Lumber sawmill operators, lumberjacks, construction workers, and woodworkers all benefit from increased lumber saws education and training. Industries use lumber saws for a variety of purposes requiring several different types of lumber saws. Knowing special techniques, safety precautions, and types of lumber saw accessories all increase productivity of a business.

There are several ways to gain more knowledge on operating a wood saw and a lumber chain saw. Courses, workshops, and manuals all help lumber saw operators to work more efficiently. Consider the following when thinking of increasing lumber saws education and training for your business:

1. Woodworking and lumber sawmill courses teach lumber saw techniques.

2. Workshops offer information and hands-on experience for working with lumber band saws.

3. Guides and training manuals offer illustrations and tips for using lumber saws.

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Take a woodworking or sawmill course to learn advanced operation of lumber saws

Trade schools often offer woodworking and sawmill operation courses. These courses range from introductory level to advanced designs level. Courses teach techniques, safety measures, and business management. They teach information on using different types of saws for lumber. Some courses specialize in areas such as chain saw lumber mills or band saw lumber mills.

I recommend: Davis College of Agriculture Forestry and Consumer Sciences offers a program devoted to learning about wood. The courses focus on types of wood, wood cutting, lumber processing, and lumber manufacturing. Wood Links also offers lumber courses to prepare students for the lumber industry and operating lumber saw mills.

Attend workshops and seminars to gain lumber saws education and training

Workshops and seminars are quick ways to learn tips and techniques for using lumber saws. Speakers direct seminars topics toward areas of lumberjack, carpentry, and sawmill operation. Many sites offer clips and information.

I recommend: Cat Skill Wood Net discusses and shows pictures from a seminar conducted previously. The site relays information about seminar topics. They also list a website; check there frequently for more upcoming events. Lumber Jocks also gives information from a seminar. The site offers information and illustrated guides for lumber saw work.

Study lumber saw manuals, articles, and magazines to gain more information

Print resources are another option for lumber saws education and training. Articles offer up-to-date information about new products and accessories. They feature manufacturers, events, and news. Manuals offer information about servicing and repairing lumber saws as well as safety information.

I recommend: Wood Working Online offers a variety of seminar guides for lumber saws. Forest Shop details tips for using saws, regulations for lumber work, and managing lumber companies information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Manufacturers create lumber saws in a variety of styles. Be certain to research the types of cuts obtained from a different lumber saw blade, lumber saw teeth, or lumber saw chain. Having the right type of saw makes a big difference in the cutting outcome. Different types of wood also require different types of blades. Hard woods require stronger blades and more frequent blade changing.

Lumber saw mills have been a part of the American landscape for many years. Where there are trees, you are going to find saws for lumber. If you have any trees to cut, you may want to invest in your own wood saw. Not only are band saw lumber mills a way to make money, but many individuals like to cut wood as a hobby.

Lumber bands saws typically cut wood in one of two ways. The first way is the plain saw method. With this method, the lumber saw blade cuts a squared log in a series of equal boards. The second method is the quarter saw. Cut the log into four equal parts to quarter saw lumber. Then cut each quarter into boards.

To determine which method to use to cut the lumber with your wood saw, you should consider the following:

1. How you want the wood grain to look like after it’s been through the wood saw.

2. The amount of wood available for the project.

3. How efficiently the wood saw cuts.

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Use a lumber chain saw to cut wood

Convert your chain saw into a portable lumber mill. Chain saw lumber mills use a chain saw attached to a frame to cut wood. This can be a relatively inexpensive way to provide rough saw lumber if you don't have a lot to cut or if you want to cut the lumber near the source.

I recommend: Hud-Son Forest Equipment, Inc. offers a lumber chain saw mill. Granberg International offers a product that you can adapt to your particular chain saw as well.

Choose portable lumber saw mills

These units have a more rugged construction than a chain saw lumber mill. The saw is part of the unit. Depending on the size of the portable saw mill, you can cut up a board up to 28 inches wide. Some units can hold logs weighing up to 4400 pounds.

I recommend: Wood-Mizer Products, Inc. has portable lumber saw mills in a variety of sizes. Linn Lumber Mills allows you to customize your portable saw mill by adding your own motor to their lumber mill.

Set up a permanent or stationary wood saw

These saws are large enough to cut the largest trees. Fitted with hydraulic hoists, these units make handling the heaviest logs an easier task. Some models are also portable, but their size does make moving them a difficult task.

I recommend: Meadows Mills, Inc. can help you set up a stationary wood saw mill. Dale A. Thomas and Sons, Inc. offers mills that can serve as both portable and permanent wood saw mills.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Buy your wood saw from a reputable dealer. Lumber band saws get a lot of heavy use, so insist on a quality product with a solid warranty. Check out customer satisfaction from other people who own a similar lumber saw. Also try to buy a lumber saw that has a good resale value.

