Want to mill your own lumber? With a chain saw mill attachment you can cut logs into boards or beams. Learn more here.
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7 Best Chainsaw Lumber & Log Mill Attachments. Find the Best Option for Milling Lumber
Updated on Oct. 19, 2024
Chain saw mills, AKA Alaskan sawmills, are portable devices that allow one or two operators to rip-cut felled logs into boards or beams. Chain saws are great for felling trees, but unless you plan to chop every log into firewood, a chainsaw mill is a great addition to your tool collection.
Check out our lineup of the best chain saw mill attachments, plus some key aspects to remember when shopping for one.
Best Chain Saw Mill Overall
Granberg Chainsaw Alaskan Log Mill
The steel and aluminum Granberg Small Log Mill is remarkably easy to set up and use compared to other chain saw mills. Smart design and minimal tool requirements make it user-friendly.
Despite its small size, it lets you cut boards from 1/2-in. to 13 inches thick and up to 17 inches wide. That’s more than enough for most casual DIY lumber millers, at considerably lower cost than many others.
“This little chain saw mill is easy to use,” writes an Amazon reviewer. “It attached easily to the bar and the depth adjustment has a ruler to gauge the thickness of the slab accurately. With a rip chain on a 20-inch Stihl [chain saw] and some 2x4s as a rail guide to make my first cut, I was able to mill 10 six-foot slabs, 2-1/4-inches thick from a cedar tree on our property.”
Best Large Chain Saw Mill
Carmyra Portable Chainsaw Mill
The Carmyra Portable Chain Saw Mill stands out for its massive cutting width range (14 to 48 inches), heavy-duty steel and aluminum construction and surprisingly light weight. It lets you cut boards or beams with thickness between 1/2-in. and 13 inches for hours, or until your arms fall off from fatigue. (Milling big logs is pretty tiring work.)
Best Medium-Size Chain Saw Mill
Wood-CNL Portable Chainsaw Mill
Rugged design, a respectable cutting width range of 10 to 36 inches and excellent customer service are the star features of the medium-sized Portable Chain Saw Mill. Built with steel and aluminum, it only weighs 15 lbs. so it’s not too difficult to carry it through the bush.
Best Value Chain Saw Mill for 2x6s
Timber Tuff Steel Saw Mill Tool
The Timber Tuff Lumber Cutting Guide miniature chain saw is the perfect lightweight option for cutting 2x6s or smaller. Made of heavy-duty powder-coated steel, the compact 3-1/2-lb. unit can serve you well for many years. And because it’s compact, this mill is also fast and easy to assemble.
Best Small Chain Saw Mill
Granberg Alaskan MKIV Chainsaw Mill
The American-made Granberg Alaska Mark-IV Chain Saw Mill is a well-designed, reliable choice if you don’t plan on milling anything wider than 20 inches.
Made with strong aircraft-grade aluminum and steel, this mill comes with a lifetime warranty and a promise from the manufacturer to help the environment. Granberg has pledged that for every mill sold, they’ll plant a tree in a deforested area.
Best Chain Saw Edging Mill
Granberg Portable Edging Saw Mill
Rugged build, ease of use, guide rails and a lifetime warranty make the Granberg G555B Edging Mill stand out.
Edging mills are smaller, simpler versions of standard chain saw mills. Rather than milling boards, they’re good for squaring up logs and turning them into beams. Instead of locking to the chain saw bar at both ends and positioning it horizontally to rip cut-boards or beams, edging mills only secure to the bar at the bottom end and hold the saw vertically.
What to Look for When Buying a Chain Saw Mill Attachment
Owning a chain saw mill means you avoid transporting heavy logs to the saw mill or paying inflated prices at the lumber yard. If you’re an experienced chain saw user and like the idea of milling your lumber quickly and cheaply, consider these factors when shopping for a chain saw mill:
Compatibility with Your Chain Saw
- Log size: Take your best guess at the length and diameter of the logs you need to mill. This determines the size of chain saw, bar and mill you’ll need.
- Power: Check your chain saw’s engine size, measured in cubic centimeters (cc) of fuel that pass through the cylinder. The long, continuous cuts take a lot of horsepower, so it’s important your saw is up to the job. Get a saw that’s at least 50 cc for milling logs up to 12 inches in diameter. For larger logs larger, you’ll need more power — at least 60 cc. For logs 20 inches in diameter or more, you’ll need 70 cc or more.
- Bar length: Make sure your chain saw bar is at least four inches longer than the diameter of the largest logs you anticipate milling. You can’t use the full length of the bar when you attach the mill to your saw, so longer bars are usually a safer bet as long as your saw has the power to match.
