What does a sawmill do?

Modern sawmills are drastically different from the industrial equipment of the past. Here's a quick guide on how portable sawmills work

In its simplest form, a sawmill is a piece of equipment that cuts logs into lumber.

There have been plenty of advancements in sawing technology over thousands of years, from circular saws to water powered stone sawmills and beyond. Machines have come expertly crafted to perform head rig sawing, transforming logs into cants and then planks, utilizing various tools for efficiency .

But now milling logs has never been easier, with modern sawmills being sleek, small packages which can easily fit on an individual's property for cutting their own lumber.

While large-scale industrial sawmills have been the backbone of the lumber industry for centuries, portable sawmills have recently gained popularity. They offer a flexible and efficient solution for woodworkers, landowners, and small-scale lumber producers.

Past vs Present of portable sawmills

In the past sawmills were mostly used in large-scale cutting operations, such as in small town lumber mills or massive commercial ones which were perfected during the Industrial Revolution.

Previously, an industrial sawmill would be powered via waterwheel, and a massive circular saw would slice timbers apart, making quick work of dozens of logs in moments.

Over time the technology was refined. Commercial sawmill operations ran on electricity and gas, the output increased tenfold and lumber began to be exported across the world.

Band saws, meanwhile, are an evolution of that sawing technology, and their development is core to the function of a portable sawmill.

Portable sawmills use a flexible blade wrapped around two rotating band wheels to horizontally cut lumber. This smaller scale solution is much less expensive and can be used by an individual to quickly turn a tree into a useful selection of boards.

Understanding the benefits of a portable sawmill

Portable sawmills are mobile versions of log-cutting machines, designed to be transported to the location of the timber rather than needing logs to be brought to the mill. This article will focus on portable sawmills, exploring their functions, benefits, and applications.

The basics

Portable sawmills are compact, mobile machines designed to cut logs into lumber efficiently. They have revolutionized small-scale lumber production by allowing individuals and small businesses to process their own timber on-site. Here's an overview of how portable sawmills work and their key features:

The Core Function

The primary function of a saw mill is sawing logs into dimensional lumber, slabs or posts. Here's how the process typically works:

1) Log Placement: The log is rolled onto the sawmill's bed or carriage where it is secured

2) Blade Positioning: The operator adjusts the height of the sawhead to achieve the desired board thickness

3) Cutting: The engine is engaged, and the blade is put into operation, where it is then pushed through the log in order to make precise cuts.

4) Repositioning: After each cut, the operator either rotates the log to prepare for the next cut, and/or repositions the height of the blade with the sawhead to cut the next board

5) Repetition: This process is repeated until the entire log is processed into lumber

Most sawmills use sharp, durable metal saw blades designed to cut through various types of wood efficiently. The type and size of the blade can vary depending on the specific sawmill model and the type of cuts required.

Benefits of Portable Sawmills

 Portable sawmills offer many advantages over traditional fixed sawmills:

Mobility

• • A much smaller footprint than their industrial ancestors, able to easily fit in a backyard or a shed

  • They can be hauled on a trailer and taken to a job site or neighboring property to mill on the spot

 Cost Savings

• • Rather than travel to the hardware store and buy logs, you can mill them on your property and use them on the spot

  • Reduces waste by using a thin kerf blade, meaning less material is turned into sawdust when the blade is cutting through the wood

  • Milling your own lumber is often much cheaper than buying dimensional lumber from the hardware store

  • Your upfront investment leads to cost savings from no longer needing to purchase lumber

Customization

• • Cut lumber to exact specifications on-demand

  • Produce specialty cuts not readily available from commercial sources

  • Process unique or valuable wood species

 Sustainability

• • Utilize trees that might otherwise go to waste

  • Reduce transportation emissions

  • Enable small-scale, sustainable forestry practices

Uses of Lumber Produced by Portable Sawmills

Portable sawmills offer the flexibility to produce a wide range of lumber products for various applications, often paired with kilns for proper drying .

Construction and Building

Portable sawmills can produce dimensional lumber for construction projects, including:

• • Framing lumber for residential and small commercial buildings

  • Beams and posts for timber frame structures

  • Siding and exterior trim

  • Decking and fencing materials

The ability to cut custom sizes allows for unique architectural designs and the use of local wood species in construction.

Furniture Making

For woodworkers and furniture makers, portable sawmills open up new possibilities:

• • Cutting thick slabs for live-edge tables

  • Producing quartersawn lumber for stability in fine furniture

  • Creating matched sets of boards from a single log for cohesive designs

  • The control over the cutting process allows a craftsperson to maximize the aesthetic qualities of each log

DIY Projects

Hobbyists and DIY enthusiasts can benefit from portable sawmills for various projects:

• • Creating custom shelving and built-ins

  • Producing lumber for outdoor structures like sheds and pergolas

  • Milling unique wood species for specialty projects

  • The ability to produce small batches of custom-cut lumber makes unique projects more accessible and affordable

What to do with the lumber after it's cut?

While you can build with wet, green lumber, wood will dry over a period of time after it is cut which will cause it to shrink. That shrinking can cause boards to split at the ends, built up tension in the wood grain will cause it to bend and it can affect the structural stability of your project.

Because of that, many sawyers will plan out the drying process for their lumber. Drying lumber has a number of benefits:

• • Ensures the wood achieves optimal moisture levels before use

  • Prevents checking and cracking of boards

  • You don't have to stress about boards bowing or flexing, affecting the structural integrity of your project

Many sawmill owners will factor drying time into their milling plans. Some of the most popular types of drying techniques include:

Air drying: This involves leaving your lumber stacked. Sawyers will place small strips of wood, called stickers, between each board in a stack to ensure air flow between them. Others will often tie them down with straps so they retain their straightness. The advantage of air dried lumber is that you don't need to build any infrastructure, but weather could potentially slow the drying process.

Kiln drying: A kiln is a place where you store your lumber until it achieves the optimal moisture content. Many sawyers build solar kilns where the heat from the sun helps draw out the moisture in the wood, while others use electrical heaters. The advantage of this is that you have greater control of the speed of your drying and can potentially dry your wood much faster.

FAQ

Is there a difference between calling it a mill or a sawmill?

People tend to use these terms interchangeably.

While "mill" is a general term that can refer to various types of processing facilities (e.g., grain mills, paper mills), a sawmill specifically refers to a facility or machine designed for cutting logs into lumber. Sawmills are a type of mill focused on wood processing.

Most people when referring to sawmills will tend to just call them "mills" as a shorthand.

How do I move the logs to get onto a sawmill?

There are a few different ways of getting the logs onto the sawmill track:

• • A loading machine like a portable skid steer or something with an arm which can safely lower the log

  • A ramp and a cant hook can be used to lift the log onto the track

  • A winch and a ramp can also be used to carry the log with minimal human effort

Now it's time to get some sawmill blades and start milling lumber

Portable sawmills offer a versatile solution for turning logs into usable lumber. Whether you're a landowner looking to make use of fallen trees, a craftsman seeking unique materials, or an entrepreneur exploring niche markets, understanding what a sawmill does and how to use one opens up new possibilities.

With the right knowledge, skills, and safety precautions, a portable sawmill can be a valuable tool for anyone interested in working with wood.