swing mill or double cut

[stevareno]

It looks to me as though a swingmill basically does the same thing as a double cut dimension mill except the double cut does it in one pass where the swing mill uses 2 passes to make the same cut.  I would like to hear from swing mill owners as well as double cut owners as to why they prefer one over the other. 

[jueston]

i have wondered the exact same thing and i look forward to hearing some replies, the only answer that i have come up with while pondering this question is that some swing mills have more portibility.

[Ianab]

You are correct, both break down the log in the same way and you might use the same cutting patterns.

But the Twin saw is running 2 blades at once, takes twice the power and a more complex drive system. So the mill is heavier, less portable and more expensive.

With the power feed the twinsaw can certainly produce as long as you can keep the thing fed, and clear the boards fast enough, so in a semi-permanent location it's a good option.

For truly portable milling, where you might move the mill to saw one big log, the lighter (and cheaper) Swingblade will be a better option.

This is member Woodzy88's twinsaw and equipment
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,53305.msg769138.html#msg769138

For what he is doing, it's the right mill for the job. For me it's too much mill, to buy, transport, store and set up for portable use.

It's about having the Right tool for the job You want to do.

Ian

[Paul_H]

I liked my Mobile Dimension because I could stack the last board while the new one was being cut and the mill has a drag back and rollers that allow you to handle heavy timbers by yourself like these 3x12x20's.
With the rollers I could run the board out and stack quite high by pushing down one end and swinging the other into place.





There is provision to cut 3- 2x4's or 2- 2x6's in a single pass as well,if you use your edger.The largest log cut with our mill was 52"
If I needed to saw a large log in the middle of nowhere ,a swing mill would be considered.

[Nomad]

      I can't say a thing about a double cut saw 'cause I've not only never used one, I've never even seen one.  But I can set up my Lucas 1030 around a 4' wide 6 ton log, where it lays, in about 30 minutes and be cutting boards out of it.  I doubt you can do that with a double cut saw.  On the other hand, I'm sure there are other scenarios where the double cut could work circles around me.  So I suppose it depends on what you intend to do with it that counts the most.

[stevareno]

Nice looking mill Paul!  We run a moulding business so I'm wanting to cut dimension lumber rather than random width.  I also have one of Den Socling's vacuum kilns.  It's far more economical to dry boards with the end product in mind.  If I dry random width lumber, I'm really wasting 30% of my kiln capacity.  I'm going to look at a d&l double cut saw tomorrow.  I think it works a lot like a mobile dimension mill.