JP Junior Peterson Sawmill - Honda Engine - 6in Swing Blade

Peterson Junior JP-6H12 Portable Swingblade Sawmill – Honda GX390 – 6" Cut

The Peterson Junior Peterson JP-6H12 is a serious portable swingblade sawmill designed for property owners, farmers, woodlot operators, homesteaders, contractors, and part-time sawyers who want to turn their own logs into accurate, usable dimensional lumber. Compact enough to transport and operate without the infrastructure of a conventional stationary sawmill, yet capable of producing substantial volumes of finished timber, the Junior Peterson brings Peterson's proven swingblade concept into a smaller, more economical package.

This configuration is powered by the commercial-grade Honda GX390 and provides a full 6-inch cutting capacity. The GX390 is a 389 cc, air-cooled, four-stroke OHV engine producing 11.7 net horsepower / 8.7 kW at 3,600 RPM. Honda also rates the GX390 at approximately 19.5 lb-ft of net torque at 2,500 RPM.

It is important to distinguish the engine's net horsepower rating from older gross-horsepower ratings sometimes used in the small-engine industry. Net horsepower is measured at the engine's output shaft with normal production equipment such as the air cleaner and exhaust system fitted, making the 11.7 HP net rating a more representative figure for the power actually available to operate the sawmill.

The Honda GX390 is a professional horizontal-shaft engine from Honda's commercial GX Series. Honda backs GX engines of this size with a three-year commercial warranty, subject to Honda's applicable warranty terms and registration requirements.

A True Swingblade Sawmill

Unlike a conventional bandsaw mill, the Junior Peterson uses Peterson's circular swingblade system. The blade operates horizontally for one cut and then pivots through 90 degrees to make the adjoining vertical cut. This allows finished dimensional lumber to be produced directly from the log without repeatedly rotating the log or sending large slabs through a separate edger.

This cutting method is one of the major reasons the Peterson design is so versatile. Board dimensions can be changed as the operator progresses through the log, allowing the miller to adapt to the grain, defects, shape, and value of the individual log rather than being committed to one cutting pattern from start to finish.

Peterson's swingblade design also makes it possible to recover lumber right down near the bottom of the log. The operator can change board orientation and dimensions as required to maximize usable timber and reduce unnecessary handling.

6" Standard Cutting Capacity

The JP-6H12 is a 6-inch cut mill. Its standard swingblade can produce a maximum conventional cut of:

• 6" x 6" / 152 mm x 152 mm maximum standard cut
• 4" x 12" / 102 mm x 305 mm maximum double cut

The term "6-inch blade" in Peterson literature refers to the mill's cutting capacity rather than simply the outside diameter of the circular blade. Peterson's current specification identifies the 6-inch-cut swingblade as approximately 422 mm in actual blade diameter.

Double Cutting – Produce Material up to 12" Wide

One of the Junior Peterson's most useful features is its ability to double cut. By joining two horizontal cuts, the operator can produce material substantially wider than the normal 6-inch cutting depth.

The JP is capable of a maximum double cut of approximately 4" x 12". This allows the mill to produce wider beams, boards, structural timbers, and specialty lumber without requiring a completely different sawmill.

Peterson designed the Junior Peterson so that double cutting requires only a relatively minor change in the normal milling process. The attached Peterson literature specifically highlights this feature as one of the key advantages of the JP platform.

Handles Substantial Logs

Although the Junior Peterson is Peterson's smaller swingblade mill, its compact dimensions do not limit it to small timber. Peterson's current specification lists a maximum log diameter of approximately 3.6 ft / 1,100 mm.

This gives the JP the ability to process logs that can be difficult to handle on many smaller portable bandsaw mills. Because the mill is assembled around the log, the operator does not need to lift the entire log onto a conventional sawmill bed before cutting.

13-Foot Standard Log Length

The standard Junior Peterson track arrangement allows the operator to cut logs up to approximately 13 ft / 4 m long.

Standard track length is approximately 18.7 ft / 5.7 m. Peterson designed the JP around a rigid track system, and additional track extensions can be added when longer timber is required.

With suitable track extensions, the mill can be configured for logs substantially longer than the standard 13-foot capacity. This is particularly valuable when producing long structural timbers, beams, posts, agricultural building components, or custom lumber.

Rigid Track System

The Junior Peterson uses Peterson's Lo/Lo track arrangement, with two track sections positioned parallel to one another near ground level.

Peterson designed the track system to remain rigid over its working length. The mill can also be leveled to compensate for an imperfect work site, making it possible to establish an accurate cutting plane without requiring a permanent concrete sawmill pad.

This allows the JP to be taken to the logs rather than requiring every log to be transported to a fixed milling location.

Single-Point Height Adjustment

The Junior Peterson incorporates Peterson's single-point sizing system. This system allows the operator to lower all four corners of the mill together from a single adjustment location.

