Shopsmith Forums

Many years ago these were a common thing around our place, and well used since we supplemented our heating with wood. They of course have all but been forgotten since I don't really need one and haven't for years. But sometimes I've thought about building one for old times sake and well it could come in useful.

I wanted to make this one fold, and I want to use some 2 x 4's which looks like a batch of 5 8 footers will do the job.

Not sure of the angles and such but I did a sketch in sketchup and that looks reasonable. I'll try and get the wood this weekend and then sometime next week cut and assemble one to see what I think.
Anyone else here build these?

Ed

We used to have one when I was a kid. We also had one at the Moose hunting camp in northern Quebec back in the 80's. I like the 16" dimension of the center X. It gives you the log length for the wood stove. The guy I hunted Moose with in Quebec had a chain saw with a 16" length of fiber glass rod (bike flag poll) attached to the handle sticking out backwards. We used that to measure the cut length.

I have a whole bunch of old wood fence to cut up for fire wood so that will be perfect.

I use one from time to time. I mostly cut firewood in the woods instead of at the house but this year we have had to cut up half a dozen or so very large trees at the house and barns due to so much storm damage. I have maybe 10 borer killed ash trees to take down of various sizes too. That is just in the house and barns area.
Actually I like bucking firewood with a tractor powered buzz-saw and have for years. I used to do live demo's at an annual event at a living history museum but finally felt the need to quit because too many people felt the need to cross the safety ropes and crowd in too close to the running saw. Some are just not smart enough to be around stuff that dangerous.
Here is a picture of one of the events. That's me behind my Allis Chalmers C tractor that is driving the saw.

nice to see the old machines still in use , we try to go to the Miami Valley Steam show every year, they have their own website and videos on utube ,,they had a fella making veneer the last time we were there ,there is a lot of history about to disappear . not sure on the angle for the sawbuck or even if it makes any difference , the wider the angle the fatter the log ? thanks for sharing the pictures .

That saw in the picture looks like the same sort of set up that would show up in our yard back in the day. No tractor, just a car with one wheel taken off and a "special" hub put on to drive the saw. Had a pile of logs and by the end it was all cut to firewood length. Split some outside but most of it went through a basement window to get stacked down there.

Anyway I know have a saw buck.

Mostly as the design showed but I changed a few things on the fly. The angle seems about right so I'm pretty happy with it.

And yes I know, no pictures then it didn't happen........ so the pictures:
And what my wife is looking forward to, having a place to tie up brush for collection.
Ed