Well      06/08/2019

A device for cutting logs into boards with a chainsaw. A device for sawing logs with a chainsaw: learning how to make it yourself. It all started with a simple hacksaw

Logs are a kind of raw material for lumber production. general purpose And special types products. More precisely, it is the raw material for obtaining such a necessary material in construction and farming as boards.

Before starting work, it is necessary to carefully inspect the logs for flaws and clean them of bark. This is usually done manually without power tools. It is best to work with fresh material immediately after it has been cut down. It is very difficult to work with low-quality material or curved logs. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately assess the quality and sort the logs. It is also worth considering that it will simply be impossible to obtain perfect boards at home. So you need to calculate your strengths and possible losses.


Take electric plane and remove the subcortex. Subbark is a soft young layer of wood located directly under the bark. There's no need to shoot a lot. It will be enough to remove a layer one centimeter thick. Try to remove the desired layer immediately, otherwise the wood will not have an aesthetically pleasing appearance over time.


Dry the logs outdoors for five to seven days under cover. This is a very important process, since under-dried wood will simply crack over time.


Treat the logs with a chemical preservative. Use only high-quality modern antiseptics, insect repellents and various fungi.


Secure the log to the guides or bed. And also do not forget to check the sharpness of the knives and chain.


By applying marks on the log, a cutting line is outlined. It is necessary to try to ensure that the boards have approximately equal density. It’s good if the log has ideal evenness and density. But it often happens that the logs have flaws, so you have to tinker with cutting to save money and maximize the yield of quality material.


Remove the hump from both sides of the log. As a result, you will get a comfortable beam that will not roll.


Start removing the boards. What you'll end up with is a set of boards with raw edges that will need to be cut down with a handsaw.


Now you can admire your work and consider cutting the logs successful and complete!

Until recently, a chainsaw was used only for cutting logs crosswise. Craftsmen could use it to make boards, rectangular bars, and all kinds of wooden sculptures. This was not a good thing for the common people. It required experience, skill, and talent. Today, chainsaw manufacturers offer various attachments as a supplement, which have turned the tool into a universal device with which you can cut not only wood, but also other building materials, such as stone. In this article we will deal with one question - how to cut a log into boards using a regular chainsaw.

To cut a log, you will need a special attachment in the form of a metal frame, which is connected to the body of the gasoline saw with two bolts. The connection point is the bolts that secure the working element (tire) inside the tool itself. You need to unscrew the nuts, install the frame on them, screw the nuts that come with the frame onto the bolts. They are wider, which increases the clamping area and increases the reliability of fastening the frame to the chainsaw body.

You can make such a nozzle yourself from profile pipe. The main thing is the accuracy of the frame dimensions.

Cutting technology

When cutting logs into boards, you can’t use just one attachment frame. Because it needs a stop, especially when sawing the top part of a log with bark. That is, when the operation of turning a log into timber is carried out. You will need an additional device made from two boards.

Two boards 40-50 mm thick are fastened together so that they are in perpendicular planes. The device is attached to the log with self-tapping screws and supported at the ends with additional stops made from the same boards. In this case, the fastening is carried out so that the top edge of the vertical board is below the top edge of the log. That is, the distance between the edges determines the thickness of the cut slab.

All that remains is to install the chainsaw so that one part of the frame rests against the transversely installed board. This will be the support. The main plane of the frame will rest against the vertically installed part of the device.

The chainsaw turns on, and the log begins to be cut lengthwise with the specified cutting thickness. The main task of the work operator is not to overload the tool with hand pressure. The saw, or rather the chain, will cut itself; you need to push it a little. After cutting the slab, the wooden device is dismantled, the log is rotated 90°, and installation is carried out support installation, the entire cutting process is repeated.

Attention! Wooden device used only for cutting slabs.

As soon as the log turns into timber, you can saw it into boards without using a wooden device. Beam - lumber with a rectangular cross-section, it has four outer smooth surfaces, on which you can rest the chainsaw with the frame. You just need to press the frame against the cutting plane and move the tool along the workpiece. The frame has a thrust element located perpendicular to the entire structure, displaced across the cut. With its help, the thickness of the cut board is set.

