Mobile
Sawmills
With the closure of so many small country and estate mills, the relatively
recent phenomenon of rapid sales of mobile sawmills has been dramatic.
Doubtless, some of this has been grant driven, especially when one
sees brand new mills standing idly gathering dust and not doing any
work. But the last 15 years have seen a rapid move on the part of
machinery makers to produce ever more capable machines, many of which
can produce very high quality sawn timber, as good as any produced
by the large mills.
At the risk of upsetting some machinery makers, I will say here and
now that I do not believe
there are any mobile mills currently on the market that are the best
at everything. Generally, all the log breakdown mills on the market
can do all types of milling, but only really shine at certain aspects
of milling. Machines range from simple manual operation to highly
automated units. The secret with any mill is well maintained, sharp
blades. These blades are made to cut wood, not dirt and stone. Although
the circular tungsten-tipped blades are tougher than the wide and
narrow bandsaws, it should be borne in mind that no blade is bombproof.
If you abuse them, you will never get any production, and you would
be wiser to sell your mill.
Alaskan Mill
The Alaskan Mill was originally developed by Granberg over 30 years
ago, and it has proven itself in all sorts of harsh environments worldwide.
The basic frame clamps onto your chainsaw guide-bar. This then regulates
what depth of cut you make, and is available with
24-48” rails. The secret with this type of mill is to use a
chainsaw with plenty of power, ideally from the top of the power range.
As it seems that there are fewer and fewer large
saws knocking about, alaskanmill. co.uk is experimenting with high
power non-branded saws, which are relatively low in cost. 0800 0197551
www.alaskanmill.co.uk
Just Saws
Just Saws is the main agent for the Hud-Son Oscar range of
narrow bandsaws and ancillary equipment. The Oscar range is well tried
and tested, having been manufactured
in the US for over 10 years. The Oscar is currently available in the
UK in 4 different models – the 18, 228, 30 and 36 – and
capacity ranges from 18” to 36”. The Oscar range are basic
manual mills, easy to maintain and use. Yet some of the larger models
have powered rise and fall, and the option of powered feed and precutter/debarker.
The range can either work on the ground or be mounted, offering full
mobility. On top of this there is a full no quibble
2-year manufacturer’s warranty on the mills. 01428 661222
www.justsaws.co.uk
Marshall Engineering
Marshalls supplies the German designed and made Serra range of mobile
and stationary mills. Serra makes a variety of saws utilising wide
bandsaw and narrow bandsaw technology. Many of the mills have modular
construction, where various features can be added as and when needed.
This feature allows purchasers to customise the mill to their need.
These features include sawdust containers, debarkers, log loaders,
toeboard clamps, log clamp turners, squaring arms and roller drums.
The largest bandsaw is the Africa SL1660, a large capacity saw capable
of milling logs up to 1.6m in diameter. The design was originally
developed from Serra’s experience in Ghana, Nigeria and Angola.
The Bavaria SL 110 and Bavaria SL 130 have proven themselves in the
UK as good machines. They can easily handle logs up to and over a
metre in diameter. If you regularly saw smaller sawlogs, the headrig
can utilise shorter sawblades, thus saving money on blade cost. The
Bavaria is run by an electric motor, so when used in a mobile mode,
it
is driven by a generator. The next saw in the line-up is the Montana
90, which is available
in either electrical or diesel driven mode, with the added benefit
of having a galvanised bed, thus offering longevity. Although smaller
than the Bavaria, it can still handle logs up to 90mm diameter. All
its functions are hydraulically operated, ensuring ease for the operator
and good production.
The Filius model is quite different to all the other models; much
simpler, using manual operations and a narrow blade. The Duett is
probably the one machine which could radically
improve the production over one of the larger bandsaws. The Duett
uses two circular saws to edge waney edged boards with considerable
speed. Although the Duett is fully mobile with a towing setup, it
is electrically driven. To complement the mills, Marshalls also offers
a full range of Serra generators and saw doctoring equipment.
01892 770788 / 07836274164
www.marshalllogging.co.uk
Loglogic
Loglogic is the maker of the Britishdesigned Trekkasaw and Autotrek.
