Handbook for Small Sawmill Operators. Part II. Saws

For a sawmill to function properly, the saw must be of the proper type, correctly tensioned for the speed at which it is being run, and the cutting teeth must be in good condition. The chisel-tooth or inserted point type of saw is the overwhelming choice of small circular sawmill operators. These new teeth come from the factory already sharpened and swaged to various widths. The diameter of saw chosen should be the smallest that will saw the maximum diameter of logs received at the mill. The best gage for chisel-tooth head saws 48-inches or less in diameter that are intended for fairly easy sawing is 8 gage at the center and 9 gage at the rim. The #2-1/2 or style F patterns are the smallest in size and are recommended for sawing knotty, small softwoods. The speed at which a saw will be run has to specified in ordering, also whether the mandrel runs cold, warm, or hot. It does not pay to run a dull saw. If the logs are dirty or difficult to cut, it will be necessary to sharpen the saw five or six times a day. In filing saw bits, keep in mind that the cutting edge must be straight across and the corners must be kept sharp. For best cutting in softwood, teeth should be, when new, 1/4-inch wide for 10-gage saws, 17/64-inch for 9 gage, 9/32-inch for 8-gage, and 5/16-inch for 7 gage.

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