PORTABLE SAWMILLS >>


Skillmill pulls the crowd

The Skillmill is put through its paces at the New Zealand National Agricultural Field Days.

The designers of Peterson Portable Sawmills have released a new addition to their proven range of swingblade mills - the new concept Skillmill at a cost of only AU$4,100. On public display for the first time at the New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays in June, the Skillmill attracted a lot of attention from the crowds, both to itself, and to Peterson’s full range of commercial mills. Skillmill staff spoke to more than 1500 people; most had never entertained the notion of using a sawmill themselves, let alone

imagining they would have the ability to afford one. People aged from 16 to those in their 80s were all able to cut a board for the first time. They were all impressed how easy it was to use, and surprised that the Skillmill could cut similar boards to those being cut by larger and more expensive mills on neighbouring sites.

The Skillmill can cut boards up to 4in. x 8in. by double cutting, using its 10in. blade. The double-cutting principle is as easy as cutting 4x dimensions out of the log - no special adjustments or movements have to be made.

There is no longer a need to purchase a large commercial mill with a 24in. blade to cut 8in. stock out of 12in. logs. The Skillmill can cut logs up to 4m long and 0.8 metres in diameter. It also has half the kerf of a larger machine and does not kick the log around with its much smaller “thin kerf” blade.

The Skillmill can be set up easily in a garage or backyard, with the unique option of being able to plug into any single-phase domestic outlet with a 12 AMP draw. If you are milling logs in remote locations, the mill can be transported by ute or trailer and run off a generator. At the show, two Skillmills were running off a 5 kva generator. Peterson mill owner Peter Van Essen of Palmerston North, NZ, was one of the many to try out the new machine. Although Peter is used to his powerful production mill, he was very pleased with the simplicity and flexibility of the Skillmill. "When I purchased my ATS I had smaller logs to mill. If the Skillmill were around then, I would have bought it instead. I

like the fact that the Skillmill gives good recovery out of small logs, and the flexibility in cutting angles is one of my favourite features.”

Peter was referring to the Skillmill’s ability to not only cut clean dimensional lumber, but also the capability to cut at 18 incremental 5 deg. angles. This gives new possibilities for those wanting to cut unique profiles for household or outdoor furniture, and their woodworking crafts.

Members of the crowd were also impressed when the Skillmill’s designer, Jake Peterson, pushed the centre unit to the other end of the mill and placed a Granberg Alaskan Chainsaw Slabber onto the Skillmill frame. Jake proceeded to cut straight, live-edged slabs with ease. This brought current Alaskan owners onto the Skillmill site, where they told tales of using ladders and “dodgy” framework to stabilise their own chainsaw mill. Seeing an Alaskan being operated on a purpose-built frame, they could see the benefits of using the Skillmill centre unit and frame to compliment their chainsaw slabber.

An 80-year-old grandmother cuts a board for the first time, using the revolutionary Skillmill.

Petersons Global Sales Ltd (distributors for the Skillmill and Peterson Portable Sawmills) will launch the new Skillmill in Australia during a tour of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Canberra during September and October. They will be attending woodworking shows and field days, including the National Field Days in Orange, demonstrating the Skillmill along with their commercial range of mills. Joining the team from New Zealand will be two new Peterson regional centres that have been established to help

service Australia. Doug Booby, Queensland, and Lester Wharfe, Victoria, are Peterson owners chosen to promote and service their states, as well as stock high turnover spare parts, and provide demonstrations and training for new owners.

Regional centres have proven to be the perfect balance between selling factory direct to the consumer (avoiding agent mark ups) and being able to provide excellent after sales support. New customers also enjoy dealing with people who are the end user, who have “been there and done that”, and who can provide local knowledge to help their operations.