“Bought this mill to be able to cut the top and bottom side of 8-10" diameter logs for building a cabin, and for the most part it worked fantastic for that. I bought one extnetion, but wish I'd of bought 2 to cut longer logs, but the process of leveling the deck was quite a chore. I did however have a problem with the performance of the engine at our high elevation of almost 8000 feet. Customer service was extremely friendly, but provided no answer to the problem other than "get a small engine tech to look at it". They said they've never had one of their sawmills at that high of elevation before. I also had a huge challenge with shipping of the mill. Half of the package got lost in transit somewhere and I had to spend the next 4-5 weeks on the phone back and forth before finally getting all the components. Other than that, I'm super happy with it for what I'm doing.”
“I purchased my OS23 in the spring of 2021 with the 7hp pull start Briggs and Stratton engine, extra blades, and an extension for longer cuts. She's been really good at what she does. I did upgrade the engine to an 18hp Duramax engine in 2022 and the cuts are like butter. It paid for itself in the first couple months with the lumber I milled. I love my little 23 mainly because it's easy to service and repair. It's a good brand with good customer service and fast shipping.”
“Very easy purchase and delivery process were very helpful even without asking the mill was easy to assemble and cuts nice showed up early and without a scratch on the crate”
“Purchased an OS27 and mobility package while on sale. Shipping and packaging was good. Assembly was challenging and the instructions were quite bad. There are discrepancies, missing steps, vague language and steps. Some parts were already rusting, others had minor manufacturing defects. There were way too many of some bolts and not enough of others, adding to the confusion. Tech support answered quickly but gave many unsatisfactory answers. Overall many aspects could be improved.”
“My new Frontier OS31 sawmill is a game changer. Ordered online - fast delivery.
From the moment I started working with it, the sawmill's performance and ease of use stood out. The precision of the cuts and the overall build quality are exactly what I was hoping for in a portable sawmill. It is powerful, versatile, and offers a great value for its price range. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned sawyer, the OS31 is built to handle a variety of jobs with ease.
One suggestion I would make is for the assembly instructions to include the numbers of the hardware bags required for each step. This would help streamline the process, saving time and reducing the need to flip back and forth between the instructions and the hardware list page.
The optional attachments are also a great addition. I have already installed the manual log loader, which has been a real time-saver, and I am looking forward to attaching the Mobility package soon.
In addition to this review, I will be posting a detailed assembly video that walks you through the process step by step. This video will be available soon on my YouTube and my Facebook page.
Stay tuned!”
“For the most part Im really happy with the mill I've cut some really big logs approx 22in and just have to take it slow I'm really glad I went with the 10hp motor on os23. I'm having a pretty hard time getting really consistent thickness lumber cut but working on that Did have some trouble with paint flacking off on a few pcs But they replaced them”
“OS27 So far mill is working great. Really like the extra yellow side plates on the mill track. Gives extra strength to the rails. 13.5 hp motor pulls ok. Gotta read the install manual a couple of times and take your time putting together. Suggest watching several of the OS27 videos on youtube. Learned a lot that saved time and little tricks that improved the operation of the mill.”
Thank you for your feedback. Our service team is committed to helping you with any concerns you may have getting your product up and running. Please reach out to our Customer Service team at 1-800-408-9995 or by email at info@frontiersawmills.com for assistance.
Frontier Sawmills
“Having a hard time figuring out making the same dimensional and duplicate,square cuts. Otherwise it's a great product. Need a instructional guide for making lumber.”
“I teach a Woodworking program at a high school in Ohio and I took my OS23 sawmill package to school and my students and I assembled it as a project. Once we were finished I picked up several donated logs for us to mill. It was an awesome experience for everyone that gave it a try, including students, teachers, and even the Superintendent! We spent several weeks milling donated logs and making lumber for our Wood shop. We are currently gathering funds to purchase an OS31 for the Woodshop program. Now my mill is home and I'm milling logs from trees I cut down in my yard. I've recently purchased a log loading winch and looking to add a track extension in the future! It's not work if you enjoy what you're doing!”
“For the price, you can't beat this mill. I've put about 20 large cedar and fir logs through it so far and have been nothing but satisfy. Even though it might be considered the economy saw, if you keep a sharp blade on it it will deliver great results.
Cons: The pull chord is in an awkward place.
The manual crank to lift the cutting head might be difficult for some folks.
Bolts and screws are constantly wiggling loose (even the factory ones that I didn't assemble).
The valve for the water tank is garbage -- I replaced it with a brass one.
Pros: Easy to assemble with clear instructions.
Cuts straight and true.
Plenty of power (at least for soft woods -- I haven't run any hard woods yet).
Great price.
I'm sure if you are a pro you will want to go with something different -- but for a guy with a few wooded acres and lots of hobbies and projects, this machine is perfect.”
“Ive owned my o23 for about 2 years, now. It is a solid sawmill that will handle a 20 inch lokg with no problem. The 7.5hp motor is strong enough with good blades but I would recommend 10hp. It was a hard starter right from the getgo. Ther are no mixture adjustments on the carb and after 2 winters, no spark from the coil either. Also the plastic choke control snapped off. A non-oem coil and a metal choke mechanism has vastly improved this motor. It starts easily and runs flat-out strong.
The water reservoir is small and did not meet my needs so the mill is hooked to a hose and water supply with a small quick opening valve next to the throttle control.
I certainly have more than 100 hours on the mill now and the belts need replacing and the blade guide bearings are a bit noisy so I keep a maintenance kit on hand from Norwood but I haven't changed anything yet except blades which I sharpen myself. I would recommend this mill to any hard-core hobby cutter like me.”
“Overall I'm very happy with all the interactions I've had with Frontier Sawmills. I have a buddy with a Norwood and this runs and functions almost exactly the same. Construction is of good quality, paint is holding up well, the design took a lot into consideration and is quite functional to operate.”
“After about three years I’d say it’s been overall good. This was a low cost mill and it’s now cut many bft of white pine , hemlock, poplar, maple , cherry and ash. I have learned a few things that have helped immensely , one biggy is I sharpen my blades on the mill about three times before they are worn out. They cut just as new and takes ten minutes with battery powered 4 in. Grinder. Much better then off send away put back on. Another is I made wooden up rights from ash and don’t have to worry about hitting with blade. They work perfectly. Also pine soil added to water helps with pitch and I use plenty of water. Cooler blade longer it last. I like this mill, it does a great job and is economical.”