Keeping the complete cutting assembly moving evenly helps maintain consistent board thickness while reducing the amount of walking around the mill between cuts. This is particularly useful when the JP is being operated by one person.

Designed for One-Person Operation

The Junior Peterson can be operated by a single sawyer. The carriage is designed so the centre cutting unit can be moved along the tracks by the operator, and Peterson's sizing and track systems are arranged to minimize unnecessary movement around the machine.

Peterson recommends having a second person present at the milling site for safety, but the mill itself has been designed so that production does not inherently require a two-person crew.

For a farm, acreage, homestead, woodlot, or small contracting operation, this provides the flexibility to mill lumber without dedicating multiple employees to the sawmill.

Fast Setup

Peterson lists a typical Junior Peterson setup time of approximately 5 to 10 minutes once an operator is familiar with the machine and the site has been appropriately prepared.

This portability is a major advantage for owners with logs spread across different locations. Rather than transporting every large log back to a central sawmill, the JP can be moved and assembled closer to the timber being processed.

Built-In Tapered Weatherboard Capability

The Junior Peterson has a particularly unusual feature built directly into the mill: the ability to produce tapered weatherboards.

This allows the operator to produce angled boards commonly used for applications such as:

• Lap siding
• Bevel siding
• Clapboard
• Splay-cut siding
• Traditional weatherboards

This feature adds another potential finished product beyond conventional square dimensional lumber and can be especially useful for farm buildings, cabins, restoration projects, siding, and custom woodworking.

Low-Maintenance Circular Blade System

Peterson's circular swingblades are designed around low maintenance and long service life. Unlike bandsaw blades that normally need to be removed from the mill for sharpening or replacement, the Peterson circular blade can be sharpened while it remains installed on the sawmill.

Peterson states that routine sharpening can generally be completed in only a few minutes. The attached Peterson information book notes that the blade can be sharpened on the mill and that blade adjustments can be made relatively easily when fine-tuning finished lumber.

Peterson's blades use tungsten-carbide cutting tips. The manufacturer states that its circular blades normally provide years of service with proper maintenance, and worn carbide tips can be replaced rather than requiring the complete blade to be discarded.

Two Blades Included

The JP-6H12 package includes two standard Peterson circular saw blades. Having a second blade available allows one blade to be serviced or repaired while the mill remains ready for use.

A blade sharpener kit and sharpening instructions are also included, allowing routine sharpening to be carried out by the owner rather than relying on an outside sharpening service for normal maintenance.

Excellent Log Recovery

A major advantage of the swingblade layout is the ability to alter the cutting pattern while moving through the log. Instead of first cutting the entire log into large slabs and then resawing those slabs, the operator can produce finished dimensions directly from the log.

This can reduce unnecessary handling and allows the sawyer to react to knots, cracks, taper, grain orientation, and other characteristics as they become visible.

The operator can also change board dimensions as the log becomes smaller, helping recover useful lumber from material that might otherwise become waste.

Production Capability

Peterson's attached product literature lists an average production figure of approximately 1,600 board feet / 4 cubic metres per day for the Junior Peterson.

Actual production will vary considerably depending on log diameter, timber species, board dimensions, log handling, operator experience, site layout, and the amount of defect in the timber. Peterson specifically notes that its stated production figures can vary according to species and size of cut.

Even with that qualification, the listed production capacity demonstrates that the Junior Peterson is much more than a small occasional-use chainsaw mill. It is designed to provide meaningful dimensional-lumber production for a part-time sawyer.

Honda GX390 Commercial Engine

This JP-6H12 is powered by the highly regarded Honda GX390 commercial engine. Key Honda specifications include:

• 389 cc displacement – commonly rounded to 390 cc
• Air-cooled four-stroke OHV design
• 11.7 net HP / 8.7 kW at 3,600 RPM
• 19.5 lb-ft / 26.5 Nm net torque at 2,500 RPM
• 88 mm x 64 mm bore and stroke
• 8.2:1 compression ratio
• Commercial-duty horizontal-shaft engine
• Honda GX-series commercial warranty coverage

The engine's published 11.7 HP figure is net output, measured at the output shaft under normal operating configuration. This is a more useful specification than older gross-horsepower ratings measured without normal intake and exhaust losses.

Compact and Portable

Peterson's current specification lists the JP mill itself at approximately 456 lb / 207 kg excluding the tracks. This relatively low mass is a major benefit when the mill needs to be transported to different jobsites or moved around a farm or woodlot.

The mill itself measures approximately:

• 5.67 ft / 1.73 m long
• 3.7 ft / 1.14 m wide
• 6.85 ft / 2.1 m high

With the standard tracks installed, the operating footprint is approximately 6.9 ft / 2.1 m wide by 18.7 ft / 5.7 m long.

Durable Steel Construction

The Junior Peterson differs somewhat from Peterson's larger production mills. Rather than using the same extensive aluminium and stainless-steel construction found on some larger models, the JP uses a heavy-duty steel structure protected with zinc treatment and powder-coated finishes.

