attached to the bar of the chainsaw. The mill’s rails ride on a guide system for the cut. The distance between the rails and the bar determines the thickness of the cut. Smaller single-operator mills use one chainsaw, while larger mills use a double-ended bar that requires two operators. Chainsaw mills have a larger kerf than bandsaws or circular saws but are usually less expensive to purchase.

Swingblade Mills

This type uses a single circular sawblade mounted on a moving frame that travels on a track and can pivot 90 degrees to saw both vertically and horizontally. They are useful for sawing hardwoods, cross-fibered timber, and large-diameter logs. They can create a variety of cut sizes and grain patterns. Swingblade sawmills can also chip a log with smaller cut depths instead of making an entire cut in one pass. The sawmills create a wider kerf, but their accurate, straight cuts often require less processing.

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2021 Wood-Mizer LT50 Portable Sawmill

Portable Sawmill Benefits

• Portability - Portable sawmills can be trailered or even hand-carried to remote locations. It is often far easier to bring the mill to the wood than the other way around.
• Versatility - These sawmills can cut lumber in various dimensions and lengths for various purposes.
• Efficiency - Thin-kerf blades maximize yield from each log.
• Affordability - The initial investment is lower compared to stationary or industrial mills but can be costlier than chainsaws.

Where To Buy & Finance Portable Sawmills

Browse TreeTrader.com to find new and used portable sawmills from manufacturers such as Hud-son and Wood-Mizer for sale.

Need financing? CurrencyFinance offers reliable portable sawmill financing options, helping you secure the best terms and rates available, even if your credit history isn’t spotless.