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So I borrowed a Portek Log Master off of a mate and fancy one long term, but there seem to be plenty of cheap versions that only lack the plastic handle to bolt on the saw.
Any experience of any cheaper ones and recommendations?
Depends what you're cutting. If you're dealing with a large amount of cord-wood, the Stihl 'Smart Holder Sawhorse' is a fantastically robust bit of kit. A tad on the pricey side, but tried and tested.
Never really been a fan of those 'bolt your saw in' type gadgets.
Agree with bodgy, any horse that allows you to operate a chainsaw with one hand ain't a great idea.
The red metal jobs off ebay that hold a huge stack of wood are the dog's bollocks. 2 mins loading it with as many pieces as will fit in, 4-5 cuts and it's all lying in bits on the ground. If I'd been doing my tree one log/branch at a time last year I'd still be doing it now. Plus, fat/thin short/long bent/straight is all ok.
If your wood is all long even-sized medium diameter logs like the stihl thing is designed for then it may be less important. But holding the log with one hand and cutting with the other? **** that, I like my fingers!
Never chainsaw a horse. The RSPCA take a dim view of such activities.
How else do you chop one up then and feed it to the beagles? An axe?
Ive got one of those portek log things and used it a lot, perfectly safe , to cut your fingers off you'd have to trying to cut a log like sliced ham 🙂 The saw is held out from the bench so there's no need to ever stick your hand under the blade. TBH if you can't use one with the saw clamped in place with a guard on the chain safely there's no way you should be waving a chainsaw around with both hand. For just chopping logs they're great if it's anything odd shaped saw some guys at a county show flogging something like this [url= http://www.forest-master.com/quick-fire-saw-horse.php ]Chainsaw stand[/url] looked good for chopping off cuts pallets etc
TBH if you can't use one with the saw clamped in place with a guard on the chain safely there's no way you should be waving a chainsaw around with both hand.
If you need to hold your saw in a contraption like that, instead of using it with two hands, the way it is designed, then maybe you need to have a look at yourself. Using that is negating the only safety feature a chainsaw has.
The one that thecaptain mentioned is ideal, although I'd make my own from timber.
[I]Agree with bodgy, any horse that allows you to operate a chainsaw with one hand ain't a great idea. [/I]
Eh?
I bought one last year, they work brilliantly and safe - certainly far safe than trying to stand on a log while you chop it.
Or are they not 'manly' enough?
They're a bit JML. the chainsaw equivalent of a paint pad. Each to their own. And who says I stand on logs?.
OP - one like this, means you can cut loads of logs in one go.
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standing on a log - oh dear . Too much canadian loggers me thinks.
got something like what there nobeer has - logs go in , bits come out and my saws under my direction and power the whole time + kickback will work.
The oxdale one is good. You only have to move the log once as its a counterbalance design.
If you're skint, though, make your own from 2" round hazel or something.
Just about to post a picture of the one I made and Nobeer beat me to it.
It works well, and being made of wood it doesn't matter if you nick it with the chainsaw. The one in the picture has been in use for about 4 years and cost about £30.
Watching my 80yo father in law standing on a log while waving a chainsaw around was what persuaded me to get one and learn how to do it properly.
If you do have to cut a single log on the ground, go down on one knee to do it, so you can use the saw in a low position with the blade angled upwards, preventing the log from moving. That's what I was taught anyway (and did quite a lot of, before I got the sawhorse).
Thanks. I have lots of sawn wood that needs breaking down further to fit the log burner. So the big log holders are no good. The want for one of the bolt on saw horses was that I could load multiple small logs without having to turn the saw off or lay it down as I load the next log.
That horse of Richmars that I posted, has 15 logs in it. 2 cuts and you have 45 logs.
A set of Triton super jaws, with the log jaws fitted. Great bit of kit, really handy for a lot of things.
just make sure you get the heavier duty model, as most places only sell the lighter version.
How do you use that then? Logs at 90 degrees to it? If so, you're limited to logs that are less than about 200mm dia. Lengthwise, you'll either saw into the metal, or have to keep cutting halfway and turning the logs.
I'm out.
Mine's got a few more nicks in it now, and the Forester is now an X-Trail. But I still thing it works pretty well.
Sorry for plagiarising your pic buddy, just didn't have one of mine!.
140quid 😮
No problem! If I didn't want people to use it I wouldn't put it on the net!
Personally just cut the whole stack where it sits, with an eye on the floor. The work is in the handling, so try to avoid any extra handling.
Handling is indeed the main problem. I my case, the log store is about 50m further into the wood, so I have to move them anyway. Easier to carry before cutting them up (I think).