A device for sawing boards with a chainsaw. How to cut a log lengthwise with a chainsaw yourself

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Boards and timber are one of the main building materials. Funds do not always allow you to buy ready-made boards. Many people have the opportunity to take a plot from a forestry department and harvest wood themselves.

Sawing logs is done using a sawmill, electric or chainsaw and additional accessories. When choosing tools, be guided by the amount of work.

The cheapest stationary sawmill with all components will cost you no less than 150 thousand rubles. If you do not plan to run a small business, purchasing such equipment is not practical.

A more affordable tool is a chainsaw. A chainsaw is more convenient than an electric one for several reasons.

  1. No electricity is required for operation - this allows you to work with a chainsaw on plots.
  2. Has more high power compared to electric.
  3. It has a smooth start and convenient speed adjustment, which reduces the risk of chain breakage.
  4. The inertia brake operates faster than an electric saw.
  5. Long working time without interruption - up to 1 hour.
  6. Allows you to work in conditions of high humidity.

To cut a log lengthwise with a chainsaw, devices for fixing the log, a special frame-attachment for the chainsaw and a guide will help.

When sawing with a chainsaw, the tool is subjected to heavy load. A household chainsaw will quickly break down. It is better to use a professional tool. A good option— chainsaw Stihl MS 660 or Stihl MS 880. These models have a power of more than 7 horsepower, which is enough for long-term operation under heavy loads.

A special metal frame is attached to the saw bar. The distance between the frame and the tire is adjustable, which allows you to cut the material into boards of the required thickness.

Having metal corners or legs from a school desk on hand, it is feasible to make a frame yourself.

The video shows how to make a frame with your own hands.

When working in stationary conditions, a hard one is suitable for the guide metallic profile or a long, flat board. The ends of the guide are fixed on the trestles, and a log is placed underneath. This method is only suitable for cutting short trunks - there is a possibility of the guide bending. This will lead to uneven cutting of the trunk.

How to cut a log lengthwise

To ensure an even cut, you will need a straight template - a leading ruler or guide.

A good help in the work is the BigMill Timberjig mini-sawmill (Logosol). Manufacturer: Sweden. The cost of such a set is considerable - about 9,000 rubles. Calculate how profitable it is for you to purchase such a tool. The ability to saw logs on site will help reduce transportation costs.

Sawing is done with a push-pull saw with two nuts for mounting the tire. The device allows you to secure and cut logs with a diameter of up to 60 cm.

In order to cut a log into boards, you will need a chain for longitudinal cutting. If you cannot buy such a chain, sharpen a regular one at an angle of 10°. Do not forget that the chain loses its sharpness during operation and needs periodic sharpening. A well-sharpened chain will make your work easier.

The kit includes tools and parts that will help you install the wooden guide. The frame attached to the chainsaw slides along the guide and does not allow the tire to move to the side.

Operating procedure:


How to cut a log crosswise

If you plan to saw the trunk crosswise and then cut the logs into boards, this is not practical. Usually a log intended for preparing firewood is sawn crosswise.

A log sawn crosswise is often used to make garden benches, tables. Look beautiful garden paths, decorated with sawn wood.. In this case, sawing is carried out into disks 10-15 cm thick.

  1. Place the log on strong, stable trestles 60-80 cm high.
  2. If you plan to remove the tree bark, do it before cutting.
  3. Make a shallow cut that will serve as a guide groove.
  4. Rotate the log 90º so that the saw bar fits in the groove.
  5. When cutting logs into logs, first make notches with an ax.
  6. Cut the log. Further processing of the material depends on its area of ​​application.

Safety rules when sawing wood

  1. Use headphones, glasses, a respirator, gloves and thick clothing.
  2. Keep children away from the work area.
  3. Have a first aid kit on hand - circular saws and chain saws are high-risk tools.
  4. Do not use the circular saw without the protective guard.
  5. Do not pour fuel into a hot chainsaw tank; wait until it cools down a little.
  6. Run the chainsaw on the ground with the chain brake engaged. Release the chain brakes only before starting to cut.
  7. When working, hold the saw by the arc handle and move it forward along the guide. Do not press too hard on the saw; it should move freely.
  8. When pruning trees chain saw take care of ladders - when working, the saw should not be lifted above shoulder level.
  9. If you are not left-handed, place the log on your right side.

How to properly cut a log. Video lessons.

Work using the Timberjig sawing system.

