A portable sawmill is a machine that consists of a blade either circular or band, and a guide system that cuts logs into boards, square timbers, or cants. Portable sawmills are light and compact compared to stationary sawmills. They are transported either in the back of a pick up, on a trailer, or they may have their own trailer axle and hitch.
There are several types of portable sawmills. They usually fall into one of three types.Band Sawmill
This type of portable sawmill has a saw head that is guided by tracks set on the frame of the mill. The log is loaded on to the log bed and the saw head is pushed into the log to make the cuts. This type of mill uses a looped metal blade called a band saw blade.
Swing Blade Mill
A swing blade mill also has a saw head that runs on tracks mounted to the frame and works similar to a band sawmill. However a swing blade mill can cut while the head is pushed and pulled. This innovation increases production significantly. This type of mill has a small circular blade usually 18 to 20 inches in diameter, that cuts horizontally and then is swung to a vertical position to make the return cut.
Chainsaw Mill or Alaskan Sawmill
A chainsaw mill is any sawmill that is powered by a chainsaw with a special ripping chain. This can be as simple as a metal guide mounted to the bar of the chainsaw and follows a track mounted to the log. Or a chainsaw can be mounted to a frame that runs along a track similar to the track system on a band sawmill.