Sawbuck for small rounds

[Sprinter]

My new wood supply is from a Christmas tree farm across the road from me. When harvesting, they leave behind stumps up to 8 or 9" and up to 4' long. The place is littered with them but they do burn them up in burn piles over time. (I figure I'm doing them a favor and they don't mind neighbors walking through).

Some rounds are less than 18" long so I don't need to cut them at all, but most I do need to cut. I've been just cutting them from piles, but it seems less than safe that way. The rounds are light and small enough that they tend to roll toward me unless I put a foot on it, which also feels unsafe.

So, I need a sawbuck that is suitable for small stuff like this. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I thought there may be some good, stable designs out there. Preferably with 2x4's that I have on hand.

 

[Gark]

Just cobble together something like this from 2X4's. The screw-eyes (if they show in the pics) are to bungee cord any pieces that want to flop around while sawing. It folds flat to store.

 

[TreePointer]

Forum search: H-FRAME SAWBUCK

 

[HDRock]

Built with 2Xs from pallets

 

[Sprinter]

Thanks for the ideas, guys. All good stuff. For what I have, HDRock's system would work especially well because it would allow me to stack several rounds at a time. And even I could probably make one with what I have .

Forum search: H-FRAME SAWBUCK

Looking through some posts, I came across an idea from, I think, MasterMech, who clamped rounds in his splitter sideways. I actually tried that on my electric splitter today and it worked pretty well for my smaller stuff. I thought that was a pretty resourceful idea. But I think having a buck will save a lot of time and be a lot safer than what I was doing.

 

[bogydave]

Are you talking cords or just a few now & then?
Of course we'll need pictures of the sawbuck in the work mode.

 

[Sprinter]

Are you talking cords or just a few now & then?
Of course we'll need pictures of the sawbuck in the work mode.

Well, I've probably got about a cord done now and there is still more out there. I only discovered this source recently and after the workers had burned a lot of it up (we just moved here last year). After the next tree harvest, there should be tons more. It will be heavy but I'll need to get to it before the workers burn it. I'm hoping I won't have to buy any more wood at all. It's hard work going out there and gathering this stuff and it's a large area, but I only need about 2-1/2 cords a year and I actually enjoy it and it's good exercise.

 

[Seanm]

Well, I've probably got about a cord done now and there is still more out there. I only discovered this source recently and after the workers had burned a lot of it up (we just moved here last year). After the next tree harvest, there should be tons more. It will be heavy but I'll need to get to it before the workers burn it. I'm hoping I won't have to buy any more wood at all. It's hard work going out there and gathering this stuff and it's a large area, but I only need about 2-1/2 cords a year and I actually enjoy it and it's good exercise.

and its nice to have a source so close to you. Less gas and more money in your pocket!

 

[firecracker_77]

Well, I've probably got about a cord done now and there is still more out there. I only discovered this source recently and after the workers had burned a lot of it up (we just moved here last year). After the next tree harvest, there should be tons more. It will be heavy but I'll need to get to it before the workers burn it. I'm hoping I won't have to buy any more wood at all. It's hard work going out there and gathering this stuff and it's a large area, but I only need about 2-1/2 cords a year and I actually enjoy it and it's good exercise.

What kinds of trees are these? I bet they burn hot. Any pine I burn takes off fast and hot. If you have enough of it, you are in good shape.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

What kinds of trees are these? I bet they burn hot. Any pine I burn takes off fast and hot. If you have enough of it, you are in good shape.

IF they are Xmas trees they are certainly pine or spruce. I burn a lot of pine. IT does burn hot and relatively fast. IF its dry and you dont smolder it in a pre-EPA stove you should not have any problems. I dont.

 

[Sprinter]

and its nice to have a source so close to you. Less gas and more money in your pocket!

"Free is a very good price"...

My wife says it's like a treasure hunt. But then we're easily amused.

What kinds of trees are these? I bet they burn hot. Any pine I burn takes off fast and hot. If you have enough of it, you are in good shape.

Mostly Douglas Fir out there. Some Grand and Noble. This is the western (wet) side of Washington. Fir is king. It has a pretty high BTU rating and isn't as flashy as pine. Kinda pitchy, though. These small trunks are very twisty inside and would be very hard to split manually, but my electric splitter works well on them. There's only five other places on this road and the only one who burns isn't interested, so I have no competition for it

This is about 1/4 of the tree farm that I have access to (from my roof):




This is what I got yesterday. I c/s/s it as I get it. Doesn't look like much, but it adds up. I have about a cord stacked now. A lot of it doesn't even need cutting, a lot of it is odd lengths so I end up with a lot of small chunks, but that's fine. I never realized that they cut so much trunk off when harvesting. Some are 4' long.

 

[firecracker_77]

"Free is a very good price"...

My wife says it's like a treasure hunt. But then we're easily amused.

Mostly Douglas Fir out there. Some Grand and Noble. This is the western (wet) side of Washington. Fir is king. It has a pretty high BTU rating and isn't as flashy as pine. Kinda pitchy, though. These small trunks are very twisty inside and would be very hard to split manually, but my electric splitter works well on them. There's only five other places on this road and the only one who burns isn't interested, so I have no competition for it

This is about 1/4 of the tree farm that I have access to (from my roof):
View attachment 109487



This is what I got yesterday. I c/s/s it as I get it. Doesn't look like much, but it adds up. I have about a cord stacked now. A lot of it doesn't even need cutting, a lot of it is odd lengths so I end up with a lot of small chunks, but that's fine. I never realized that they cut so much trunk off when harvesting. Some are 4' long. View attachment 109488

That looks good. So you will get approx. how many cords a year if you get out there and gather every stump you can?

 

[Sprinter]

That looks good. So you will get approx. how many cords a year if you get out there and gather every stump you can?

LOL. Until my arms give out. I hand carry most of it, although there was one very large pile of long ones stacked up against the fence along the road. That was my easiest score because I loaded them up in my old Chevy Chase station wagon. If I see them doing that again, I may bribe the workers to bring it on over to my place and dump it. There are many cords out there after a harvest if you get it before they burn it themselves. There are access roads all through there, but I'm trying to keep low profile and they don't mind folks walking around. Making several trips a day keeps me active anyway.

Other than that, I could get kind of obsessive about it and not know when to quit. Like my dog and frisbee. I can get that way sometimes. All I need is 2-!/2 cords a year, but I'd like to get as far ahead as possible while I'm still physically able to do it. Including the alder I got last year, I'm about 3 years ahead now.

 

[Sprinter]

Well, it looks like I may not have to build anything after all. I nearly tripped over this old Workmate today and thought hmm. This is part of what I gathered yesterday and this morning.



Works perfectly well for what I have. Anything around 6" clamps in; 7 or 8" needs rubber straps but cradles. Much over 8" doesn't cradle well enough. I may still build a proper buck yet, but for now, this is good.

Thanks for the good ideas.

 

[Get Wood]

Made mine out of 4X4s but could have used 2X4s. It works good. I am clearing land with a lot of small pine, maple and choke cherry and don't want to throw any away.

 

[Sprinter]

Made mine out of 4X4s but could have used 2X4s. It works good. I am clearing land with a lot of small pine, maple and choke cherry and don't want to throw any away.

That looks great for large loads.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

That is the kind I was recommending for cutting slab wood. Makes the task go much faster.

 

[bogydave]

I actually enjoy it and it's good exercise.

Then you won't have any trouble getting your wood

For us that like the "Hard fun rewarding work" our wood stacks will always be full
when the addiction sets in.