If youre going down road to conversion…
If youre going down road to conversion…
IF you are looking to convert home-grown timber or planning to set-up as a timber converting contractor there is no shortage of equipment for doing the job.
The accompanying table shows the essential options. Guide frame saw mills use a frame (often of lightweight aluminium beams) which is assembled around or alongside timber to be worked on.
The frame provides the support and guidance for the cutting head which, on the smallest models, is a chain saw. These may be fine for occasional on-farm timber conversion but for more regular operation, the larger units, which use a circular or band saw blade, offer more capacity and potentially greater accuracy.
Band saws have the advantage of least waste and good accuracy. The circular saws can be turned through 90deg to make horizontal and vertical cuts on forward and return passes to quickly produce planks, rails or beams.
Trailed bench saws provide a firm foundation for accurate sawing and mostly come with band cutting heads for productivity and accuracy. Hydraulic facilities help position and clamp logs, and can be used to turn them during the conversion process.
Buyers guide to frame saw mills
Supplier/make/model Blade Max log Max cut Max log Power source Weight Sharpening Price £ type diameter dimensions length (m) & output (kg) device ex-VAT
(mm) (mm x mm)
Forestor (01962-761622)
Swivel Saw 160 circular 1370 160 x 160 6 petrol 20hp 666 std 4110
Swivel Saw 210 circular 1370 210 x 210 6 petrol 20hp 698 std 4443
Chainsaw attachment chain 1370 1220 x 250 6 na +58 std +720
Hemming & Wood (01543-256711)
Alaskan Mk3 chain 910 na 2.7 variable 18 na 150
Electrolux (01453-820310)
Jonsered Chainsaw Mill 600+ chain 510 510 x 510 variable petrol 6.7hp na opt 2100
Jonsered Chainsaw Mill 6000+ band 601 601 x 601 variable petrol 6.7hp na std 4100
Fuelwood Warwick (01926-484673)
Lucas Mill 6 circular 1800 160 x 160 6.1 petrol 16hp 340 std 5300
Lucas Mill 8 circular 1800 215 x 215 6.1 petrol 20hp 400 std 6500
Timber Resources (01428-741349)
Trekkasaw TR band 1400 1000 x 1000 6.2 diesel 42hp/pto 2200 na poa
TRAILED BENCH SAWS
Charterhouse Richmond (01428-643328)
Lumbermate Mk3 band 710 500 x 500 3.9 petrol 13hp 1540 opt 4998
Forestor (01962-761622)
Jacko 2T MD band 915 750 x 450 6 diesel 23hp* 1720 opt 15,995
Tom Sawyer TSMD band 810 750 x 600 6 diesel 34hp 2850 saw 35,874
Fuelwood Harvesting (01361-840251)
Laimet 100 circular 600 300 x 300 8 pto 72hp 2200 opt 16,900
Laimet 120 circular 600 300 x 300 8 pto 90hp 3000 opt 31,500
P&A Exports (01352-752555)
Baker 3638D band 910 609 x 812 7.2 diesel 38hp** 2154 opt 24,190
Calder Wilkinson (01422-831861) England/Wales/Ireland
Stewart Lumber (01389-751154) Scotland
Pezzolato HD8 band 900 700 x 420 4.5 diesel 39hp** 2500 opt poa
Pezzolato PQ HD7 band 900 700 x 420 4.5 diesel 30hp** 2000 opt poa
Pezzolato HD5 band 800 na 4.5 diesel 30hp** 1600 opt poa
Pezzolato Mini Profi band 550 750 x 30 12 diesel 37hp** 2300 opt poa
Timber Resources (01428-741349)
Autotrek TR band 1400 1000 x 1000 6.2 diesel 48hp na na poa
Wood-Mizer UK (01439-788030)
Wood-Mizer LT25E11S-1 band 810 710 x 610 5.1 petrol 15hp 1010 opt 6990
Wood-Mizer LT30E15S-1 band 910 710 x 610 5.1 diesel 30hp** 1132 opt 13,815
Wood-Mizer LT40E15S-1 band 910 710 x 610 6.4 diesel 30hp** 1200 opt 14,295
* petrol and diesel power options; ** petrol, diesel and electric motor options