To understand how to cut logs into boards with a chainsaw using a frame attachment, watch the video below.

Another variant

There are similar attachments on the market a large number of. All of them are suitable for sawing logs into boards, they all have a similar design. But there are also differences. The photo below shows accessories for a chainsaw, which does not require additional accessories or tools. In essence, this is a miniature manual sawmill, which is based on a gasoline saw.

The design is complemented by guides and wheels that move along the surface of the log, reducing resistance. There are two pairs of wheels, they are located on opposite sides of the workpiece. It’s convenient, easy, and, on the plus side, the quality of the cut material increases.

The nozzle is attached to the chainsaw in exactly the same way as in the previous case. The main requirement for the job is to accurately position the saw so that it is in a horizontal position. And although an oblique cut turns out the same, it is more convenient and easier when the tool is positioned level.

Homemade attachments

Masters have long learned to do a lot of things with their own hands. There is a huge variety of frame designs on the Internet that allow a chainsaw to cut logs into boards. Eat simple options manual type, there are large complexes of a frame, guides, with the help of which a tool moves or a log rises/lowers. One of them is in the video below:

Please note that the structure is assembled from metal profiles, which makes it reliable and stable. At the same time, the machine (it simply cannot be called otherwise) is equipped with mechanical gearboxes that simplify the process of moving the workpiece barrel and the chainsaw. No manual effort, just turn the handle from the gearbox. In this case, the thickness of the boards is adjusted by lifting the log, and not with a gasoline tool.

Another option is an attachment that helps make cuts not in a horizontal plane, but in a vertical one. The design is simple, but it is more difficult to work with because you have to make an effort to hold the chainsaw. In addition to the device, you have to prepare a metal strip or board, which is attached to the log in the longitudinal direction. It is on this that the frame-nozzle rests when cutting is carried out.

In addition, this option is more dangerous, because nothing holds the board being cut. She may hit her leg if she falls. So the process needs to be carried out carefully. The video below clearly shows how this option works.

Another setup that the manufacturer called a carriage. For this purpose, such a frame structure was made from a profile pipe and several wheels, which will give the device some mobility in terms of moving along the workpiece barrel. They are also a kind of stops that do not allow the chainsaw to move from side to side.

In addition to the carriage, a regular aluminum ladder is used, which acts as a guide element. It is attached to the log with clamps on nails or screws.

Please note that the width of the ladder must match the distance between the carriage wheels located at its different ends. The staircase must be placed in a horizontal plane using a building level. It is leveled by placing pieces of boards of different thicknesses underneath it.

The prepared chainsaw with the carriage is installed on the stairs. Turn on the engine and push along the workpiece with your hands, cutting off its upper part.

From the side the process is visible better. Here you can see a carriage with wheels, a ladder, a log lying under it, and how the cutting process is carried out.

The design of this type of device is quite complex. But out of many homemade options the manual type is better, more convenient, and more reliable. It became possible to adjust the cutting height horizontally by first installing a ladder along the horizon.

Generalization on the topic

As it turns out, an ordinary chainsaw is a universal tool. If you choose the right attachment, it can replace a large number of tools. Moreover, some attachments are easy to make with your own hands, since their design can be found in the public domain. The Internet is simply replete with variations.

All photos from the article

In the process various works Often there is a need for longitudinal cutting of logs or beams. For this purpose the most Various types equipment - from stationary sawmills to small installations, but these options cost a lot, and if you need to do a small amount of work, then sawing logs with a chainsaw will be the simplest and most rational solution.

Advantages of using this option

First of all, let’s figure out what advantages this cutting method has:

Ability to work in any conditions Unlike electrical equipment, which is afraid high humidity, the chainsaw is capable of working in the most unfavorable conditions, without causing any damage to the structure, because all components in the chainsaw are adapted to work on outdoors and even under precipitation
Performance If you are going to work long time, then you will need equipment with a power of about 7 horsepower or more, it can withstand significant loads, while the quality of work will be consistently high
Autonomy Since the device runs on gasoline, you do not depend on electricity and can build a structure for sawing in any location. convenient location. This is especially convenient when working in areas where there are no power lines
Convenience The inertial brake in chainsaws works faster than in electrical systems, A smooth start and adjustable chain speed ensure high quality work, even if you do not have such experience

Important!
In addition to all the above factors, we should not forget the low cost of the structure; purchasing a stationary sawmill will cost several times more.

