Chainsaw Mill: 7 Deals to Cut Costs

Want to cut lumber costs by milling your own boards? A chainsaw mill can turn logs into usable lumber fast. This post shows seven great deals, from Alaskan saw mills to rail-guided kits and chainsaw mill attachments. You’ll get a quick look at fit for common bar sizes, price vs capacity, and which tool matches your needs and budget.

A chainsaw mill lets you mill logs into usable boards on-site using the chainsaw you already own. This guide breaks down what to buy, how it saves money, and seven deals that fit common DIY and jobsite needs.

Chainsaw Mill Deals: Cut Costs Fast

Buying lumber adds up fast, especially for thick slabs and long beams, so a chainsaw mill can pay off after a few projects. The deals below focus on common bar sizes (14–36 in), portability, and simple setups that work for homesteads, small shops, and remote builds.

Chainsaw mill basics

A chainsaw mill attachment clamps to your guide bar and rides on rails or a ladder guide so you can slice a log into slabs or dimensional stock. You’ll also see the same tool called an Alaskan saw mill, chainsaw log mill, Alaskan chainsaw mill, log mill chainsaw, or simply chainsaw mills.

Most entry mills handle boards roughly ½ to 14 inches thick and up to about 36 inches wide, depending on the frame and your bar length. Many frames weigh about 13–18 lbs, which is why they’re popular for on-site milling where a trailer sawmill won’t fit.

If you’re new, make your first cuts easier by picking straight logs, reducing bark and dirt, and planning slab thickness before you start. For sizing after milling, bookmark these sawmill lumber dimensions so your rough boards end up close to standard sizes after drying and surfacing.

Portable sawmills are a big category, and chainsaw mills sit at the low-cost end of the spectrum; market research puts the portable timber sawmill market at $10.37 billion in the base year, which helps explain why so many new frames and rail kits keep showing up each season. Source: Portable Timber Sawmills Report.

Cost advantages

The biggest win is the upfront cost: many chainsaw mills start around $59.99–$95, while powered portable sawmills often start in the thousands. That gap matters if you need slabs for one build, storm cleanup lumber, or occasional beams rather than daily production.

On-site milling also cuts transport fees and handling time. If the log is already on your property (or a jobsite), you can mill where it fell, then move lighter boards instead of wrestling a full-size log onto a trailer.

For wide cuts, pair an Alaskan-style frame with enough engine size; many sawyers aim for 92cc+ when milling big hardwoods so the chain keeps speed under load. A practical buying checklist and price comparisons are outlined in Guide to Buying a Portable Sawmill.

• Pick a mill that fits your actual bar length, not the advertised bar size on the saw box.
• Budget for a ripping chain, bar oil, wedges, and a flat first-cut guide.
• Plan for drying space and sticker stacks before you mill your first big batch.
• Use straight rails when you need repeatable thickness on long slabs.

Deal 1: Zozen Portable Chainsaw Mill

If you want a low-cost entry that still covers common bar sizes, Zozen is a strong budget pick for DIY slabs, bench tops, and basic planking. It fits 14–36 in bars and can assemble into three independent sizes, which helps if you swap between smaller and larger saw setups for different logs.

At roughly 18 lbs and around the $85.99 mark, it’s easier to carry to a downed tree than most powered options, and the rigid guide helps reduce wandering on the cut. For best results, run a sharp ripping chain, keep the mill rails snug, and set thickness once, then lock your fasteners before each pass.

Deal 2: Timber Tuff Chainsaw Mill Attachment Guide

Timber Tuff’s guide is a simple carry-friendly option when you want fast setup and straight reference cuts without hauling a long rail kit. It’s built around a steel guide and is marketed to work with most chainsaws, making it a practical choice for occasional milling and jobsite trimming.

Expect pricing in the $80–$95 range, which puts it close to other entry mills while keeping the concept simple: clamp, align, and cut. It suits shorter logs and quicker breakdown work, especially if you already have a straight ladder or a stiff first-cut board to ride against.

Deal 3: VEVOR 14–36 in Chainsaw Mill

This VEVOR frame targets buyers who want thickness control on a tight budget, with adjustment from about 0.2 to 11.81 inches. The galvanized finish helps reduce rust if you mill outdoors and store the rig in a shed rather than a heated shop.

At about 13 lbs and roughly $59.99, it’s one of the lowest-cost ways to turn a saw into a portable mill for planks and beams. Keep expectations realistic: you’ll still need a flat first cut reference, and you’ll get cleaner, straighter results if you slow down and let the chain clear chips.

