Alaskan Chainsaw Mill | Review of Top 4

Interested in an Alaskan chainsaw mill?

If so, you’ve landed on the right page. In this article, I’ll go over the top 4 Alaskan chainsaw mills, and I’ll also list and compare some great alternatives.

Granberg International has been in the spotlight for streamlined and perfect outdoor-use products in the United States since 1954. It is the number one choice for users looking for quality products that do the job right, and Granberg’s Alaskan chainsaw mills hardly ever fail to serve.

This family-owned and operated business bases its designs on innovation and creativity to create products that add value to users’ lives. Handed down from generation to generation, their line of Alaskan chainsaw mills offers its customers opportunities for craftsmanship and enterprise.

If you’re open to looking at different chainsaw mill brands, check out my article on The Best Chainsaw Mill (Top Picks on the Market).

Let’s dive in!

What Makes Alaskan Chainsaw Mills Unique?

Alaskan chainsaw mills have multiple options for all outdoor jobs, ranging from large commercial sector jobs to smaller home projects. These appliances are easy to use and handle as each product is manufactured with beginners in mind.

Alaskan chainsaw mills are made with lightweight materials and higher precision milled end brackets for additional durability and portability. All these features make it a suitable choice no matter what kind of outdoor work you put it to.

Let us dive deeper into these particular products and determine whether their popularity is well-earned and if they are as convenient to use as fans declare.

The Rundown

Best Overall: Alaskan Mark-IV 36″ Chainsaw Mill

Best for Beginners: Granberg Alaskan Chainsaw Mill G777

Best Long: Granberg Mark-IV Alaskan Chainsaw Mill G778

Best for Beginners: Alaskan Mark-IV 24″ Chainsaw Mill

Top 4 Alaskan Chainsaw Mills

I have encountered several chainsaw mills during my lifetime and have narrowed my choice to the following four Alaskan chainsaw mills based on their functionality, durability, and the experience of other chainsaw enthusiasts I consulted.

Best Overall: Alaskan Mark-IV 36″ Chainsaw Mill

• Handle: 36-inch
• Made of: aluminium extrusion and zinc-plated steel
• Weight: 20 pounds
• Power Source: Manual
• Horsepower: 2.8 hp

The Alaskan Mark-IV 36″ Chainsaw Mill has all the features for working in wild and rough outdoor environments. You can conveniently set up this mill within half an hour of getting it out of the box and start milling lumber.

Manufactured with zinc-plated steel and aircraft aluminium extrusion, this chainsaw mill can offer up to 32″ of accurate cutting width. You can easily mill plants up to 13″ deep and 32″ wide with this versatile mill.

Made with durable materials, the Alaskan Mark-IV 36″ is virtually indestructible with a stable milling base. Even beginners can easily mill consistently accurately and straight lumber with it.

Pros

• Stable.
• Convenient to set up.
• Sturdy.
• Convenient.

Cons

• Relatively expensive.

Comparing Alternatives to the Alaskan Mark-IV 36″ Chainsaw Mill

Best for Beginners: Granberg Alaskan Chainsaw Mill G777

• Dimensions: 24 x 13 x 4 inches
• Weight: 1.76 ounces
• Made from: Aluminium and zinc-plated steel
• Power Source: Manual

The Granberg Alaskan G777 is a portable and compact chainsaw mill that can easily handle timber ranging between 0.5″ and 13″ thick and around 17″ wide. Its steel construction provides the highest degree of durability against all kinds of wood.

This G777 does not need a drilling bar, which is highly convenient as it cuts down installation time, especially for newbies. All you need to do to attach this chainsaw mill is tighten the pressure bolts.

This chainsaw mill is relatively smaller and thus can be used on chainsaws with around a 20″ bar or less. Ideal for making beams, planks, and slabs, the new end brackets in the Granberg Alaskan G777 Chainsaw Mill create less vibration than its older version.

Pros

• Does not require drilling.
• Made of steel.
• Smaller in size and portable.
• Versatile with timber varieties.
• Upgraded end brackets.
• Convenient to grip handles.

Cons

• Not suitable for heavy-duty outdoor jobs.
• Cannot fit on larger chainsaws.

Comparing Alternatives to the Granberg Alaskan Chainsaw Mill G777

Best For Industrial Use: Granberg Mark-IV Alaskan Chainsaw Mill G778-84

• Handle Length: 84″
• Manufacturing Material: Zinc-plated steel parts and tubular aircraft aluminium extrusion
• Fits: Chainsaws of 120cc or larger

The Granberg Mark-IV G778-84 Alaskan Chainsaw Mill is a versatile, heavy-duty tool of considerable size: up to 84″. It is capable of cutting lumber, planks, and beams up to 1/2″ to 13″ deep and up to 70-78″ wide. Designed and manufactured in the United States, this product is manufactured with the highest quality steel and aluminium.

The Mark-IV G778-84 chainsaw mill is highly suitable for heavy-duty outdoor work, especially for woodworkers who require larger slabs. It is also very convenient to assemble: all you need to do is tighten a few bolts without having to drill through anything.