Overview of some options

We will talk about the two most popular designs that provide best quality when working, and you yourself will determine what is more convenient and preferable in your case.

Homemade option

First, let's look at how to make a device for sawing logs with a chainsaw with your own hands.

The instructions for carrying out the work are as follows:

  • It is best to use a frame from an old one school desk or a square pipe with a side of 20x20 or slightly larger.
  • First of all, two clamps are made, these are elements 50-60 cm long, at one end of which a crossbar with two holes for tightening bolts and a small protrusion in the middle for clamping the tire is welded, an element of the same configuration is attached on top, the photo below shows already ready-made elements, as you can see, everything is quite simple, and having at hand welding machine, you can make them very quickly.

Boards are actively used for various construction and repair activities. This material can be made independently from any suitable log using a regular chainsaw.

Chainsaw - a universal summer resident tool

A chainsaw, often also called a chainsaw, is a chain saw hand tool, equipped with a two-stroke (in most cases) internal combustion engine. This popular mechanism is indispensable in any homestead. The chainsaw is compact and yet powerful. It works without breakdowns for a long time in autonomous mode, due to which it can be used in any location and in a position convenient for the user. The chainsaw has other advantages:

  • Equipped with mechanisms for selecting operating speed and smooth starting. This reduces the risk of chain breakage to a minimum.
  • Can be used in high humidity conditions.
  • Does not require electrical energy.
  • It is characterized by high power indicators (noticeably greater than those of a power tool).
  • Has a quick-acting inertia brake.

The main advantage of a gasoline saw is the ability to equip it with various attachments. It is they who make it universal, indispensable for home handyman, tool. Using a chainsaw, you can saw logs, cut stone, metal, brick, tiles building materials, removing bark from wood, cutting out mounting grooves and various recesses in the bars.

The functionality of the tool can be expanded even further, the main thing is to choose the right attachment or equip it with a special device.

We will not describe all the capabilities of the chainsaw. In this article, we are only interested in the issue of sawing logs using a chainsaw. More on the features of doing such work with your own hands.

Attachments and accessories for sawing – the home craftsman will appreciate them!

Cutting a log with a gasoline saw can be done after it has been completed different types devices and special attachments. Get relatively smooth boards from the trunk of an old dried tree on your summer cottage It’s not difficult if you install a standard attachment for longitudinal cutting of wood on your chainsaw. Important point. You won't get perfect boards when using this attachment. But the cut products can be used to build a fence around the site or a simple shed.

It will be easier to cut a log more efficiently if you add to the nozzle a device for holding the wooden workpiece and a guide. You need to mount a metal frame on the saw bar. It is sold in construction stores. If you wish, you can actually make it yourself, using legs from an old school desk or ordinary metal corners. The distance between the tire and the frame is adjustable. Due to this, it becomes possible to saw logs into boards of different thicknesses.

If the tool will be used stationary, the chainsaw guide is made of smooth wooden block either from metal profile. It should be as tough as possible. The ends of the homemade guide are mounted on sawhorses. And then a log is placed under this structure for sawing. The process of processing it will occur quickly and without unnecessary labor costs.

It is worth noting that the described technique is used exclusively for cutting trunks of small length. If we take more long log, the guide will begin to bend. As a result, the trunk cannot be cut efficiently and evenly.

We take a log and get boards from it!

Impeccably even cutting is obtained by using a leading ruler (a special guide is often used instead), which is usually called a straight template. It is, in fact, a small machine recommended for cases where woodworking is done more or less regularly. Such a miniature sawmill for longitudinal sawing costs from 10 thousand rubles. If you use it “once every hundred years”, it is better to do as described above.

Both the factory device and the DIY design cut logs according to the same pattern. Longitudinal cutting is carried out using a special chain. Finding her can be difficult. But there is a way out. Sawing trunks lengthwise can be done with a regular chain. You just need to carefully sharpen it at a 10-degree angle. Important point! The tool quickly loses its original sharpness during use. Therefore, it must be constantly sharpened so that cutting logs into boards does not cause difficulties, and the geometry of the resulting products meets the stated requirements.