- The right chain. Don’t use a regular chain saw chain for milling logs. They’re mainly for crosscutting. You’ll get much better, smoother boards and beams if you invest in a proper ripping chain. These cut parallel to the wood grain, with the teeth ground at a sharper angle than crosscutting chain teeth.
Material and Build Quality
- Durability: High-quality chain saw mill attachments are typically made using robust materials like steel or aluminum. Heavier steel components are strong and stable, making them ideal for heavy-duty milling tasks. Aluminum is lighter and more portable but should still be tough enough to maintain structural integrity.
- Design: Look for attachments with precision-machined parts and well-engineered connections to ensure smooth operation and accurate cuts. Adjustable components should lock firmly in place to prevent movement during use.
Cutting Capacity
Most chain saw mill attachments offer a range of board widths, usually a maximum of 20 to 36 inches and a minimum of 4 to 6 inches.
Adjustability is another key feature to keep in mind since you’ll likely be working with different board thicknesses and widths from project to project. Look for attachments with easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms that you can modify with precision.
For mill size, choose one large enough to accommodate your chain saw bar. If milling logs large enough to need a bar 42 inches or longer, choose a mill large and heavy-duty enough to handle the load. The same advice applies if you’re using two chain saws in tandem with a double-ended bar. For extra-large logs, it’s possible to join two chain saw motors together with a single chain on a double-ended bar. This technique drastically increases cutting speed.
Ease of Use and Setup
- Assembly: Look for a user-friendly design that’s straightforward and requires minimal tools. Many attachments come with good instructions and pre-drilled holes for easy mounting.
- Handling and operation: Features like ergonomic handles, smooth adjustment levers and clear markings can make operating the chain saw mill easier to calibrate and less tiring.
Portability
- Mill weight: If you’re working solo, choose a chain saw mill you can easily lift and use by yourself. Big milling jobs require a work partner; be sure the two of you can handle the weight of a large mill.
- Disassembly: You want to be able to quickly take apart the mill attachment when the work is done. Many brands have quick-release mechanisms or simple fastening systems that let you easily break down the attachment for storage or transport.
Safety Features
- Stability: Reinforced rails and secure mounting systems can help minimize vibrations and prevent shifting during use. This added stability lets you maintain control and accuracy while also reducing the risk of accidents.
- Visibility: Attachments with clear, unobstructed sightlines let you monitor your cutting path to make precise adjustments easily.
Additional Accessories
- Guide rails: Nearly all chain saw mills need guide rails to work properly. These keep the mill moving horizontally so your boards or beams come out square and true. Most chain saw mills don’t come with guide rails, so you’ll likely need to buy a set separately
- End brackets: These keep the guide bar stable during cutting, keeping the log secure against the mill so that it stays steady and aligned for the full milling process. These are usually made from heavy-duty materials to resist wearing over time.
Price and Value
As you can see from our own list of our favorite chain saw mill attachments, they can vary widely in price. This depends mainly on factors like build quality, cutting capacity and additional features. Budget-friendly options may provide basic functionality, while more expensive models offer enhanced durability, greater adjustability and advanced safety features.
A final consideration to keep in mind when shopping is warranty. Decent warranty coverage, lasting one or several years, is usually a good sign that reflects the manufacturer’s confidence in their product.
Why You Should Trust Us
Robert Maxwell has tested tools since 2009. His expertise has been published in several other publications like Mother Earth News, Backwoods Home and Sensible Driver. For this piece, he tapped into his experience in homebuilding and woodworking to provide us with a deep dive on what makes a great chain saw mill attachment and shared his favorite models.
Paul Rankin, Content Updates Editor at Taste of Home, updated and contributed research to this article. Paul is a former commerce editor at Bob Vila and has written shopping guides since 2021.
How We Found the Best Chain Saw Mill Attachments
Our top picks for chain saw mill attachments came together after looking at a wide range of products based on key criteria such as build quality, cutting capacity, ease of use and overall value. Our research analyzed user reviews to check performance and reliability. We prioritized models that are easy to assemble and disassemble. We also chose from a range of price points to suit both heavy-duty and budget-friendly options.
FAQ
What is the best chain angle for milling?
The most common angle for a chain saw mill is 10 degrees. This varies depending on your own setup, so experiment to find what works best for you.
How many cc’s do you need for a chain saw mill?
Chain saw mills need more power than regular chain saw tasks, so you should look for a chain saw with a minimum 70cc engine for best results.
How long does it take to mill a log with a chain saw?
Every log is different. Diameter and length varies the times drastically. It also really depends on the power of the chain saw you’re using, too. Typical users might get through an eight-foot log in around 30 minutes (but it really depends on all the factors we just mentioned).
