Winch Production Frame (WPF) – Unique Design for Productive Sawmilling

Versatile, Durable, Efficient, Accurate and Productive Portable Swing Blade Sawmill

Winch Production Frame Swing Blade Sawmill

The Winch Production Frame (WPF) was designed for productive sawmilling, cutting high quality, extremely accurate timber with portable or fixed-site milling. It is great for contractors and built from top quality materials for durability in any weather.

The WPF is a swing blade sawmill that has a manual one-point lowering system which can be upgraded to an Electric Winch for even faster vertical sizing at the touch of a button.

For ultimate efficiency the Hi/Lo track option allows easy log loading either over the top of the low rail with a loader, or by rolling the logs under the high rail. 

As with Peterson’s other swing blade sawmills, the WPF can be fitted with a Clip-on Slabber attachment which allows you to cut slabs for table tops, benches, bar leaners and more. Slabs are a very popular product amongst home builders and renovators and will result in a faster return on investment.

With the ability to add unlimited track extensions for commercial production, it is little wonder that the WPF Portable Sawmill is a customer favourite, especially with contract sawyers.


Best portable Sawmill
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Features

Cut Wide Boards with Ease
A unique feature of all Peterson Portable Sawmills, is the ease of double cutting timber slabs by a single operator. A double cut is the joining of two horizontal cuts together to obtain a wider board or slab using both sides of the blade, doubling your maximum width cut with ease!

Cyclonic Air Filter
These state-of-the-art filters separate clean air from debris and liquids by the design and rotation of the air intake. Petersons have many unskilled operators in remote areas that often forget to clean/change their air filters regularly, but their  Kohler or Vanguard Briggs & Stratton motors with cyclonic filters just keep going anyway! Heavy duty cyclonic filters can give up to three times the life of standard duty air filters.

Durable, Low Maintenance Blades
Peterson blades last for 2-6 years with normal use and maintenance. However, some swing blade sawmill owners have been using the same blades for over 10 years! To decrease downtime, the Peterson blade can be sharpened while it is still on the mill; in less than 10 minutes, and without having to remove any guards. For your convenience the sharpener is pre-set to fit your blade size which makes for much more productive sawmilling.

Elevated Engine Position
Petersons mount their sawmill engines higher than other manufacturers for two reasons: firstly, to ensure the air filter intake is further away from the sawdust output. This prevents sawdust build up and overheating of the motor. And secondly, to allow the ability of double-cutting to full depth, without the motor and gearbox restricting the opposite side of the blade.

Positive Lock for Left/Right Sizing
Peterson’s left/right sizing system is run by chain and sprocket, with a turning handle and lock. So that means it will only move when you unlock it, and you can position the sizing very accurately to within 1mm. No slippage, and top accuracy for every board.

Power Options
Petersons are proud to offer 35hp and 37hp Kohler, 35hp Briggs & Stratton Vanguard big-block gasoline engines, as well as a 15kw 3 Phase option. More horse power makes it easier on the engine when you’re cutting hard wood, and also allows you to cut through a log more quickly.

Quality and Warranty
We manufacture the Peterson Portable Sawmill range using quality materials such as hand polished stainless steel and aluminum that make them virtually rust free. This also means the mills are robust in performance, and most importantly – have long-term durability in even the harshest conditions. Because we have faith in our manufacture, and we want you to as well, we offer a 2-year frame warranty on stainless and alloy frames manufactured by Peterson.

Rigid Track System – Unlimited Extensions Available
The Peterson JP, WPF, ASM and DWS have all been designed with a track system which allows for unlimited track extensions (extensions available as optional extras). Perfect for when Jeff Sincell milled a 40′ log on his WPF.

Single Point Sizing
On all ASM and WPF and JP frames, this system allows the operator to lower all four corners of the mill equally from one position meaning more accurate boards. The manual, single point winch system, may be upgraded to electric on the WPF.


Comparisons


Specifications

Blade Size (Radius)8″10″
Blade Quantity
2
2
Motor Options
Honda 22hp
Honda 22hp
Kohler 27hp
Kohler 27hp
Honda 25hp
Honda 25hp
Vanguard 35hp
Vanguard 37hp
Electric 3 Phase Brushless 15kw
Maximum Standard Cut
8″ x 8″ (203mm x 203mm)
10″ x 10″ (254mm x 254mm)
Maximum Double Cut
8″ x 16″ (203mm x 406mm)
10″ x 20″ (254mm x 508mm)
Log diameter (Standard)*
6′ (1.8m)
5′ (1.5m)
Log length (Standard)*
20′ (6m)
20′ (6m)
Supplied Track Length
13′ + 13′ (4.2m + 4.2m)
13′ + 13′ (4.2m + 4.2m)
Maximum Track Length
Unlimited
Unlimited
Hi/Lo Tracks
Optional
Optional
Electric Winch
Optional
Optional
Planer Blade
Optional
Optional
Sander Disk Kit
Optional
Optional
Clip on-slabber
Optional
Optional
Tapered Board Attachment
Optional
Optional
Tachometer
Optional
Optional
Microkerf Blade Kit
Optional
Optional
Giant Frame Upgrade
Optional
Optional
Weight
650lbs (295kg approx.)
650lbs (295kg approx.)
Materials
Aluminium & Stainless Steel
Aluminium & Stainless Steel
Average production**
1,200-3,500bft (3-8m3) per day
1,200-3,500bft (3-8m3) per day

* Extendable with upgrade
** Production numbers may vary due to species and size of cut


Accessories

Petersons have a range of portable sawmill accessories that are available for purchase at any time (model dependent). Our range of accessories have been designed to help increase production and add value to the lumber that comes off your mill.

