Practical sawmill buying guides
Find the Right Sawmill for Your Logs and Budget
Straightforward comparisons of chainsaw mills, portable bandsaw mills, and the specs that matter before you buy.
Choose the Right Type of Mill
Each type suits different logs, budgets and amounts of sawing. Start with the one closest to how you'll use it.
Chainsaw Mill Attachments
A low-cost way to cut your own boards with a chainsaw you already own. Slower than a bandsaw mill, but with a long bar it can slab logs wider than many bandsaw mills take.
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Manual Bandsaw Mills
Faster than a chainsaw mill, with a thinner cut that wastes less wood. You push the head and turn the log by hand, which suits steady part-time sawing.
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Hydraulic Bandsaw Mills
Hydraulic arms load, turn and clamp the log, so one person can handle big logs without a cant hook. Suited to heavy use and small sawmill businesses.
See the comparisonStart With These Buying Guides
Two places to start if you're ready to narrow it down to one machine.
Buying guide
Best Chainsaw Mill Attachment Overall
Four chainsaw mill attachments compared on bar length, cutting depth and price, and the one we'd pick.
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Buying guide
Best Portable Sawmill Overall
Our pick for a first bandsaw mill, what you'll really spend, and where the big-name brands fit in.
Read the guideCompare Portable Sawmill Specifications
60 band and chainsaw mills from 14 brands, side by side. Filter by brand or log size, and sort by any column.
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