10 Best Chainsaw Mills in 2022
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A chainsaw mill is a great way to cut your own lumber wherever you need to and save some money in the process. Normally, sawing lumber is a difficult task and requires a few extra hands to work for you at an extra cost. With a chainsaw mill, you can set up your own mill wherever a tree falls, and get the job done in a matter of hours.
If you are new to this and need a chainsaw sawmill to get your own lumber, it can be hard to understand how they work, what you need, and where to find them. Here, we have gathered some of the best chainsaw mills available, linking to Amazon pages where you can purchase them.
View the Best Chainsaw Mill, Below.
- Granberg G777 Chain Saw Mill
- GRANBERG G778-36 Alaskan Mark-IV Chainsaw Mill
- Timber Tuff TMW-56 Lumber Cutting Guide
- Carmyra Portable Chainsaw mill
- Granberg MK-IV G778-30 Alaskan Chainsaw Mill
- RCTEC 9 FT Rail Mill Guide System
- HiHydro Portable Chainsaw Mill
- Zchoutrade Portable Chainsaw Mill
- VBENLEM Chainsaw Mill Planking Milling
- Popsport Chainsaw Mill Guide Bar
1. Granberg G777 Chain Saw Mill
The first chainsaw mill to review is this Granberg G777 from Alaskan. This chainsaw mill is designed to make your lumber cutting experience as simple as possible. It is lightweight so you can carry it around easily, and it requires very little assembly. In fact, it takes less than an hour to assemble and requires no drilling, unlike some of the more complex chainsaw mills on the market.
This mill is not the lightest, but it is certainly small enough to carry around. It is also very strong and sturdy in its design. Using steel, it will resist vibrations when in use and can fit most chainsaw brands. It does have a max chainsaw bar length of 20 inches, so it is not suited to bigger jobs. Otherwise, it can make cuts up to 18 inches wide and 13 inches deep with little effort.
If you want a smaller chainsaw mill to carry around, this requires less assembly than many other chainsaw mills available and is designed to resist vibration too.
Check Price on Amazon ➞2. GRANBERG G778-36 Alaskan Mark-IV Chainsaw Mill
This is another Alaskan Granberg chainsaw mill, designed to make bigger cuts in your wood. The Alaskan mark IV can work with a bar up to 36 inches long and can be used to cut 13 inches deep and 27 inches wide. This is pretty impressive as a saw mill for chainsaw users, as their portability normally limits the sizing.
Of course, this is still a bit bigger and heavier than other chainsaw mills, and it requires more effort to carry it around. However, this is not a big difference if you want to cut larger lumber. It is also very strong and sturdy thanks to the steel it is made from, and it works well to prevent vibration during use.
This is the ideal chainsaw mill for cutting large slabs of wood, with a maximum chainsaw bar size of 36 inches and a maximum depth of 13 inches.
Check Price on Amazon ➞3. Timber Tuff TMW-56 Lumber Cutting Guide
Next up, we have a slightly different style of chainsaw mill. As the name suggests, Timber Tuff has produced this tool to be more of a cutting guide than a mill, as it doesn’t work in quite the same way as the Alaskan chainsaw mills above. Instead, it allows you to attach your chainsaw at a vertical angle and simply use the tool as a guide. As a result, it can work with any size of the chainsaw bar. You may find it beneficial to use a ripping chain if you use this.
Of course, the main benefit of this is that it is cheaper. You can buy this particular lumber cutting guide at a much lower price than the other chainsaw mills, and it is more compact too. Unfortunately, it does make it less stable than a standard chainsaw mill as you have to run it manually from above. Nonetheless, it will save money, and it has a nice finish too, so it won't corrode.
If you want to cut your own lumber, without spending too much money, this could be your answer, as it works with all chainsaws at a more affordable price.
Check Price on Amazon ➞4. Carmyra Portable Chainsaw mill
Another big chainsaw mill is this portable option from Carmyra. Like the Alaskan Granberg options, this product can deal with larger bits of wood as it functions with a chainsaw bar length of 36 inches. This is an impressive size for a portable sawmill, and its simple construction means it does not affect its portability. It also cuts the price of the Alaskan models quite heavily for a chainsaw mill of this size.