Deal 4: Granberg MKIV Alaskan Chainsaw Mill

Granberg’s MKIV is the classic Alaskan chainsaw mill style that many experienced sawyers stick with for wide hardwood slabs. The design focuses on consistent thickness and a durable frame, which matters when you’re milling valuable logs where a crooked cut wastes money.

With up to 36-inch capacity and typical slab ranges around ½–12 inches thick, it’s a better match for larger logs and repeat milling. If you’re cutting dense species, check your material’s density of wood and scale your feed rate and chain sharpness to avoid overheating and wavy cuts.

If you’re comparing mill styles, Woodland Mills’ perspective on affordable options can help you decide when a chainsaw mill is the right stopgap versus stepping up later. Source: A Comparison of Affordable Portable Sawmills.

Deal 5: FARMMAC 36-Inch Chainsaw Log Mill Kit

FARMMAC’s kit fits buyers who want a complete setup for planking without piecing parts together. It’s built for 36-inch width work and pairs best with gas saws that can hold steady RPM in long cuts.

This type of log mill chainsaw kit makes sense when you expect repeated weekend milling and want fewer trips back to the shop for missing hardware. Keep a small field kit on hand—wrenches, chain files, spare bar nuts, and a wedge—so you don’t lose an hour to a simple loosened fastener.

Deal 6: VEVOR Rail Guide Chainsaw Mill

If long straight slabs are your goal, a rail system is the accuracy upgrade that makes the work feel less guessy. This VEVOR package includes a 9 ft aluminum rail and fits 14–36 in guide bars, which helps when you’re milling table-length stock from a single log.

Rail kits shine on the first cut, since they give you a flat reference without improvising a ladder setup every time. For glue-ups later, have clamps ready before you start milling; a quick refresher on types of clamps can save you from buying the wrong length when those fresh slabs hit the bench.

Deal 7: 36-Inch Chainsaw Mill With 9 ft Rail

This package targets wide boards with a 36-inch capacity plus a 9 ft guide rail for long passes. It’s a good fit when you want portability but still need help keeping the mill tracking straight across a long log.

Wide slab work needs a bit more planning than narrow planks, so keep a simple workflow: level the rail, square the mill, take a shallow first pass, then repeat with the same thickness setting. For project ideas after milling, set up a flat assembly surface; these woodworking workbenches can help you plan your shop layout: woodworking workbenches.

Compare the 7 Chainsaw Mill Deals

Use the comparison below to match capacity, bar fit, and the kind of work you do most (short planks, wide slabs, or long straight cuts). Prices shift, so treat ranges as shopping guidance rather than a fixed promise.

Price vs capacity

Model	Typical Price Range	Max Width	Key Cost-Saving Feature	Bar Fit
Zozen Portable	≈ $85.99	36 in	Three-size assembly	14–36 in
Timber Tuff Guide	$80–$95	36 in	Quick setup	Most chainsaws
VEVOR 14–36 in	≈ $59.99	36 in	Rust-resistant steel	14–36 in
Granberg MKIV	Varies	36 in	Proven Alaskan design	Up to 36 in
FARMMAC Kit	Varies	36 in	Complete kit format	Gas chainsaws
VEVOR Rail	Varies	36 in	9 ft rail accuracy	14–36 in
36-Inch Rail Mill	Varies	36 in	Wide cuts with rail	Common bars

Best use cases

Zozen and the basic VEVOR frame suit small batches: a few logs per month, hobby slabs, or occasional repairs where buying boards costs more than the mill. Timber Tuff’s guide works well for quick breakdown cuts when you value compact storage and easy carry.

Granberg MKIV is the safer bet for higher-value logs and repeat use because reliability and consistent thickness protect expensive material. Rail kits (both VEVOR Rail and the 36-inch rail package) fit long slab work where straightness matters more than minute-by-minute speed.

What to prioritize (bar fit, rails, power)

Start with bar fit: a “36-inch mill” still needs the right bar length to reach that width, and some bars measure differently than their advertised size. Confirm your powerhead can run the bar you plan to mount before you buy the frame.

Next, decide whether you need rails. Rails help the first cut and long cuts, so they’re worth it for table slabs, mantels, and repeated beam work; freehand ladder setups work for occasional short planks but take longer to set up and re-check.

Finally, match the mill to available power. For wide hardwood cuts, a stronger saw (often 70–92cc+ depending on width and species) reduces bogging, heat, and wavy cuts, which helps your chain stay sharp longer and keeps boards closer to target thickness.

Spend for the straight cut first—rails, sharp chain, and a solid reference—because a crooked first slab wastes more wood than most people expect.

Field milling best practice

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