Amazing Cut from the Alaskan Sawmill

Some logs are just too wide for our Wood Mizer band mill and require using another method.  Enter the Alaskan Sawmill.  The Alaskan sawmill, also called an Alaskan mill or chainsaw mill, uses two guide rails that are attached to the chainsaw bar to aid the chainsaw in making even thickness cuts.  The first cut is made using a ladder that is fastened to the log in order to get the first flat cut.  All future cuts are then made off the previous flat cut.  In other words, the previous cut becomes the guide for the next cut. 

The depth of the chainsaw cuts are determined by the distance that the rails are set from the chainsaw bar.  It is important to have a bar wider than the log for support and to use a ripping chain.  Our bar is 52”, and our ripping blade is ten degree.  (Note:  most chain saws come with cross-cut chains because the most common cut is against the grain for firewood). 

Benefits to the Alaskan sawmill are the relatively inexpensive cost when compared to a band mill or circular saw.  Another benefit is its portability.  Negatives of an Alaskan sawmill include the slow speed when compared to a traditional mill and the larger kerf cut when compared to band saw or circular saw cuts.