In terms of setting it up, it has no drilling bar, so less equipment is required. It also has the option to buy a rail system alongside. This is an expensive additional purchase, but it can come in handy if you don’t have one or you aren’t prepared to find your own. This chainsaw mill will fit any chainsaw, as long as the chain bar is an appropriate length.
This is another of the best chainsaw mills which works with longer chainsaw bars, so you can cut through bigger bits of wood for your lumber needs.
Check Price on Amazon ➞5. Granberg MK-IV G778-30 Alaskan Chainsaw Mill
Yet another Alaskan MK-IV Chainsaw Mill is this G778-30 edition. This is essentially the same as the 36-inch version, but it deals with smaller scale chainsaw bars. This has good features and bad features. As it is shorter, you can't work with longer chainsaws, and therefore thicker logs, whereas the other version, could work well with shorter logs if necessary. However, it is cheaper, so if you only need shorter planks, it isn't a problem.
It still holds all the main benefits too. It is constructed out of strong and sturdy steel, and it has good anti-vibration qualities, which make it more stable. The end brackets used are very robust too. As well as preventing vibrations, they can withstand impact and won’t get damaged after regular use, no matter what happens. Of course, it is also easier to carry around as it is a smaller model.
This will cut deep into wide logs of wood with a very stable set up, and it can be mounted to your chainsaw bar very simply, only using a wrench.
Check Price on Amazon ➞6. RCTEC 9 FT Rail Mill Guide System
When you want to use a chainsaw mill to cut into your first log, you will find that you need something to get it started. It is all well and good having a trusty mill set up to guide your chainsaw along, but it can be hard to get a good, straight first cut manually, or by simply using another plank. There are three tools needed for a good cut: the chainsaw mill, saw, and some rails. That is where this comes in.
This is a rail guide system for your chainsaw mill to ensure that your saw starts off in a straight line. It is a long extra piece of rail that attaches to the chainsaw mill, so you get a bit of a run-up, rather than cutting in badly. This is actually very long, at 9 feet, and it comes in 3 dividable sections of 3 feet each, so it is easier to transport. The aluminum is very strong and stable, but you might want to be careful watching the connecting points.
This is a great way to get a clean first cut into your lumber no matter how long it needs to be, as it comes in 3 separate sections.
Check Price on Amazon ➞7. HiHydro Portable Chainsaw Mill
Here we have another portable chainsaw mill, this time from HiHydro. The manufacturer has produced this chainsaw mill to look great while being sturdy and strong at the same time. The aluminum is tough enough to be stable while you cut into your lumber, but it is also chromed so that it looks like a high-quality product. Regardless of this, it comes at a more affordable price than some of its competitors.
Again, this is a product that requires little effort for assembly. No drilling is required in order to attach it to your chainsaw mill, so you don't need to carry extra equipment. It also comes in 2 different size options. The smaller option works with a chainsaw bar up to 36 inches long, which is about as big as the competitors get. However, there is a huge 48-inch alternative if you want to work with some huge lumber.
This offers two options for chainsaw bar length, with a maximum of 48 inches, allowing you to cut huge logs for an affordable price.
Check Price on Amazon ➞8. Zchoutrade Portable Chainsaw Mill
Next up is this portable chainsaw mill from Zchoutrade. This is much like many of its competitors, as it is designed to be strong and sturdy in use and fit a range of chainsaws. Like the HiHydro model before it, this is one of the best chainsaw mills for use with a larger chainsaw bar. It is capable of attaching to a bar of up to 36 inches in length and then has another model that can reach 48 inches. This is ideal for owners of large chainsaws.
Beyond that, there is little difference between this and the other best chainsaw mill products available. There is no drilling required in the setting up, which makes it easier to arrange all the parts and also easier to transport as there is less equipment needed. The only real difference between this and the HiHydro would be the price.
Here we have yet another option for a portable mill which can deal with impressive amounts of wood, and has an option to work with a larger chainsaw.
Check Price on Amazon ➞9. VBENLEM Chainsaw Mill Planking Milling
Another option for cutting your logs is this mill for planking and milling from VBENLEM. VBENLEM has produced this chainsaw mill to be one of the best mills for smaller chainsaws. If your chainsaw bar is 24 inches long or less, you can use this with reliability as it has a sturdy construction. The high-quality construction also means that it is resistant to vibrations, so you are less likely to make errors when cutting into your logs.
