Portable saw mill

Claim 1

A portable saw mill for cutting logs into small dimension lumber, comprising, in combination: (a) a rigid frame providing a lower base; (b) a longitudinally extending rigid rail mounted on said base; (c) a carriage reciprocally mounted on said rail, said carriage having an upper surface for supporting a log to be cut; (d) a pair of arbors mounted on said base for rotation about parallel axes normal to said horizontal rail and each having a circular saw blade mounted thereon for cutting a log carried by the movable carriage; (e) means for moving said saw blades towards and away from each other to vary the spacing therebetween, and having a selected minimum spacing slightly larger than the width of the movable carriage, whereby the carriage can pass between the saw blades during cutting of a log carried thereby; (f) log hold down means mounted on said carriage clampingly to press the log onto the log supporting upper surface thereof and dimensioned to pass between said saw blades during reciprocal movement of the carriage; and (g) guide means for guiding the carriage during reciprocal movement thereof along the rail, said guide means engaging the carriage at a position below the log supporting surface thereof; said combination providing a lightweight, rigid portable saw mill having no supporting structure located in a plane above the movable carriage so as to permit unobstructed viewing of a log during cutting.