Sawing logs into flat boards with a chainsaw equipped with a device is performed as follows:

  1. 1. Take two straight lines and durable boards. Connect them at right angles to each other. The result is a reliable straight template.
  2. 2. Make simple supports from wooden blocks. Use them to support the template you made.
  3. 3. Place the barrel on the device.
  4. 4. Fasten the frame to the tire, attach the supporting elements supporting the leading ruler to the ends of the log. The last operation requires horizontal installation. Use building level for control.
  5. 5. Secure all existing elements with self-tapping screws. Some craftsmen use nails for these purposes, which is undesirable. After cutting the logs into boards, you will have to remove the used fasteners. It will be difficult to do this without significant damage to the structure.
  6. 6. Fix the template to the supports and adjust its height. Nuance. The cut will go somewhere 10 mm above the level of the ruler, and not strictly along it. Take this into account when adjusting the height.
  7. 7. Rotate the log. Turn on the chainsaw. You make the first cut.

Then you need to free the log from the stops and boards, fix the template on the cut surface so that it faces in the direction of the second cut. The ruler can be attached with supports to the ends or directly to the surface of the barrel. Make a second cut. In relation to the first, it will be perpendicular.

Next, turn the log and fix it. The ruler can be removed. We will carry out further sawing without it - one of the cut sides of the trunk will serve as a guide. You need to adjust the thickness of the cut on the frame, saw off the log to get a beam with bark on only one side. Now turn the barrel again. Set up the frame. You carry out the final sawing and get the boards at your disposal. If their width is not important to you, there is no need to cut the trunk to fit the timber. Simply saw the workpiece to the middle, turn it 180°, then continue the operation you started.

We cut the trunk across - there will be no difficulties!

As you can see, longitudinal sawing with a chainsaw is a rather labor-intensive process. If you want to get logs by sawing the trunk crosswise and then make boards from them, the operation will be impractical due to the large expenditure of effort. Most often, cross-cutting is used when it is necessary to make country street furniture from wood - tables, benches, small benches. It is also recommended for preparing firewood and for decorative design using sawn logs. In such situations, logs are cut into disks of small thickness (up to 15 cm).

The cross cutting process is as follows:

  1. 1. Place the trunk on trestles 70–80 cm in height (they should be as stable as possible).
  2. 2. Remove the bark from the wood, if any.
  3. 3. Make a small cut. It will play the role of a guide groove.
  4. 4. Rotate the barrel being processed 90°. The tire of a power tool must run strictly along the intended groove.
  5. 5. If you need logs, make notches on the tree with an ax.
  6. 6. Sawing the trunk.

Transverse and longitudinal cutting of logs must be carried out in compliance with safety standards. It is advisable to carry out work in thick clothing, gloves, glasses, and headphones. Prepare a first aid kit in advance - a chainsaw is a potentially unsafe tool that can cause serious injury to a person. Always move the saw forward along the guide and do not try to push it harder. The tool should move freely.

The chainsaw must not be raised above the shoulders. The tool must only be run on the ground. In this case, the chain brake must be in the engaged state. Its release is carried out just before the start of cutting logs. Do not fill the gasoline container if the saw has recently been used. You should wait until the tool and fuel tank cool down. Take care to carry out work safely. And then sawing up tree trunks on your own will not lead to dire consequences. Good luck.

Boards and timber are one of the main building materials. But not everyone has the financial means to purchase ready-made boards. In such situations, one of the solutions is to independently harvest wood on a plot taken from the forestry.

The advantage of a chainsaw as a tool for sawing logs

You can saw a log using a sawmill, gas or electric saw and additional accessories. When choosing one of these tools, you should consider the amount of work ahead. The cost of the cheapest stationary sawmill along with all components is 150 thousand rubles. A chainsaw is much cheaper. It is more convenient than an electric saw for the following reasons:

  • Electricity is not required to operate the tool - this makes it possible to use a chainsaw on plots.
  • It is more powerful compared to an electric saw.
  • It starts smoothly and allows you to conveniently adjust the speed, which reduces the likelihood of a chain break.
  • The inertial brake operates faster than that of an electric saw.
  • Long working time without interruption – up to one hour.
  • Can be used in conditions of high humidity.