As well as stability, this chainsaw mill gives efficiency. It is one of the best for planking and milling your logs, and you can adjust the height and width very easily in order to suit the size of the log that you are working with. It doesn’t take long to set up either, and it is definitely light enough for transportation.
This is another powerful and efficient mill that is designed to remain sturdy throughout use and to resist vibrations, which can cause problems.
Check Price on Amazon ➞10. Popsport Chainsaw Mill Guide Bar
Finally, we have this chainsaw mill guide bar from Popsport. This chainsaw mill is designed to work best with longer chainsaw bars. If you like to use a larger chainsaw for milling lumber, this is one of the best options available. It can work with a chainsaw bar 48 inches long, making it the joint largest in our review.
This is also very easy to install and is light and compact enough to take wherever you need. It has a range of applications, too, as it is popular with people working on home projects, as well as professional woodworkers. It has a high-quality steel construction so it will not let you down when you cut into your logs, and you can adjust the height and width as you need.
This is an efficient chainsaw mill with a wide range of lumber applications. It is ideal for those with bigger chainsaws, thanks to a maximum length of 48 inches.
Check Price on Amazon ➞Chainsaw Mill Buyer’s Guide
Chainsaw milling can seem like a difficult task if you are new to it, and with so many mills on the market, it can be hard to know which is best. When buying a sawmill for chainsaw use, you need to take into account various features. What sort of pieces of lumber you need cutting, what sort of cut you need to make, and how portable it should be, are all important. However, it essentially comes down to the price of the chainsaw mill, and the style of chainsaw you currently use.
The best chainsaw mills are the ones that make cutting pieces of lumber as easy as possible. Therefore, the best mill for you will be the mill that matches your current chainsaw, and your current lumber cutting needs. With that said, let us look at some tips for how to find the best mill, and how to know what you need to get the best cut.
Where to Look?
The most obvious place to look when buying a new product, like a mill for cutting logs of wood, is Amazon. As an online marketplace, Amazon always seems like the best place to go to help you find the best product, whether that is a mill for cutting pieces of lumber or something completely different.
The problem with Amazon is that you can’t always trust the reviews quite as much as you would like. Such a popular website takes advantage of advertising to a great extent, and if people can use these sites to earn advertising fees, you can’t be sure they aren’t biased in their comments.
What happens far too often, is some comments and reviews are designed to mislead consumers so that the authors can profit from it. For example, a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program (an affiliate advertising program designed to provide fees by advertising and linking products) would happily tell you that one mill is the best for cutting lumber from logs when actually it might not be reliable at all.
Amazon is still a fantastic source of all sorts of products, but it is wise to take reviews with a pinch of salt, as you never know who is getting a cut of the profits in online retail. It is a cutting-edge business, after all.
What do you Need?
The best chainsaw mills are the ones that suit your needs. There are plenty of chainsaw mills with huge bar lengths, but there is no point buying them if you have a small chain and bar. You could also find chainsaw mills with long rails for making the first cuts into logs, but if you are only an occasional user, you might make do with some previously cut lumber on the end. Whatever the choice, it is important you don’t waste money on a mill with features that you don’t really need.
The most important thing is to ensure that your mill will match the size of your bar. If the bar and chain are longer than the area the mill provides, they will not be any good for cutting into logs. Some mills will have very high bar lengths, and these will work with any bar shorter than that length. Some mills will also have minimum requirements, so keep that in mind.
It is important that your mill is easy to set up too. The whole point of a portable mill is that it saves you time and money because you don’t have to transport the logs to another lumber mill to get started. A mill that does not require a drill bar in order to attach itself will save you time and space as you won’t need extra equipment. A perfect mill should be quick to set up, and most good products can be ready in under an hour.
Apart from making sure it is portable and efficient, not much else matters. When buying a mill, you might want to find one which is corrosion resistant, or other similar features, but this is not as important if you are an infrequent user. The best mill for you will be strong, sturdy, and reliable. As long as the mill fits your equipment and makes the job easier, you know it is good enough for you.
Expert Tip
If you are just starting out with your first portable mill, you should consider purchasing a set of rails to help make the initial cut into a log straighter.
Did you know?
Although some chainsaw mills boast a high chainsaw bar size, a chainsaw with a smaller bar will still work fine within the stated limits.