This construction method allows Peterson to retain the strength and rigidity required for accurate milling while keeping the Junior Peterson at a more accessible price point.

Optional Clip-On Slabber

The Junior Peterson can be further expanded with Peterson's optional Clip-On Slabber. This converts the JP from a dimensional-lumber swingblade mill into a machine capable of producing wide slabs.

Peterson's current JP information lists slab capability of approximately 3 ft / 915 mm wide and 6 in / 152 mm thick when the appropriate JP Clip-On Slabber is installed.

This gives one mill the ability to produce conventional dimensional lumber, beams, weatherboards, and high-value live-edge slabs.

Optional Planer Blade

A Peterson Planer Blade can also be fitted to the Junior Peterson. It installs in place of the normal saw blade and allows the mill to skim the surface of a beam or slab, helping level, thickness, and dress material directly on the mill.

This can be particularly useful when working with wide slabs and beams that may be difficult to process through conventional stationary woodworking equipment.

Optional Sanding Disc

The Peterson Sander Disc Kit is another available accessory for the Junior Peterson. Used after planing, it allows the mill itself to assist with finishing large slabs and beams.

The combination of the sawmill, slabber, planer blade, and sanding attachment gives the JP unusually broad capability from a single portable machine.

Expandable Track Length

Standard log capacity is approximately 13 ft / 4 m, but the JP's rigid track system is designed to accept additional track sections.

This means the owner can expand the mill later if requirements change. Longer tracks can be used for long beams and specialty timber, while multiple track sections can also improve workflow on larger milling jobs.

What's Included

The JP-6H12 package is supplied with the equipment required to begin milling, including:

• Honda GX390 commercial engine
• Standard Peterson track system
• Two standard circular saw blades
• Blade sharpener kit and instructions
• Safety equipment, including visor, gloves, and hearing protection
• Basic tools and spare components
• Watertight storage container for tools and spares
• Jockey wheels for moving the mill by hand
• Operating documentation
• Training information and operator manual

JP-6H12 Specifications

• Model: Peterson Junior Peterson JP-6H12
• Mill Type: Portable circular swingblade sawmill
• Cut Rating: 6"
• Maximum Standard Cut: 6" x 6" / 152 x 152 mm
• Maximum Double Cut: 4" x 12" / 102 x 305 mm
• Maximum Log Diameter: Approx. 3.6 ft / 1,100 mm on current JP specification
• Standard Maximum Log Length: 13 ft / 4 m
• Standard Track Length: Approx. 18.7 ft / 5.7 m
• Track Extensions: Available
• Typical Setup Time: Approx. 5–10 minutes
• Frame: Steel construction
• Finish: Zinc-treated and powder coated
• Mill Weight: Approx. 456 lb / 207 kg excluding tracks, current specification
• Engine: Honda GX390
• Engine Type: Air-cooled four-stroke OHV
• Engine Displacement: 389 cc
• Net Engine Output: 11.7 HP / 8.7 kW at 3,600 RPM
• Net Engine Torque: 19.5 lb-ft / 26.5 Nm at 2,500 RPM
• Engine Warranty: Honda 3-year commercial GX warranty, subject to applicable terms
• Average Production Listed in Peterson Brochure: Approx. 1,600 BF / 4 m³ per day
• Operator Requirement: Designed for one-person operation
• Built-In Specialty Capability: Tapered weatherboard cutting

Built for Farms, Woodlots, Acreages & Part-Time Production

The Junior Peterson occupies a useful position between very small chainsaw-style mills and larger commercial portable sawmills. It is compact enough for an owner-operator to transport, set up, and run, while retaining the ability to produce accurate structural and dimensional lumber at a meaningful rate.

It is particularly well suited to owners who have access to their own timber and want to turn that resource into useful products such as:

• Framing lumber
• Posts and beams
• Farm-building lumber
• Shed and barn material
• Fencing material
• Cabin lumber
• Decking
• Siding and weatherboards
• Furniture stock
• Live-edge slabs with the optional slabber
• Custom-sized specialty timber

A Serious Portable Mill in a Compact Package

The Peterson Junior Peterson JP-6H12 combines a proven commercial Honda engine, Peterson's circular swingblade technology, 6-inch cutting capacity, 12-inch double-cut ability, expandable tracks, built-in weatherboard capability, on-mill blade sharpening, and true one-person portability in a package designed specifically for the part-time sawyer.

Instead of being limited to one fixed board size or requiring extensive log handling equipment, the JP allows the operator to work around the log, change dimensions as required, recover valuable timber efficiently, and produce finished dimensional lumber directly from the mill.

For the owner who wants to turn their own trees into useful, accurately sawn lumber without investing in a full-scale stationary mill, the Peterson JP-6H12 is an exceptionally versatile and capable solution.