In this study, the significant process variables of a pilot auger reactor (i.e., temperature, feed flow rate, and the vacuum fan speed) are investigated to optimize pyrolysis oil (py-oil) yield and properties. The auger reactor uses steel shot as a heat carrier and operates without inert carrier gas. For the pyrolysis of softwood shavings, the optimum conditions are 450-475 degrees C temperature, a 4 kg/h feed flow rate, and a 2415 rpm vacuum fan speed producing an oil yield of 53%. The water content of the oil was minimized under these conditions to 24-26% and produced a single phase liquid. Hardwood sawdust (HW), Softwood shavings (SW), and Softwood Bark (SB) were pyrolyzed at these conditions to compare py-oil yield and chemical and physical characteristics, such as chemical composition, water content, total acid number (TAN), pH, density, viscosity, solids content, and HHV. The chemical components in py-oil were identified by GC-MS.