By Bob Beacham | Updated May 11, 2022 9:28 AM

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Store-bought lumber is expensive, and it can vary in quality considerably. If you have access to a supply of logs, milling your own almost certainly will help save money. It also provides complete control over beam and board sizes and allows for close monitoring of quality.

Chainsaw mills provide a versatile, portable, easy-to-use solution. Many mills also are very affordable, particularly for those who already own a suitable chainsaw for felling or cutting firewood. That said, chainsaw mills aren’t particularly common tools, so many people don’t understand which features are important.

This article not only offers some helpful tips and suggestions but also takes a detailed look at some of the best chainsaw mills available. An in-depth look at the market and thorough product vetting went into creating this list of top picks.

A chainsaw mill (also called a “chainsaw sawmill” or “Alaskan sawmill”) isn’t a particularly complicated device. However, chainsaw mills possess a number of key features that differentiate them, which has a big impact on choice.

Chainsaw mill compatibility can be considered in two ways: in terms of power requirement or whether a particular make or model of chainsaw will fit the device.

Cutting planks with a chainsaw mill requires a saw with considerable power. While a few cordless chainsaws offer comparable performance for tree felling or log cutting, milling takes a lot of energy and soon drains the battery. The challenge with even the best corded electric chainsaws is overheating. While a safety cutout usually prevents damage to the saw, it makes them impractical for milling.

That leaves gas-powered chainsaws as the only sensible choice. When describing compatibility with a chainsaw, chainsaw mill manufacturers often describe their tools as fitting “most types of chainsaw.” However, restrictions exist in bar length, so a minimum engine displacement (cc) is suggested. While some mills clamp the chainsaw bar, a few require it to be drilled to affix it, something many users would rather avoid.

Chainsaws are usually described by their bar capacity: 16 inch, 24 inch, etc. When considering chainsaw mills, this bar size has a major impact on the maximum diameter of log that can be milled, and thus the width of plank.

However, the dimensions sometimes can be misleading. If the mill clamps the bar end, as many do, it reduces the length available for cutting. So, while bar size is important for fitting the chainsaw to the mill, also check the mill’s cut size to determine its actual capacity.

Cutting depth is another key feature, and that depends on the type of chainsaw mill chosen. Some cut with the chainsaw held vertically (often called “edging mills”). These offer unlimited versatility, but repeatable accuracy is more challenging. Other mills cut with the chainsaw mounted horizontally, which can be set to a consistent thickness. Most run from ½ inch to 12 inches, though cuts as thin as 1/5 inch are possible. Some large-capacity models can exceed 15 inches.

Small chainsaw mills frequently arrive ready to go right out of the box, but larger models generally require some assembly. Hardware is invariably included, and the tools may be, but the user may need to grab a couple of wrenches. These are not complicated devices, but the quality of their instructions does vary.

As mentioned, most chainsaw mills clamp the chainsaw bar. Some require drilling, which entails extra work. As many options exist that don’t require drilling, it’s probably best to avoid these models.

Chainsaw mills fall into two categories: edging mills and horizontal mills. Edging mills must be run on a board mounted to the log, and they’re generally used for squaring up logs for building purposes rather than for cutting multiple planks. Horizontal mills rest on top of the log and cut consistent plank thicknesses. Adjustment is usually straightforward via a couple of bolts.

One of the biggest advantages of a chainsaw mill is portability. Often weighing in at just 4 or 5 pounds, even the larger horizontal models seldom go over 20 pounds. Because they’re so lightweight, users can easily take the mill to the felled tree and work on-site. With only the cut lumber to move, a trailer or pickup truck often is sufficient to transfer the wood.

Construction is generally a mix of steel and aluminum. Steel offers great strength, so it’s used for the main structural components that hold things together. Chainsaw mills are often electroplated (usually with zinc, nickel, or chrome) to protect against rust. Aluminum is much lighter, so it’s generally used for the guide rails. Look for a rugged build with consistent welds and metal with substantial thickness or cross-section.

Chainsaw mills are a reasonably simple tool to use, but always follow basic safety precautions. Also take a couple of important steps when setting up the mill to ensure consistent, quality results.

Now, let’s apply all this useful information to some of the best chainsaw mills currently available. Keep reading to learn more about some of the best chainsaw mills on today’s market.

The Granberg Alaskan Mark-IV takes top honors for its build quality, ease of use, and versatile capacity.

The sturdy construction combines heavy-duty zinc-plated steel and aluminum. It takes around 30 minutes to assemble, but once assembled, clamping and adjustment are fast thanks to clearly marked depth scales. At only 20 pounds, it’s portable too.

The Granberg Alaskan Mark-IV chainsaw mill is designed to take a maximum 36-inch chainsaw, and the manufacturer recommends a motor capacity of 70cc or better. It can take smaller chainsaws, but if working with a smaller chainsaw, consider a lower-cost mill: the Granberg isn’t cheap. The bar clamp takes 3 to 4 inches from the cutting capacity. So, if using a 20-inch bar, for example, the cut is restricted to around 16 inches.

