Granberg Chainsaw Mill Review 2022
The portable chainsaw mill - A brilliant invention that allows you to take the job to the log-site instead of dragging, strapping, and hauling the log to the job-site.
When it comes to rugged labor, if you only have to touch the job 1 or 3 times as opposed to 4 or 6, you’re saving time, energy, and money. Don’t do stupid work!
The portable chainsaw mill is ideal if you live in a secluded location with the need for building supplies, but don’t necessarily have the best access road for getting supplies to the build-site.
Today we are going to take a look at some common questions and considerations when it comes to portable chainsaw mills and, in particular, The Granberg Chainsaw Mill.
Is a Portable Sawmill Profitable?
A portable sawmill is an inexpensive way to save and make money selling wood slabs and lumber. It is perfect for your own building projects or great for producing and selling specialized unique live edge wood slabs that can also be used to build your own unique furniture and designs for top dollar.
As you can already see, a portable mill has the ability to pay for itself within hours of the purchase if you put it to good use.
What Type of Chain is Used with a Chainsaw Mill?
Chainsaw mills use a special chain called a ripping chain. This is a specialized chain designed to cut parallel with the grain and continuously through the whole length of the log, plank, or beam.
The ripping chain features a special factory grind for making boards, planks, and slabs from larger timbers specifically using chainsaw powered mills.
Regular, general-purpose chainsaw chains are designed to cut across the grains and veins and will not withstand this type of cutting.
What is the Best Alaskan Chainsaw Mill?
The Alaskan MKIII dominated the industry for over 50 years. However, these days, the new and improved Granberg G778 Alaskan Mark-IV Chainsaw Mill continues Granberg’s proud tradition and is probably the best Alaskan Chainsaw Mill on the market.
In this article we will be reviewing the 3 basic models of portable chainsaw mills offered by Granberg.
We’re all about getting a great deal and spending as little money as possible on the things we need. However, there are some tools that we should not go cheap on.
When it comes to larger power tools, or any tool where safety and quality of work is reliant on design strength and quality of that tool, well-designed and reputable brands are the way to go.
It just so happens that you can find both through Granberg. They have set the industry standard for portable chainsaw mills and their products won’t break the bank.
In 1954, in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a young WWII veteran and contract logger, Elof Granberg, invented and introduced to the chainsaw accessory market a precision sharpening jig kit called the File-n-Joint, the first 12-volt portable chainsaw sharpener, the first adjustable and portable saw chain breaker/mender, and the first chainsaw hedge trimmer attachment.
In the 1960’s, Granberg invented a bar-mounted chainsaw mill, the “Alaskan”.
American made and assembled, Granberg family Alaskan chainsaw mills have set the industry standard for quality, reliable performance, and affordability, with a variety of sizes to fit saw bars ranging from 16” to 96”.
The Granberg Edging Mill G555B and their small log mill, the ALASKAN G777 Granberg Chain Saw Mill round out the ALASKAN mill family.
And, of course, you must have a chainsaw to attach your portable chainsaw mill to in the first place. Check out THE BEST PROFESSIONAL CHAINSAWS OF 2022 for more!
So, now that we have answered a few basic questions and covered some basic considerations, let’s take a look at Rugged Man’s Granberg Chainsaw Mill Review of 2022!
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top 3 granberg chainsaw mills in 2022
ALASKAN MKIV G778 SERIES
“This versatile, heavy-duty chainsaw lumber mill accurately cuts planks and beams from 20” to 78” wide and 1/2” to 13” deep. Clamps onto your chainsaw bar with no drilling required. Lightweight and portable, enables user to mill lumber where the tree falls. No previous experience required!
New CNC-Machined billet end brackets! (See photo) These new end brackets are more accurate, easier to adjust, create less vibration than the old die cast version and are virtually unbreakable.
Perfect for homeowners, woodworkers, arborists and sawyers. Optimal results will be had when used in conjunction with Granberg ripping chains and first cut platforms Granberg Slabbing Brackets & EZ Rail Mill Guide System.”