Although few manual Trekkasaws are made nowadays, the fully automated
version, the Autotrek, is very
popular, as it can cut a 39” wide board, and if need be can
handle logs up to 1.4m in diameter. The Autotrek sawhead is totally
hydraulically driven. This ensures a high degree of safety as it shuts
down after each cut. Thus the blade doesn’t unnecessarily cut
air.
Currently the Autotrek is the saw used by the British Army, and has
been made strong enough to be slung below a Chinook helicopter to
be flown wherever needed. It can be ordered in various colour schemes
– no doubt many saw the pink Autotrek at the APF show.
The Autotrek utilises a 4” wide swage set or stellite-tipped
bands. Due to the guide rail system used, the Autotrek has the unusual
ability to cut tapered specialist boards. The saws have proven themselves
both in regions of extreme heat in Africa and the cold regions of
Russia. Loglogic is also the importer of the Peterson range of swing-blade
sawmills from New Zealand. These saws are the saws of choice for the
New Zealand military. They are made of stainless steel and alloy,
offering high corrosion resistance.
They are basic manual mills, but were initially designed for work
in remote jungle locations.
The benefit of this type of mill is that the timber is square-edged
direct off the mill, without double handling. The tungsten-tipped
blade can take more punishment than the band-type blades, as it is
a very simple matter to sharpen the blade on the machine. They are
very efficient at cutting hard and difficult timbers.
The Peterson is available as the 8” and 10” winch production
frame and the all-terrain mill. The mills can cut standard 8x8 or
10x10 inch, but if you double-cut, these capabilities
increase to 8x16 or 10x20 inch, and the length of cut is limited only
by the length of track that you have. 01884 839999
www.Loglogic.co.uk
M Large Tree Services Ltd
M Large has had the agency for the Lumbermate range of mills
for the past two years, and in that time has sold close to a hundred
mills, which in itself is quite some recommendation. The Lumbermate
2000 and the Lumberlite 24 are manually operated narrow bandsaws,
generally
delivered in kit form, to be easily assembled by their new owners.
They are strongly built machines, the 2000 being the larger machine,
capable of handling logs up to 31”
diameter. The saw bed frame is made up of galvanised steel rails.
Lumbermate also offers a mobile engine-powered circular edger, which
can greatly increase and speed up production of squareedged boards.
028 903 42838 – www.mlarge.com
Arbor Eater
Arbor Eater are agents for the Pezzolato range of bandsaws.
Pezzolato has quite a lot of experience in making bandsaws, having
years ago made machines for the
Forestor company. The current range includes simple narrow bladed
manual machines,
such as the Timber Queen S, through to the hydraulic mills, the HD6,
HD7 and HD8. These saws offer a whole host of hydraulic attachments
which can ease the life of any sawyer and
increase production. 01273 832009
www.arboreaters.co.uk
Fuelwood Ltd
Fuelwood are agents for the Scandinavian Laimet range of
sawmills. Although initially developed for the rapid breakdown of
coniferous sawlogs, nevertheless they have
proved popular in the tough eucalyptus mills in Australia. Available
as the 100, 120 and
130 models, the Laimet has various features which can make it a complete
sawmill. Basically the Laimet is a circular saw with a hydraulically
operated travelling bed, and a whole plethora of hydraulic attachments
to ensure operator safety and ease of operation.
It is ideal for the breakdown of small to medium sized logs –
indeed Willie Dobie operates a Laimet as his breakdown saw in his
mill in Scotland (the northern branch of Fuelwood).
Fuelwood are also agents for the Lucas mill, an Australian-made circular
swing blade mill, capable of tackling huge logs. With it the sawyer
has the option of producing quarter-sawn or tangential sawn wood,
as the need arises without moving the log. The basic mills have
a 6- and 8- inch cut, which can be doubled by double-cutting. Likewise
the larger version can be upgraded to increase its capacity further.
Once again the Lucas is a basic mill, which doesn’t have much
to go wrong, and can be relied upon to produce accurately dimensioned
sawn timber. The Lucas, like other swing mills,
can be fitted with a chainsaw slabbing kit to offer the sawyer the
opportunity to cut wide boards. This option can come in a fully dedicated
slabber option which offers faster milling, or as an attachment to
fit standard swing blades which, due to their reducing gearboxes,
offer slower milling. To complement its range of mills, Fuelwood offer
the Logosol range of
chainsaw mills. Logosol makes the M7 and Woodworker’s Mill,
which are either driven by a petrol chainsaw or electric power.