Types of working attachments

When sawing logs with a chainsaw, various attachments are used.

    • Attachment for longitudinal sawing. It is used for sawing logs lengthwise, the process takes place in a horizontal position. After work, the master receives the same thickness of the product. Finished materials are subjected to a drying process, after which the boards are used in construction. By appearance the device is a frame small sizes, it is attached to the tire on each side.

  • Drum debarker (debarker). With the help of such an attachment it is easy to dissolve the log; it works due to a V-belt drive. Attached to belts on both sides, special pulleys are used for this. The speed of rotation of the shaft depends on the size of the pulleys, so the performance of the attachment is easy to change. This technology forces the master to carefully monitor each stage of the process; some specialists use an assistant during this cutting. But this option requires increased security measures.
  • Sawing with a lightweight nozzle. The method is no different high performance, but is used quite often. The element is fastened on one side, but the workpieces are slightly uneven. Such materials are necessary for the construction of sheds or fences.

Features of sawing using a homemade tool

You can easily saw a log into boards using a self-made tool. It's easy to make. To do this you need to do the following:

  • As a support, you need to use a frame from a school desk or a pipe with a cross-section in the form of a square, its optimal size is 20x20, more is allowed.
  • It is necessary to build two clamps, mount a cross member with two holes for coupling bolts at one end, and make a protrusion for the tire in the middle.
  • To cut logs longitudinally into boards, you need to make a support frame; its width should be seven to eight centimeters less than the length.
  • Then two parts ten centimeters long are welded to both sides, holes are made for the bolts, and a handle is attached in the middle for ease of operation.
  • Then you need to insert the clamps into the grooves, install the tire, and secure everything carefully.

To Work with homemade instrument It’s not difficult, for this you will need goats, they will serve as a support. In addition, you need to prepare a metal strip or board to use as a guide. A log is placed underneath and the required height for work is set.

The procedure for performing preparatory work

To cut a log lengthwise, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:

  • Take two straight boards and attach one to the other at right angles. The result is a strong guide line.
  • To support the manufactured ruler, you need to make stops from boards.
  • Moving the trunks must be done using a tilter.
  • The log should be placed on a comfortable base.
  • You need to secure the frame to the chainsaw bar using nuts.
  • The supports of the leading ruler must be attached to the ends of the log, checking the horizontal position with a level.
  • Self-tapping screws must be used to secure all brackets and structural elements. Nails are not suitable for these purposes, since they are difficult to remove in the future without causing damage to the structural parts.
  • The leading ruler needs to be attached to the supports using brackets and its height adjusted taking into account that the cut will not go along it, but approximately one centimeter higher.
  • The log needs to be rotated and the second board secured so that it rests on the ground and supports the log.

Procedure for performing basic work

  • Now you need to start the chainsaw and make the first cut.
  • Next, you need to free the log from the stops and boards and attach a guide ruler to the cut surface of the log in the direction of the next cut. The ruler is attached directly to the surface or to the ends of the log using supports. The second cut is made perpendicular to the first cut.
  • The log needs to be turned and secured with a board against the ground.
  • A ruler is not required to perform the following steps. One of the cut sides serves as a guide.
  • It is necessary to adjust the thickness of the cut on the frame and saw off the log from the other side so that you get a beam with bark remaining on only one side.
  • This beam must be turned over and secured so that the attachment point of the fixing board is as low as possible.
  • Then you need to adjust the frame to the required thickness of the board and saw the timber into boards.

Safety rules when performing work

  • Should not be used circular saw without protective casing.
  • It is necessary to wear headphones, gloves, glasses, thick clothing and a respirator.
  • You should not pour fuel into a hot tool tank; you need to wait until it cools down.
  • Children should not be allowed to be present at the work site.
  • It is necessary to start the tool on the ground with the chain brake engaged, which must be released only before starting to cut.
  • You should always have a first aid kit on hand.
  • When working, you need to hold the chainsaw by the arc handle, moving it forward along the guide. You should not put too much pressure on the chainsaw - it should move freely.
  • Right-handed people should place the log on their right side, left-handed people should place it on their left.