“OS 31 with the 10 foot cutting range and the mobile base is an excellent way to get into log resigning. You can easily lift the logs onto this very sturdy unit with a tractor or forklift or the winch. I only got the 13 1/2 hp engine, but it seems more than sufficient And it starts with one or two pools. I wish the choke was easier to use because you have to reach around to get it, but it starts and runs her easily turning the water on and off is easy setting the cut height is very accurate and easy and pushing the saw through the wood is much easier than I expected. It rolls very well on the metal rails. The only struggle was putting together. It took me quite a bit of time and had to redo a few things. It also was quite a piece of work to get the head unit up onto the mobile base they have it was all assembled. It’s tall and heavy. I ended up putting my forks through it and lifting it with my tractor and setting it on the tracks the hardware that came with the unit was excellent and very sturdy. I’ve had it sitting outside now for three months and there’s no signs of an issue with Rust. The unit is well completed. I have to admit the first day I put a blade on it. I cut an entire tree with almost no issue. It was really hard for me to put the blade on the first time because I didn’t fully follow the instructions but once I did, the plate goes on quite easy. It was a bit hard for me to understand how to adjust The pitch of the blade in and out a label or two would’ve made that a lot easier but once you figure it out, it’s super simple to keep the blade tracking properly. If anyone has any questions, let me know the company and the service provided during the purchase and install was outstanding and it came from Canadians that work in the company in Canada and did just a great job communicating I bought several accessory since I recommend everybody has at least two places to hold the wood against the stakes, I have three bars to set the log against and two to state to hold it against it. In that way a short log or long log stays put just fantastic. Couldn’t be happier.”
“I am a first time sawyer. I bought an OS18 with track extension to turn the blowdown on my 60 acre wooded property into lumber for use on property and in making furniture. Set it up and began using it this past summer and have no real complaints. It is great to learn on a small mill.
Frontier are great to deal with - I had an issue with the exhaust and they rectified it very quickly.”
“This is my first experience with a sawmill so there is a steep learning curve. As reflected by the price, the OS23 is an entry level mill. Assembly instructions are adequate but could use more detail. I had difficulty adjusting the motor (10hp) to run at full rpm. This along with proper blade tracking and sharpness is critical to avoid bogging down and getting the blade stuck resulting in either clutch wear or burning up the belt. The water valve and mounting grommet for the blade line system is poorly designed and leaks from the very beginning.
For the price, it is a satisfactory entry level mill and with a little more investment by Frontier or the operator is a serviceable hobbyist/home saw”
“The mill itself is pretty good. The attachments such as the log dog are substantially unimpressive. A cam style lock to hold the log in place would be ideal. The backstop to hold the log in place could easily be a type that flips up or down on a hinge that would be more versatile and easier to use, store and operate. The cross bunks are too high and are hard to navigate logs onto for a small operation with limited resources. Track extensions should include 1 additional backstop for added safety.”
“saw works great until after 5 hours of usage the large pulley that drives blade on left side, bolt came off pulley was loose twisting blade and broke the teeth.
i was able to reinstall”
“When ordering any replacement parts only call don't use the website 1 the website isn't user friendly I ordered the auto blade lube system $75 received a cable and a 3 foot hose NO TANK that's another $65 they piece mill every thing not a happy camper with frontier sawmill and Norwood”
“I purchased the OS27 in 2022. Welded a 21’ trailer for the complete mill with 1 extension. Overall the mill went together well. For the price the mill works well. It was easy enough to put together and looks as though wearable parts should be easy to find. My biggest complaint is the Briggs and Stratton Engine. I could never get it to run correctly or idle correctly. Contacting Briggs or getting a basic manual is impossible. No warranty shops in my area. In the end I put a Predator 22hp on the mill. That engine was quite easy to install on the mill. The engine comes with a great manual and it runs like a top. At this point I would not recommend a mill with the Briggs motor due to my experience. But the Frontier part of the mill has worked well and does have a good manual.”
“The order was smooth and fast shipping. Added a few extra parts after initial order and they came fast too. Took us about a day to assemble. The book of directions were pretty easy enough. The sawmill has been working great so far. Love it!”
“We love our os23. We upgraded to the 10 HP. As with anything you must maintain your equipment. And it will perform as it was made to. It's a Google size for our hobby grade mill”
“The instructions are difficult to understand, the pictures and instructions do not correspond, and it was difficult figuring out how to assemble it. After I finally got it assembled and working it performed great. I accidentally cut into one of the dogs and destroyed the blade. The water tank leaked and I called about it and explained about sawing into the dog, the tank and the dog were replaced. I ordered new blades at the same time, and was told it would take two weeks for them to be delivered. It has been two weeks and I have not received them nor an email telling me when they will be shipped.”
“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”