The chainsaw is designed to carry out various works with wood. With its help, you can fell trees of various diameters and cut them into boards or bars. In addition, this tool is used for figured cutting on wood - carving. In order to use a chainsaw correctly, you need to familiarize yourself with the technology of various works and safety rules, neglect of which leads to very disastrous consequences.

Felling trees is enough traumatic process, because with the slightest mistake, the trunk of a cut tree, which has a huge mass, can fall on the person working with the chainsaw. Therefore, it is not enough just to have this unit and the desire to cut down a tree. Before you start working with a chainsaw, you should know the basic rules of working with this tool. So, safety precautions when felling forest contain the following points, which must not be ignored.

How to cut down a tree with a chainsaw

When felling trees with a chainsaw, it is necessary to select the right blade: it must match the thickness and type of wood. For example, if you need to cut down thin trees, then there is no point in using heavy and powerful units. After all, they have a high consumption of fuel mixture and lubricant, and they are much harder to work with. It is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

  • for trunks with a diameter of 600 mm or more, a heavy blade (650 mm) should be used;
  • for trunks of average diameter 300-600 mm - medium-sized blade 350-650 mm;
  • Thin trunks (up to 300 mm) can be felled using a blade up to 350 mm.

If you have work to do with hardwood(oak, beech, cherry, apple tree, pear, etc.), then it is better to use medium blades for thin trunks, and heavy blades for trunks with a diameter of 300-600 mm or more.

Preparation stage

Felling trees with a chainsaw will be difficult and sometimes dangerous without the preparation stage.

  1. Make sure there are no people, animals, buildings or other trees in the area where the tree is expected to fall.
  2. Very careful preparation is required for felling trees. near bodies of water. If a sawn object falls into the water, you will have to make a lot of effort, including using technology, to get it out and saw it.
  3. If you need to lay the tree to be cut down in a certain place, you can tie a cable to the top of the trunk or to its middle, and use a winch or other mechanism to force it to tilt in the desired direction.
  4. Before cutting down a tree, take care escape routes, if an unforeseen situation arises (if possible, remove all obstacles that may prevent you from leaving the danger zone).
  5. Provide access to the cut and trimmed tree for transport for loading and removal.
  6. If you have to felling a large tree, then you first need to eliminate the possibility of large branches falling during work. It is recommended to rent a lift or use the services of industrial climbers to cut off problematic branches.

In amateur practice, it is allowed to fell trees using a single-cut cut only in cases where low plants with a trunk diameter of no more than 150 mm are to be felled. But thick trees need to be cut using standard technology.

  1. The very first, upper cut should be done on the side of the plant in which it should ultimately fall. It is made at an angle of 45°, with a recess of ¼ of the diameter of the trunk. Second, lower notch is carried out horizontally until the cuts join.
  2. The third file is called felling and is the most responsible. It is performed on the opposite side of the previously made wedge-shaped cut, parallel to the second cut (see figure below), but 5 cm higher than it. Also, according to the technology, the felling cut should not be sawed to the end, that is, to the wedge-shaped cut. It is necessary to stop before finishing about 1/10 of the thickness of the trunk, so that the remaining whole part acted as a kind of hinge.
  3. To prevent the saw from jamming in the cut, you must use wooden wedges. Metal wedges should not be used because the chain may be damaged if the saw kicks back.
  4. When making a felling cut, carefully monitor the verticality of the trunk. A sudden gust of wind can make its own adjustments, and cutting down a tree as you planned will not work.
  5. After the felling cut, even before the plant begins to fall, you should quickly, without fuss, remove the chainsaw bar and move away to a safe distance. It is extremely unsafe to be near a tree at this moment, since the lower part of the trunk can jump to a height of about 1.5 meters when falling.

If the undercut rule is ignored, and the guide and felling cuts are positioned incorrectly, then it will be impossible to predict the direction in which the tree will fall.

After the plant has been knocked down in the desired direction, you should cut off all branches on its trunk. For convenience, you need to place a flat piece of wood 100-150 mm high under the trunk. If you do not do this, there is a high probability that you will catch the ground with the saw. When the equipment gets into the ground, where there is always sand, the latter ends up on the tire, namely in the groove along which the chain slides. As a result of exposure to abrasive particles, not only the chain shanks, but also the entire tire begin to wear out quickly. Therefore, the question that builders often ask - is it possible to saw foam blocks with a chainsaw - is inappropriate.

How to properly cut a log

The next stage after felling the tree is sawing it. It must be carried out by following certain rules and according to the scheme.