These two mills hold the log securely via a dogging mechanism while
the cutter is fixed to
a travelling bed, easily travelling along the log. Logosol’s
Big Mill is a basic modular
designed system which uses the timberjig as its key module. The timberjig
clamps on to the chainsaw guide-bar. The basic kit can be upgraded
to the full Big Mill Pro, which can handle log diameters of up to
54”. 01926 484673
www.fuelwood.co.uk
01361 840251
www.logosol.co.uk
Saws (UK) Ltd
Saws UK are agents for the Forestor range of mills. Forestor as a
brand is well known worldwide. Currently the machines are made in
the Czech Republic. Although the product
range has increased, from being just swing blade mills and narrow
bladed bandsaws, to include larger high production wider bladed mills,
the parent company has ceased production
of its engine-powered trailer bandsaw.
Yet at last year’s APF we saw how Saws UK has inventively made
the CTR650GX mobile, by making certain alterations to it and mounting
it on a trailer. The 650 is a narrow bladed manual mill capable of
milling a log up to 640mm in diameter and is driven by a 4-stroke
20hp
Honda engine. The Forestor Swivel 210 saw is a circular swing blade
saw capable of easily handling a 1.4m diameter log. It is driven by
an ever reliable Honda engine and is capable of performing 210mm cuts.
01435 862229
www.sawsuk.com
Wood-Mizer
Mention narrow blade bandsaws, and the ubiquitous orange
Wood- Mizer machines come to mind. They have championed narrow blade
bandsaws as a means for efficient sawmilling, with less sawdust being
produced. Wood-Mizer offers a whole range of mills suiting all
budgets and needs.
The LT10 is an electrically-driven manual mill capable of milling
a log up to 70cm diameter. The LT15 is a mill of similar capacity,
but is a stronger build, partially manual and partially automated.
It has a powered up and down and a hand-crank feed system. It is available
in diesel, petrol or electric powered versions.
It is a mobile mill, but the owner needs to provide a trailer for
it. The LT20 series has the traditional Wood-Mizer style bed and the
recognisable cantilevered sawhead, with a combination of manual and
hydraulic functions. These saws have proven themselves, with many
operators starting on such machines before upgrading later to the
higher
production models. The LT40 series is probably what has made Wood-Mizer
famous.
It can be used either as a mobile or a stationary mill, and has been
used in all sorts of environments, with some mills in Eastern Europe
in multiple shift operations clocking up tens of thousands of hours.
The LT40 has a 90cm log diameter capacity and is available either
as a basic mill which incorporates certain electrical functions, or
as a fully hydraulic package with an array of time- and work-saving
devices. These saws can be driven by a whole host of power sources
including turbo diesel, petrol and electrical sources.
The LT70 series might be considered the pinnacle of effective narrow
blade technology – its overall construction is heavier and stronger
than the other models; it has fully computerised setworks plus other
benefits – yet all this extra strength comes at a price, which
is an increase in weight over the LT40. Hence some mobile milling
operators prefer the lighter model. Wood-Mizer has a continual development
programme which has developed many accessories to improve their mills’
production.
01622 813201
www.woodmizer.co.uk
Considering all the various types of mobile mills available in the
UK, it might be interesting to speculate what other changes might
happen in the future. Currently in Europe, North America and Australia
there are quite a few manufacturers that have been slow to enter the
UK
market. It seems that CE certification is holding many back. Likewise
there has been a movement to try and use 2” wide blades on high
production bandmills and resaws in the US. This has been slow to gain
momentum, but all the main blade manufacturers make a 2” blade.
On the grapevine, a major saw maker has developed a 2” wide
vertical – or rather, slightly off-vertical mill – which
utilises standard industry log carriages. Another company has
developed a rolling machine for narrow bandsaws. Will these products
reach the green shores of Blighty? Who knows? Now, back to my crystal
ball.
Happy milling!
Arwyn Morgan