The Granberg Mark-IV G778-84 is a suitable fit for the larger saws that need to handle outdoor work’s rough challenges. It allows the user to mill lumber exactly where the tree falls without the need for prior milling experience. The model comes with assembly hardware and a straightforward instruction manual. This Granberg model is known for its even and straight cuts every time and is the perfect fit for sawyers, woodworkers, homeowners, and arborists alike.

Pros

• Can easily mount to the chainsaw
• Big in size and length but lightweight at the same time
• Able to cut large lumber slabs
• Aircraft-grade aluminium and steel construction
• Portable
• Produces less vibration during use

Cons

• Relatively expensive
• It may require some modification for particular saw types

Comparing Alternatives to the Granberg Mark-IV Alaskan Chainsaw Mill G778-84

Best For Beginners: Alaskan Mark-IV 24″ Chainsaw Mill

• Dimensions: ‎25 x 14.5 x 2.5 inches
• Weight: 17.66 pounds
• Material: Metal
• Power Source: Manual
• Horsepower: 850 watts

This beginner-friendly chainsaw mill is widely known for its precise cuts on logs as much as 8 to 12″ in length and 8″ to 15″ in diameter. The Alaskan Mark-IV is easy and convenient to assemble and remains sturdy throughout several hours of use. Due to its well-balanced height adjustment, its calibrated metres are also sturdy, which allows a user up to 3.7″ of length after adjusting the chainsaw.

The Alaskan Mark-IV 24″ Chainsaw Mill boasts well-mounting functions suitable for all chainsaw types. It can cut all lumber slabs, no matter how thick and wide. You can easily cut slabs and trees with dimensions wider than the saw.

The Mark-IV is also well-engineered with durable and heavy-duty materials, meaning you can enjoy the pristine steel construction and aluminium steep-made finish in addition to their durability. Because of this feature, you can use the Alaskan Mark-IV 24″ Chainsaw Mill without a breakaway, wood splitting, and hand slips.

Pros

• Durable unit
• Comes with accurate instructions on how to deal with the assembling process quickly and conveniently
• Capable of cutting wide, long, and high-quality lumber
• Aluminium and steel construction
• Capable of adjusting with all surface types

Cons

• It may sometimes fail to produce precise bar cuts. 

Comparing Alternatives to the Alaskan Mark-IV 24” Chainsaw Mill

Outstanding Features of Alaskan Chainsaw Mills

Different chainsaw mills are manufactured to work with chainsaws of variable lengths, with the bar’s length determining the thickness of the log it can cut through. However, Alaskan chainsaw mills offer the added convenience of adjusting with almost all chainsaws and can cut through the thickest and longest lumber logs.

Alaskan chainsaw mills are also built to last, which is one of the primary prerequisites of a good chainsaw mill. Typically made of tubular aircraft aluminium extrusion and zinc-plated steel, these mills come with a fine finish and offer the highest level of durability.

Some features that make Alaskan Chainsaw Mills stand out from their competitors are as follows:

Easy to Assemble

Alaskan chainsaw mills are relatively easy to set up and use, a quality that can save you considerable time and effort. This ease is often sidelined because of the preference given to the lumber quality, but Alaskan chainsaw mills top the charts by providing both. These straightforward mills also guarantee easy assembly in less-than-ideal conditions and also have fewer parts prone to breaking during use.

Sharp cuts with high manoeuvrability

Although Alaskan chainsaw mills do not make the cuts directly, they hold the chainsaw steady to make clean and sharp cuts possible. The consistent quality and sharpness of the cuts they allow make these chainsaw mills top the charts.

Sturdy construction

Cutting lumber in natural settings is a hazardous and unfriendly task that requires sturdy and robust tools. Alaskan chainsaw mills prove efficient as they can withstand the wear and tear caused by unfavourable environments due to their sturdiness.

This robustness also reduces downtime from breakage if you use a mill far away from your workshop. If you use an Alaskan chainsaw mill, you are least likely to devote several hours to the workshop from your work location in case the mill breaks.

Affordable

Alaskan Chainsaw Mills are highly affordable, significantly contributing to their place at the top of the list. Although chainsaw mills are relatively cheaper than actual chainsaws, there is still a significant price range between them. Alaskan chainsaw mills are pocket-friendly and do not compromise on functionality or quality to achieve that.

Safety features

Safety is one of the prime concerns when using chainsaw mills, and Alaskan chainsaw mills provide that through several highly functional features.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alaskan Chainsaw Mills

What are Alaskan chainsaw mill sizes?

Different Alaskan chainsaw mills are available in different sizes. However, sizes for 24″, 30″, and 36″ chainsaws are most commonly available.

What is an Alaskan chainsaw mill?

An Alaskan chainsaw mill is a sawmill that uses a chainsaw to mill logs into lumber. It is operated by one or two users and is used to manufacture furniture and construction.

What kind of chainsaw do I need for an Alaskan mill?

Although different kinds of mills use different chainsaws, it is recommended to use a chainsaw with at least a 70 cc engine.