To many, mention of the logging industry brings to mind an old-school "lumberjack," armed only with an ax. But in modern logging, lumber saws come in a variety of more complex designs, from small to large, with handy features and high design for producing wood products safely. For a better look at how loggers and others use lumber saws, it helps to become familiar with some of the basic terminology and types of lumber saw setups commonly used in converting timber to lumber.

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Quarter saw

The quarter saw method of lumber cutting is an alternative to 'plain' cutting (in cross cut strips). In the quarter saw method, the lumber is cut into quarters and then into boards to show the grain at its best.

I recommend: Read up on the difference between the plain saw and the quarter saw method at AllWoodwork.com.

Chain saw lumber mills

One simple way of setting up an independent lumber cutting solution is with a 'chain saw lumber mill,' which is basically a chain saw attached to a level frame that can assist in getting timber into manageable pieces.

I recommend: This article from Backwoods Home Magazine explains why more Americans are turning to self-made solutions such as chain saw lumber mills, and gives details about these lumber saw styles, including visuals.

Table saw

The table saw is a stationary saw and is another basic kind of wood saw sometimes used in lumbering as well as home projects. Different kinds of table saw or stationary saw models help with getting timber cut into neat pieces.

I recommend: Find more on the use of a table saw at the DIY Network.

Hook angle

The 'hook angle' of a saw blade refers to how the teeth are cut for different cutting styles (ripping or cross-cutting).

I recommend: Take a look at how the "hook angle" is calculated, as well as a visual and text display of various types of lumber saw blades, at Rockler.

Kerf

The term 'kerf' refers to the width of the cut of a saw blade. Kerf can have an impact on the result of the cut wood, and the way the cut is implemented. It also has a big impact on 'recovery.' Modern lumber workers have found that thinner kerf translates into much more of the log that gets cut ending up as usable lumber instead of sawdust.

I recommend: For details on how thinner kerf leads to more usable product, check out this resource page from the USDA Forest Service.

Hydraulic hoists

Larger lumber saw models generally use mobility features such as hydraulic hoists to get heavy timber where it needs to be to implement the saw mill process.

I recommend: Check out a detailed list of features on an array of lumber saw mill models, including hydraulic hoists, at Sawmill Exchange.

If you have trees to cut, a wood saw is the tool for the job. The question is whether you want to cut the trees manually or use a machine to do the work for you. Fortunately, there are all sorts of lumber saws types and styles to match every job.

To get the right wood saw for whatever job you have, you need to consider a number of things. Cost is always a factor. You should also consider:

1. The size of the trees. Know what you need to cut and how big a wood saw you need to do the job, either manually or with a lumber chain saw.

2. The purpose of the saws. Establish whether you are trimming trees, cutting them down or using the saws for lumber cutting.

3. The location of the trees. If you opt for band sawmills, make sure you can get them set close to easy access with trucks to haul the lumber out of the forest.

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Choose hand lumber saws for small, precision jobs

Hand saws allow you to be selective about what you cut and give you freedom of where you cut. They are an excellent choice for small jobs and for trimming trees. Although you can cut down large trees with hand saws, it's very labor intensive.

I recommend: Traditional Woodworker can help you find a hand wood saw that is right for your needs. It has one- and two-man crosscut lumber saws, as well as smaller one-hand saws. You can read more about traditional manual lumber saws and look at pictures of various models at Woodcraft Supply.

Find a lumber chain saw to meet your needs

You can find chain saws in all sizes. You can find corded electric models, as well as larger gas-powered models. Chain saws are extremely dangerous to operate, so be sure you understand how to use one safely. Also remember to wear all the appropriate safety gear.

I recommend: Compare the specs on a pair of Husqvarna lumber chain saw models to determine their capabilities. Use the chain saw selector at Stihl to help you choose a chain saw that’s the right model for your needs.

Cut wood with lumber saw mills

If you have many trees to cut, you may want to focus on lumber saws that can multi-task for you. You can use a lumber chain saw to cut down the tree and harness it to the power provided by chain saw lumber mills to rough saw lumber and to even quarter saw lumber. Lumber saw mills also come with models that have their own lumber saw blade. These models can be portable or you can find stationary models as well.

I recommend: PortableSawMill.com offers a number of portable lumber saw mills. You can pick the size of the cutting blades, as well as the cutting power of the engine as you configure your portable saw mill. Hud-Son Forest Equipment also has a number of lumber band saws for sale. You can configure its band saw lumber mills to suit your needs. Some of its models are portable, while others are stationary units.