Tapered Board/Weatherboard Attachment
The weatherboard attachment kit allows you to cut angled boards, often referred to as lap siding, bevel siding, splay cut or clapboard. It can be fitted to your modern WPF or ATS to set your sawblade to predetermined angles to cut such angled boards for siding. Variation in angles is allowed to ensure you can change the thickness, width, and pitch of the siding you require.

Hi/Lo Track System
Petersons Hi/Lo track set up comes standard on the ASM models, and as an optional extra on the WPF. The Hi/Lo tracks allow the operator to either load logs over the track on the low side, or roll logs under the high track, giving the utmost in versatility for mobile or fixed site applications.

Electric Winch
Optional with the WPF, or standard with the ASM model, the electric winch allows touch button control of the track height. Not only does it make for faster resetting, but sizing is more accurate due to raising and lowering the tracks at the same time allowing much more productive sawmilling.

Clip On Slabber Chainsaw Mill
The ultimate in portable sawmill accessories. Petersons’ Clip On Slabber chainsaw mill is a popular accessory for millers who want dimensional lumber AND a slab or two from the same log. When milling down to a suitable slab, simply swap the swing blade for the Clip On Slabber to get your slab then swap back and finish milling dimensional lumber!

Micro-Kerf Blade
With the development of the MicroKerf blade, Petersons are now able to offer a thinner kerf blade that still has all the benefits of circular saw technology. This ultra thin blade can reduce the kerf to a tiny 4mm, and is the first of its kind in the portable sawmilling market. It minimizes the wastage of valuable wood and maximizes the amount of quality, useable timber produced from each log.

Planer Blade and Sanding Disc Kit
A Peterson Wood Planer Blade is an integral tool for dressing wide beams and slabs cut with your WPF and/or Clip On Slabber. The Wood Planer Blade is mounted in place of your standard mill blade to skim over the surface of your timber for planed results. Purchase with the Peterson sander disc for a complete finish to bring your timber to the finish you desire, saving hours of hand sanding or extra machinery.


Set Up

Diagram of the steps involved in setting up an WPF

Setting up the WPF is a simple process that usually takes one person about 10 – 25 minutes and around 5 – 10 minutes for two people. The mill can be packed up within about 7 minutes.

1. Set up your skids at each end of the log.
2. Place the track and levelers onto the skids. Ensure the tracks are parallel by looking along them at eye level.
3. Wheel the carriage and place onto the tracks.
4. Remove the jockey wheels. The sawing process can now begin.

Double Track Set Up

Double Track for high production sawmilling with the WPF

Adding track extensions to your standard WPF track set-up not only allows you to mill very long logs, but also gives you the ability to set up two sawmilling areas. This allows you to mill the first log then move onto your second log straight away which will reduce your downtime.

While you are milling the second log another log can be loaded into the first sawmill area, therefore reducing your down time which in turn increases your daily production capacity. Just another benefit of the Peterson range of swing blade sawmills.

Take your milling site to the next level and add a Dedicated Wide Slabber (DWS) to your Double Tracks for the perfect set up like our custom sawmillers Guy and Mark have done.


WPF In Action

Click the ‘Playlist’ link in the top right corner to select a WPF video:

Mohaka River Community add second Peterson to their inventory

Having owned their first WPF for 2 years, Mohaka River Sawmilling have now invested in a second mill to provide more quality, affordable and timely materials for their construction businesses and community building projects. 

Click here to read the article

Timber craftsmen at their peak

Dave has been logging and working with wood for almost 30 years and has also worked as a miller in Japan. When Dave saw a demonstration of a Peterson Sawmill at a local log home exhibition in 1999, he realised that the mill would be very suitable for use in the log home industry.

Click here to read the article

Canadian housing project provides opportunities for indigenous people

After working for several big mills in the area, Craig saw an opportunity to work with local First Nations communities and get them into small scale milling. While working for Toosey Indian Band, Craig was able to purchase their first used WPF in 2014.

Click here to read the article

Peterson vs Lucas

As the owner of both a Peterson 8” swingblade and a Lucas Mill 8” swingblade, Bill Shore is uniquely qualified to discuss their similarities and differences.

Read how he progressed from an Alaskan Mill to the worlds best portable swingblade and how he compares them.

Click here to read the article

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