The Swing-blade advantage

Unlike other circular sawmills with twin-blade designs that rely on two or more blades for each cut, their limitations become evident in the execution of the second 'reverse' horizontal cut. Some manufacturers' swing-blade designs position the power head next to the blade, hindering the seamless execution of this second cut—often requiring the lifting and rotation of the carriage for what they claim is possible.

Enter Turbosawmill, where innovation takes center stage. Our design boasts a removable guard, simplifying the double-cutting process with remarkable ease. Witness the capability of our Model 12, effortlessly producing an impressive 24" wide slab with each drop. Experience the difference – where cutting-edge design meets unparalleled efficiency.

Embrace the versatility of the swing-blade advantage—effortlessly quarter saw without the need to rotate the log. With the ability to make both horizontal and vertical cuts in place, our swing-blade design stands apart from twin-blade alternatives that often feature one large vertical blade and a smaller horizontal blade, restricting your flexibility in this regard.

This versatility extends to flat sawing, or back sawing, where boards are extracted horizontally from the top, bottom, and sides rather than vertically. This technique is particularly beneficial for tensioned logs, minimizing crook in boards. At Turbosawmill, we empower you with the freedom to choose the sawing technique that best suits your needs, ensuring unparalleled flexibility and precision in every cut.

Experience the game-changing advantage of the swing-blade – akin to using a drop saw on challenging timber. When faced with the telltale vibrations indicative of hard wood, it's a common concern whether damage is being inflicted on both the saw and blade. Unlike other mills, the swing-blade alleviates this worry by allowing for effortless sectional cuts. This not only safeguards the mill and blade but is particularly beneficial when tackling robust timbers like Oak and Ironwood, which may necessitate up to three sectional cuts to achieve a 12" wide board.

The beauty of sectional cuts lies not only in their gentler approach but also in the precision they afford. The initial cut serves as a guide for subsequent cuts, ensuring the accuracy of the board from one edge to the other. This meticulous approach is especially vital for sawing up wide horizontal boards—a task where twin-blade mills often falter in hard timber.

Enter Turbosawmill, where innovation takes efficiency to the next level. Our swing-blades are automated, eliminating the need for repetitive walking up and down the log to execute sectional cuts. With Turbosawmill, experience the ease, precision, and efficiency that redefine the standards of sawmilling.

Witness the prowess of Swing-blades in action, showcasing exceptional production results in competitions like the Paul Bunyan Shootout, where mills go head-to-head. Dollar for dollar, Swing-blades outshine the competition, and a key secret lies in their efficiency. Unlike other mills, Swing-blades gain a significant edge by allowing one blade to cut the next board while the off bearer has time to collect the previously cut one. This streamlined process shaves off a remarkable 10-20 seconds per board.

Notably, the limitations of other mills were evident in 2003 attempts, where twin-blades, though entered, struggled to compete. Their need to cut a board and then return the head for the next cut hindered their efficiency.

Enter Turbosawmill, taking this advantage to the pinnacle with our Automated mill. Our cutting-edge technology enables a single operator to achieve what would typically require two operators on other swing-blade mills. The automated process seamlessly cuts the next board, allowing time for collection and stacking before moving on to the next board. The result? A remarkably productive solution that sets Turbosawmill apart in the world of sawmilling efficiency.

Experience the unparalleled ease of milling tensioned logs with a single blade—a feature that sets Turbosawmill apart. Our design allows for the flexibility of starting with a vertical cut followed by a horizontal cut (or vice versa), eliminating the stress of cut timber rubbing against the blade, a common challenge with twin-blade designs. Should stress arise, a simple switch of patterns is all it takes to maintain smooth operation.

The brilliance of the Turbosawmill design shines in its user-friendly approach. In a one-man operation, the sawing process becomes effortless as the operator seamlessly steps around the carriage when sawing horizontally first. This is in stark contrast to other manufacturers, where the operator is often required to wedge each beam or navigate around the entire sawmill to collect the timber. This is the monorail difference—a testament to Turbosawmill's commitment to efficiency and ease of use.

Unveiling the subtle drawbacks of bandsaw mills, it's essential to recognize their inherent challenge of hiding kerf loss within the timber. While this might initially go unnoticed, the reality is that a thin blade on a bandsaw mill tends to deflect, providing less support as you widen your cuts. Sawyer satisfaction often gives way to a harsh reality when it's time to plane the boards into a truly workable product.

Unlike bandsaw mills, the indisputable advantage of a circle mill lies in its ability to reliably cut straight, even with a dull blade. The feed rate slows down, serving as a clear indicator that it's time to sharpen the blade. Unfortunately, with bandsaw mills, the realization that the blade is dull often comes too late, leading to sawing waves and potentially damaging two valuable slabs before corrective action can be taken. The circle mill emerges as a steadfast solution, offering consistent, straight cuts and timely feedback for optimal blade maintenance.

Experience the economic advantage of the swing blade—an exceptionally cost-effective method for sawing timber. Here's an overview of expected blade costs:

Featuring 4 to 8 teeth, a swing blade takes a mere 20-60 seconds to sharpen and requires maintenance every 2 to 4 cubic units (844 to 1688 board feet).

With 10-20 sharpens before re-tipping, one set of teeth can potentially yield an impressive eighty cubic units (33,760 board feet) of sawn timber.

Re-tipping costs can be as low as $6 per tooth. For instance, a 4-tooth blade re-tip would only cost $24, resulting in an incredibly low potential running cost of thirty cents per cubic unit of sawn timber (422 board feet).

Now, let's compare this to band costs. A narrow band blade should not be run for more than an hour, and for optimal timber quality, it's advised not to exceed 40 minutes. A band blade typically allows 4-9 sharpens before replacement.

Sharpening demands skill and may take 3-10 minutes depending on teeth, with a potential cost ranging from $25 to $50, depending on the manufacturer.

Running for around 40 minutes, you might hope to cut at least 0.5 cubic units (211 board feet) before needing to sharpen, resulting in a potential equivalent running cost of $5.55-$11.10 per cubic unit (422 board feet).

In contrast, a circular blade, when handled carefully, can last nearly the lifetime of your saw. The standard package includes one blade and a sharpener, emphasizing the long-term cost-effectiveness of the swing blade.

Mastering the art of sawing starts with discerning your cut pattern. Begin by analyzing the log and strategically determining the number of cuts and their respective directions, considering the potential re-handling and re-sawing needed to achieve your desired cut list.

Initiate the process by taking the top off the log. Rotate the log and repeat the process, removing the top side. Rotate 90 degrees, remove the top again, and rotate once more. At this juncture, the intricacy increases as you navigate around knots, necessitating meticulous planning to minimize leftover slabs and optimize the efficiency of re-handling and re-sawing.

Navigating this process effectively requires a deep dive into blade options, understanding teeth angles, set configurations, lubrication needs, and band tension. Mastery of these elements is crucial for reliably transforming a log into precisely cut timber.