Longitudinal sawing into boards

As you might guess, boards are made by cutting logs longitudinally. Since it will be necessary longitudinal sawing, then the saw chain must be of the appropriate type. To ensure accurate cutting of the trunk into boards, a special Big Mill log sawing device is used, shown in the following figure.

It can be used to cut logs diameter up to 500 mm. The thickness of the resulting board is set using a special ruler marked on the racks of the device. You can purchase it ready-made or make it yourself by watching this video.

To cut a log into boards of equal thickness, do the following.


To cut logs across the grain, you must install it on the unit saw chain for cross cutting. Basically, cross cut is used for cutting wood. The resulting small cylinders are then split into firewood. To make it convenient to cut firewood, the logs are placed on trestles 600-800 mm high.

In the same way it is carried out beam trimming.

Log sawing diagram

Below is a diagram that shows how to properly dissolve a log into boards and beams.

This operation can be performed in several ways.

  1. Sawing a square beam occurs from the core part of the log.
  2. To get 2 rectangular beams, the square beam is sawn into 2 parts.
  3. By sawing a log crosswise, you can get 4 beams.
  4. This type of sawing is called “tumble” and is used on sawmill frames. All boards are unedged.
  5. At this type by cutting a log, you can get a double-edged beam, as well as several unedged boards and a couple of croakers.
  6. Radial sawing is complex in its execution. Feature When cutting boards this way, they have vertical growth rings.
  7. The double-edged beam opens onto edged boards and 2 wane.
  8. On boards having horizontal arrangement growth rings, the front side is called the one turned to the center of the log (core), and the back side is called the one turned to the sapwood (this is the name of the periphery of the trunk).

What is carving

The word “carving” came into our language from English and means “cutting”. This is the name for figured wood carving with a chainsaw. This art of skillful use of an instrument is beginning to gain popularity in our country. For carving, ordinary light chainsaws, for example, such as Husqvarna 135.

Chainsaw Husqvarna 135

The chainsaw has small dimensions, develops required power, has a weight of 4.4 kg and facilitates engine starting. The tire needs to be installed in a medium size, about 14 inches. The chain is selected in 3/8 inch increments. It is recommended to immediately purchase special chains. For example, the STIHL Carving Rapid Micro Spezial (RMS) chain has a ¼-inch pitch, short teeth, and is designed specifically for carving wood. The Husqvarna 135 saw is well suited for beginner carvingists.

Chainsaw Husqvarna 450e II

As you gain experience, you can use more powerful units.

Sculptures created from wood using a chainsaw are very widely used in recreation parks, on city streets, near cafes, restaurants and other public places, and always attract the genuine attention of passers-by.

For example, seeing such a product in the park, few people will pass by it indifferently.

The imagination and skill of professional carvingists sometimes causes surprise and admiration.

To achieve such results, you need to make a huge effort, it will take years of practice to hone your skills. After all, even if you try to make some simple product with your own hands, you will immediately understand that carving wood with a chainsaw is not an easy process. But if you are filled with the desire to learn this art, then, undoubtedly, you will be able to realize all your plans and decorate your site with unparalleled products.

What can beginner carving masters do?

If you want to try your hand at wood carving with a chainsaw, then first you should choose a simple shape, for example, you can cut outmushroom or cube

Take your choice of wood seriously. If it is wet then ready product after drying, it will crack and the result of your work will be ruined.

So, first you need to make a blank from wood with a chainsaw, that is, give the product a general outline. At this stage, special precision is not needed. It’s just important not to remove too much. Keep a drawing of the object or a sample in front of you to more accurately represent the proportions of the finished sculpture.

Finished wooden sculptures are sanded sandpaper and are covered protective layer, paint or varnish. As you acquire skills, you can begin making more complex figures. Crafts made from logs, namely pillars depicting people or animals, are very popular among chainsaw carvers. They are installed vertically (buried in the ground). The photo below shows a simple manufacturing process bear figures made from logs, which is suitable for beginner carvingists.

To create birds More experience and dexterity are required, since very small details of the sculpture (head, feathers, etc.) must be processed.

Sawing logs into boards with a chainsaw is quite convenient and simple method woodworking. Thanks to the presence of various attachments, the master receives materials that have a smooth and flat surface. It’s easy to make boards yourself; you don’t have to go to specialized stores.

The advantage of sawing logs with a chainsaw

The method of cutting logs using a chainsaw has several advantages.

The ability to work under any conditions - the chainsaw is not afraid of humidity, so specialists can cut logs during the rain; in this case, the equipment will not deteriorate.

High productivity - it is allowed to carry out woodworking throughout the day, but it must be taken into account that the power of the device must be at least 7 horsepower.