The Alaskan MKIV G778 series comes in 8 different bar sizes ranging from 24” to 84” and fits ALL Chainsaw Makes. Listed below are the specs for each size. Note that the size of the width of the board you desire will always be 4 inches shorter than the size bar it will fit. For example, The G778-24 will fit a 24 inch or less bar, but will cut a maximum width of 20 inches.
G778-24
Bars of 24” or less
50cc or more displacement
G778-30
Bars of 30” or less
60cc or more displacement
G778-36
Bars of 36” or less
60cc or more displacement
G778-48
Single ended bars of 48” or less
Double-ended bars of 56” or less
90cc or more displacement
G778-56
Single ended bars of 56” or less
Double-ended bars of 66”
90cc or more displacement
G778-60
Single ended bars of 60” or less
Double-ended bars of 72”
120cc or more displacement
G778-72
Single ended bars of 72” or less
Double-ended bars of 84”
120cc or more displacement
G778-84
Single ended bars of 84” or less
Double-ended bars of 96”
120cc or more displacement
“Clamps onto your chainsaw bar with no drilling required. Tighten pressure bolts on to chain bar to make cuts up to 18” wide and 1/2” to 13” deep. Lightweight and portable, enables user to mill lumber where the tree falls. No previous experience required! Ideal for making slabs, planks and beams.
New CNC-Machined billet end brackets! (See photo) These new end brackets are more accurate, easier to adjust, create less vibration than the old die cast version and are virtually unbreakable.
Perfect for homeowners, woodworkers, arborists and sawyers. Optimal results will be had when used in conjunction with Granberg ripping chain.”
The Alaskan G777 portable mill works with ALL Chainsaw Makes. The bar used for this mill must be solid steel, not a laminate! Laminate bars will not work with this particular mill.
Bars of 16 - 20”
50 - 70cc or more displacement.
“Tighten pressure bolts on to chain bar to make vertical cuts. Ideal for making dimensional lumber or squaring logs for cabins and other structures.
Optimal results will be had when used in conjunction with Granberg ripping chain. Results and lumber dimensions vary based on chain bar length.
Includes 12 feet of V rail as cutting guide, wood screws, and forming nails.”
Great for making plunge cuts to make dimensional lumber, The Granberg Edging Mill (formerly known as the Mini-Mill) makes an ideal partner to any one of the 8 size variations of the Alaskan MK-IV Mill series.
This vertical mill squares up logs to make timber frame construction beams, and cuts beams to precise lengths and widths for flooring, siding, or trim.
One efficient way to use these in conjunction with one another is, after the first cut with the MK-IV, attach the edging guide to the log, do a simple swap from your MK-IV to the G555B Edging Mill and, just like that, you’re cutting again in no time.
This portable mill works with ALL Chainsaw Makes. The bar used for this mill must be solid steel, not a laminate! Laminate bars will not work with this particular mill.
Bars of 16-36”
50-70cc or more displacement
"I like to think of our products as tools that encourage your creativity. Our simple but accurate saw mills turn logs into custom lumber for creative projects. Let the wood inspire you, connect with your inner craftsman. Experience is the best teacher and I love to share that with our customers."
- Erik Granberg, President
Every single one of these mills reviewed today are American made and of high-quality, aircraft aluminum and zinc-plated steel construction.
They are easy to assemble, come with clear and concise instructions printed in-color, and are backed by amazing one on one customer service. It is obvious, upon assembly, that these are extremely sturdy mills.
Satisfaction is truly guaranteed. Isn’t THAT refreshing? Till this day, the Granberg family strives to continue Elof’s high standards and honor his belief that their products must be affordable, accurate, and well-designed.
You simply can’t go wrong with any one of these mills and we here at Rugged Man believe it is without question which brand you should go with for your milling needs. It just really boils down to how big the job is that you’re going to be tackling as to which Granberg mill you will need.
So now that we’ve taken a good look at the portable mill, we must remember that no portable chainsaw mill is complete without a chainsaw!! To take a look at the best saws to attach your portable mill to, head on over to THE BEST PROFESSIONAL CHAINSAWS OF 2022!
Get out there! Get creative and get it done! And, as always, remain Rugged!
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