An Alaskan mill or chainsaw mill is a type of sawmill

Sawmill

A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....

 that is used by one or two operators to mill logs

Tree

A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...

 into planks for use in furniture

Furniture

Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...

, building

Construction

In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...

 and other types of timber construction.

The mill attachment consists of a pair of rails which are attached to bar of the chainsaw

Chainsaw

A chainsaw is a portable mechanical saw, powered by electricity, compressed air, hydraulic power, or most commonly a two-stroke engine...

. The rails ride on the face of the log and guide the chainsaw blade through the log at a consistent depth so that planks of a predetermined thickness can be cut. The distance between the rails and the bar determines this thickness and it can be adjusted by moving the rails along a post at each end of the mill attachment. The rails are then locked in place using lock screws.

Small mills use a single chainsaw and can be handled by a single operator. Larger mills use two chainsaws, one on either side of the attachment and these require two operators. This larger style of mill requires a special bar which allows the two chainsaw heads to be attached at either end. The width of the plank that can be cut is determined by the length of the bar, so for logs having a large diameter, the longer bar is necessary.

For the first cut, a pair of rails are usually attached to the log to give the mill attachment a reference surface to guide it. Subsequent cuts are made using the surface of the previous cut as the guide.

Alaskan mills are relatively cheap to purchase compared to other types of mill and are also straightforward to make. They are therefore popular with hobbyist woodworkers who have access to felled timber.