How to Build a Sawbuck for Cutting Firewood

Thứ sáu - 26/04/2024 23:11

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One of the most useful tools for cutting firewood is a good "X" shaped sawbuck.

A sawbuck is a special kind of sawhorse framed for holding rough wood so you can saw it into lengths suitable for use in a stove or fireplace.

The sawbuck basically consists of two "X" forms -- one at each end -- which may be stabilized by a third (central) "X". The long firewood to be cut is placed in the top ("V") part of the "X" pieces where it may then be sawed.

Steps

1
Select the size. Design the permanent sawbuck to be 6 vertical 2x4's (38 mm x 89 mm) or 2x6s (38 mm x 140mm) of about 4 feet (1.22 meters) long and 4 horizontal 2x6's 5 feet (1.52 meters) long using 3.5 inch (8.89 cm) wood screws or nails.^{[1] X Research source} (See "Tips" for information on making a demo/prototype version instead.)
- Cutting the top "V" form portion at an angle and with a shorter top would make it lighter and more open. Adding a trough or floor, as a retainer like feature, into the top "V" allows for a lower chance of shorter pieces of firewood unexpectedly falling from the inner part of the sawbuck to the ground.
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Tailor the design as you desire or require.
4
Use suitable boards for your project. Nominal 2X6s or 2X4s of pine (southern yellow or lodgepole or white), or spruce will be fine.
- Decide if it is the taller or shorter height that you think you may want, namely, and cut the "X" pieces about 48 inches (1.22 meters) long.^{[2] X Research source}
- Adjust the height according to what feels right to you.^{[3] X Research source}
5
Consider starting with one (the first) "X" temporarily attached together with two nails/screws to see how tall and wide that you want to make it.
- Take it apart and angle-cut and trim the angle of the "V" as shown in the photo above.^{[4] X Research source} Angled cutting of the "V" and making the upper "arms" shorter than the "legs" will make it less top-heavy. The arms help to hold poles and limbs to be cut on the sawbuck.
6
Use this as your pattern for the rest.
- Feature: the upper "V" part being deep allows you to nestle and cut two or more narrow poles or tree limbs (around 3 to 8 feet (91.44 cm x 44 meters) in length) for cutting with a chainsaw to chop your firewood at a faster rate.
Make the sawbuck about only 20-24" (50.8 cm x 60.9 cm) high to the center. This will allow the user to put a foot on top of the poles or resulting in the split wood being cut when it is that low (as illustrated).
8
Design a wide, heavily braced base to give you more stability while handling a chainsaw.
- Caution: A lightweight sawbuck might lead to an injury if it falls over while you are cutting. Don't use a smaller sawbuck for chainsaw work.
To build a non-folding sawbuck, simply connect the "X" forms together, using 4 to 6 nails/screws driven permanently into the near-center of each "X".

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Folding Sawbuck

1
Make the sawbuck fold if you like. One way to connect the sawbuck together is to use one big bolt of about a 4 inch (10.16 cm) long, and 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) in diameter.^{[5] X Research source}
- You may find inexpensive [or free] long bolts, and nuts that fit them, on the ground in a self-service, automobile wrecking yard). Put it in the exact same placement at the center of each "X", using extra-large washers, so that it can be clamped together and loosened to fold for storage.
2
Consider screwing on a leg spacer-brace on each "X". Then unscrew the end spacer-brace to allow the "X" to fold.
- Long, common bolts are not very expensive- they cost between $1 to $1.50 each at a lumber or hardware store. (But, tempered, hardened, fine threaded bolts cost about 4 to 5 times as much.)

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Rustic Method

2
The rustic form shown here can be made in the field from available materials, following a similar process but with wooden poles instead.
- State parks and such probably do not allow any harvesting of wood, so this - building a sawbuck- is for private land or the untamed wilderness.

Warnings

Avoid tipping the sawbuck over due to chainsaw kickback while cutting - the base should be built heavily enough to be stable.

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Ordinary head, hearing and eye protection should be adequate protection or as recommended by equipment manufactures when sawing lumber, poles, limbs and/or driving nails.

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