The best chainsaw mill has to fit many competing specifications, which can make it hard to find the right one for your needs. Chainsaw mills should be durable and heavy enough to cut through whatever thickness of wood you find in the trees around your property. At the same time, they should be lightweight enough for portability and easy to use to reduce the safety hazard the open blade presents. Choosing a mill compatible with the chainsaw you already own can be an essential consideration.
Our top five picks are summarized in the table below, and the features that set them apart are noted. Read on for detailed reviews based on users’ feedback and the pros and cons of each chainsaw mill.
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Table of Contents
Best Chainsaw Mills 2024
| Chainsaw Mill | Photo | Length | Dimensions | Latest Rating | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmyra Portable Chainsaw Mill 36 Inches |  | 14-36 Inches | 36 x 12 x 18 Inches |  | CLICK HERE |
| Alaskan Granberg Chainsaw Mill, Model #G777 |  | 17 Inches | 24 x 13 x 4 Inches |  | CLICK HERE |
| Imony Chainsaw Mill 36 Inches |  | 36 Inches | 37.9 x 10.5 x 2.8 Inches |  | CLICK HERE |
| JMTAAT Portable Chainsaw Mill 14-36 Inches |  | 14-36 Inches | 36.3 x 12.8 x 2.9 Inches | | CLICK HERE |
| Zchoutrade Portable Chainsaw Mill 14-36 Inches |  | 14-36 Inches | 37.7 x 10.7 x 2.8 Inches | | CLICK HERE |
Check out our Top 5 Chainsaw Mills:
Carmyra Portable Chainsaw Mill 36 Inches
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, it has competitive capacities once put together and should prove durable.
Carmyra claims a cutting width of 36 inches, but this measurement doesn’t consider the clamp. While these permanently 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, making this an affordable option.
Salient Features-
- 36-inch maximum length
- 13-inch maximum thickness
- High-quality steel and aluminum construction
- Works without attaching drilling bar
- Comparatively lower price
Alaskan Granberg Chainsaw Mill, Model #G777
The chainsaw mill by Alaskan Granberg is one of the best products in this category that you can opt for. Overall it’s a great product and is designed to get the job done with maximum convenience. It’s a convenient and lightweight product that can process nearly any timber. The machine can process wood that is up to 13″ thick and 17″ wide. You can also attach this to your chainsaw without a drilling bar, given that the bar length of your chainsaw is 20″ or less. The quality of this product is also excellent, as it is made of high-grade aluminum and zinc-plates steel.
Salient Features-
- 17-inch maximum length
- 13-inch maximum thickness
- Lightweight and portable
- High build quality
- Works with 20-inch bar chainsaws or lower
Imony Chainsaw Mill 36 Inches
Imony is one of the most popular tools and accessories brands related to chainsaw mills out there. It even makes portable chainsaw mills like the one present in this article. The Imony portable chainsaw mill is present in the 1st position in this article as it is one of the best performing options out there. One of the best things about this chainsaw mill is that it is made of aluminum and highly durable 304 steel. And since it also comes with a lifetime warranty, you can expect it to last for a long time without any issues.
Its name has a maximum length or width of 36″ that is more than enough for any portable chainsaw mill. And it offers a maximum thickness of 13″, which is quite ordinary compared with other options. But the best part about this chainsaw mill is that it offers all of this at a very justified price tag.
Salient Features-
- 36-inch maximum length
- 13-inch maximum thickness
- Lifetime warranty
- Construction using 304 steel and aluminum
- Easy to use
- Portable despite the larger size
JMTAAT Portable Chainsaw Mill 14-36 Inches
Jmtaat is a relatively small brand. But it manufactures a wide range of power tools and hand tools accessories that are reliable and offer value for money. Jmtaat’s portable chainsaw mill is ideal for DIY builders, woodworkers, and outdoor enthusiasts. It is compatible with bar lengths from 14″ to 36″ that are the most commonly used ones. It supports mill slabs from ½ inches to 12 inches thick and 36″ inches long.
The chainsaw mill is made of aluminum and steel, which makes it durable and lightweight. It weighs only 13.5 lbs. so you can carry it easily wherever you want. You can adjust the height and width of the chainsaw mill for maximum convenience.
Salient Features-
- 36-inch maximum length
- 12-inch maximum thickness
- Lightweight and portable
- Durable construction
- Works with chainsaw bars of 14 to 36 inches
Zchoutrade Portable Chainsaw Mill 14-36 Inches
Zchoutrade Portable Chainsaw Mill 14-36 Inch Portable Aluminum Steel Mig Welding Saw Mill 36 Inch Planking Lumber Cutting Bar
The portable chainsaw mill by Zchoutrade is one of the best products out there in the category of Alaskan sawmills, and there are multiple reasons for it. To begin with, this equipment is made of high-quality aluminum and steel, making it a very durable option to go for. You can use it to cut oak, cedar, and walnut. This product can cut lumber up to 13″ thick and 36″ wide, allowing you to process more significant pieces of wood. Moreover, you do not need a drilling bar to attach this chainsaw mill to a saw.
Salient Features-
- Best for beginners at milling
- Can accommodate up to 48-inch bar length
- Ideal for owners of large chainsaws
Chainsaw Mill Buying Guide
With the demand for these sawmills rising, you can now find thousands of models with different specifications, features, and variations out there. While some models might be more powerful and bulky, others would be less powerful but more portable. Moreover, there are multiple factors that you will have to consider while purchasing a sawmill.
If you get a sawmill that’s more powerful and equipped beyond your needs, it would be overkill since you’d be spending more money. Similarly, if you get a sawmill that is not powerful enough and does not have the required features, it would be an underfill since it won’t fulfill your needs. Consequently, it is essential to gauge your needs and requirements and go for the product aligned with them. We’ve evaluated and reviewed the highest-rated chainsaw mills in 2023 to help you make the right decision and choose the product that suits your needs.
Chainsaw Compatibility
Chainsaw mill compatibility can be considered in two ways: 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.
Bar Capacity and Cutting Depth
Chainsaws are usually described by their bar capacity: 16 inches, 24 inches, etc. When considering chainsaw mills, this bar size has a significant impact on the maximum diameter of the log that can be milled and, thus, the width of the 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 essential for fitting the chainsaw to the mill, check its cut size to determine its actual capacity.
Cutting depth is another crucial feature 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 horizontally with the chainsaw, 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.
Ease of Use
Small chainsaw mills frequently arrive ready to go right out of the box, but larger models generally require assembly. Hardware is invariably included, and the tools maybe, 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.
Portability and Durability
One of the most significant 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.
Conclusion
If you want to cut wood logs into particular-sized pieces using a chainsaw, then a chainsaw mill can be a great way to do so. These allow you to turn your chainsaw into a precise wood cutting mill. Although, you have to consider various things while buying any of the various chainsaw mills present in this article. Thus, we have mentioned all of their details and a detailed buying guide to learn everything about chainsaw mills.