Get the Granberg chainsaw mill on Amazon.

With a well-proven design and constructed from high-quality steel and aluminum, the Carmyra is a premium chainsaw mill at a budget price. Unfortunately, the instructions are only fair, so assembling the mill can be frustrating. However, once put together, it has competitive capacities and should prove durable.

Carmyra claims a cutting width of 36 inches, but this measurement doesn’t take into account the clamp. While these always reduce capacity a bit, on the Carmyra, the loss is around 5 inches—not insignificant. Although the mill can take chainsaws as small as 14 inches, that only leaves a 9-inch cut, which seldom is practical. With this model, experts advise using a 30-inch or longer saw, which makes this an affordable option.

Get the Carmyra chainsaw mill on Amazon.

Not everyone needs to mill large logs; in fact, 24-inch chainsaws are a more popular general-purpose tool than 36-inch models. The HiHydro mill uses these smaller chainsaws, yet it can still cut lumber from ½ inch to 12 inches thick, offering great versatility for hobby woodworkers or professionals. This portable sawmill is also compact enough to fit in the trunk of most cars.

Constructed with rustproof stainless steel and aircraft-grade aluminum, the HiHydro is very durable. However, assembly requires some patience, as the provided instructions are somewhat difficult to follow. Reports have been made of manufacturing faults, though these are relatively rare. The price is low enough that those undecided about milling their own lumber can do so without making a major investment.

Get the HiHydro chainsaw mill on Amazon.

Granberg classifies its G777 as a small-log chainsaw mill. While capacities aren’t equal to the Alaskan Mark-IV, the G777 is a quality tool that offers versatility in cutting depth. It’s also more compact and lighter than the Alaskan Mark-IV, making it ideal for field use when more modest log sizes are available.

The G777 tracks across the surface of the board like other horizontal mills, but it’s only supported on one side. As a result, users should take care when setting up the first cut. Subsequent cuts also require focus to maintain accuracy, though most users should acclimate to the tool quickly.

Get the Granberg chainsaw mill at Northern Tool.

Featuring a similar design to the Granberg Alaskan Mark-IV, the XRKJ is a low-cost horizontal chainsaw mill that uses quality materials. For the occasional user, it also offers good value for the money.

Steel and aluminum construction mean that it’s not only strong but also lightweight. However, unfortunately, build quality can vary, which can make assembly sometimes frustrating. Although the minimum bar size is listed as 12 inches, the resulting maximum cut is only around 8 inches. Additionally, chainsaws of that size are unlikely to provide sufficient power, so a 20-inch chainsaw is the smallest practical size.

Get the XRKJ chainsaw mill on Amazon.

The Granberg Alaskan Mark-IV Mill is an outstanding tool, widely recognized for excellent build quality and long-term durability. For those who plan to use a mill regularly, it represents money well spent. While not made to the same standard, the Carmyra Portable Chainsaw Mill is similarly designed and represents great value for the less-frequent user.

As the owner of a large property, I have considerable experience with chainsaws. I am also an engineer by profession, so I have a good understanding of the structure and function of chainsaw mills. When selecting our top picks, I used the following criteria:

The previous sections offer an in-depth look at the technical aspects of chainsaw mills followed by real-world examples. Together, they give the mill buyer extensive information on the subject. However, in researching this article, a number of questions came up that benefit from separate answers.

If you’re looking for an affordable, easily portable tool for sawing a modest number of logs per year, the chainsaw mill is probably the better choice, especially if you already own a suitable chainsaw. A bandsaw mill offers higher productivity and less waste, but most are a lot more expensive. They are more likely to appeal to those who are milling logs commercially.

Each chainsaw mill has a maximum size chainsaw that will fit it. As this is one of those occasions when you can never have too much power, experts recommend using the biggest chainsaw possible within the specifications of the chosen mill.

Usually, yes. Most chainsaw mills offer a degree of versatility; however, a smaller bar restricts the size of logs that you can cut.

There are numerous models of Alaskan mills, ranging from the smallest, which can take a 12-inch chainsaw, to the largest, which can use a 60-inch chainsaw.

Chainsaw milling is not a fast process because so much depends on the log size and material. In general, it should take somewhere between 10 and 20 minutes per cut.

Most experts suggest a 50cc gas chainsaw as an absolute minimum, though 70cc or above is normally recommended.

A standard chainsaw chain is designed to cut across the tree trunk for felling or cutting logs for firewood. Effectively, this means you’re cutting across the grain. A ripping chain is designed to cut with the grain along the length of the trunk, so it’s better when using a chainsaw mill.

Each chainsaw mill has a maximum depth of cut and a maximum width. How the mill clamps the chainsaw blade has an impact, so check the chainsaw mill’s specifications carefully.

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