Autonomous device - the equipment runs on gasoline and does not depend on electricity, workplace mounted on any site where it will be more convenient to carry out the process.

Ease of use - the chainsaw is equipped with soft start and adjusting the speed of rotation of the chain, these conditions ensure that beginners in this business obtain high-quality results.

The undoubted advantage is that the equipment costs much less than a small sawmill. During a breakdown, repairs are inexpensive and do not take much time.

Types of working attachments

Sawing logs with a chainsaw is carried out different ways, craftsmen work with wood along the grain, as well as across it. It all depends on what attachments are used in the chainsaw.

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. The finished materials are subjected, 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.

Sawing with a lightweight attachment

The method is not very productive, 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.

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.

Features of a homemade sawing option

It is easy to saw a log into boards using a homemade tool. Manufacturing the equipment is simple:

  • 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.
  • Build two clamps, mount a cross member with two holes for tie bolts at one end, and make a protrusion in the middle for the tire.
  • For longitudinal sawing of logs into boards, it is important to make a support frame; its width must be 7–8 cm less than the length.
  • Then two elements 10 cm long are welded to both sides, holes are made for the bolts, and a handle is attached in the middle for ease of operation.
  • After this, insert the clamps into the grooves, the tire is installed, and everything is carefully fixed.

Working with a homemade tool is not difficult; for this you will need two sawhorses, they will serve as a support, and you also need to prepare a metal strip or board, the element will be a guiding element. A log is placed underneath and the required height for work is adjusted.

Technique for sawing logs lengthwise

Longitudinal cutting is carried out using a horizontal attachment. In order to get even boards, it is important to use a specially prepared guide; its role is played by metal strip or high strength board.

The difficult part in this process is making the first cut; for this you need:

  • Mount the leading ruler; it consists of two boards fastened together at an angle of 90 degrees.
  • Place the log on the supports and secure its position firmly.
  • Check if the log is level using a level.
  • Using self-tapping screws, secure the guide ruler to the supports.
  • Fix another guide in a horizontal position; the element will rest against the ground, but at the same time fix the log.
  • Saw the log.

During the second cut, specialists may not use a leading ruler; the resulting board will serve as a guide. The second cut is made perpendicular to the first.

Secrets of cross cutting

A crosscut saw is used to obtain firewood or decorative elements interior Sawing is carried out according to the following principles:

  • Place the log in a horizontal position on wooden supports, the height should be 0.5 m.
  • Clean it from the bark.
  • Using an ax or saw, make small marks along the entire length; they should be located at the same distance from each other.
  • Make a cut along the cuts.

For cross cut no special tools or attachments are required. An ordinary chain is perfect for such work, but its rings must be strong.

Safety precautions

When working with a chainsaw, you must follow safety rules; they will help you avoid injuries and unpleasant situations:

  • People, especially children, should not be allowed onto the work site.
  • When working with circular saw Be sure to put a special protective cover on it.
  • During the process of sawing logs, you should use protective equipment against sawdust and noise.
  • It is necessary to have a first aid kit with medications to treat the wound during cuts.
  • Do not pour gasoline into a heated tank of a chainsaw.
  • The chainsaw must be used only for its intended purpose; it is prohibited to turn it on at full power if it is not in use.
  • Installation of logs is carried out only on the right side.
  • When working with equipment, it is strictly forbidden to press it with force.

If you follow safety precautions, the work will not be difficult, and the result will be high-quality material without harm to health.

A chainsaw is a versatile piece of equipment that is easy to use. Its masters can use it on personal plot, in a private house. In addition to obtaining boards, it is used for repair work outbuildings and wooden elements decor. Big number You don’t need boards, just take a couple of logs.

Video: Sawing wood into boards with a chainsaw

Logs are a kind of raw material for the production of general-purpose lumber and special types of 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 fresh air


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.


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!

Timber and boards are common materials used in home construction. In the absence of funds for ready materials You can make them yourself using a chainsaw. Before sawing a log into boards with your own hands, it is worth learning more about the features of this process.

The advantage of sawing logs with a chainsaw

Cutting into boards can be done using tools such as an electric chainsaw and additional accessories designed to simplify the work. When choosing certain products, you need to focus on the amount of work expected. Stationary sawmills are expensive and are purchased only if you plan to organize a business to create boards.

The most accessible tool for the job is a chainsaw. Such devices have several advantages over electric ones:

  • the chainsaw can be used anywhere, regardless of the availability of an electrical outlet;
  • the tool is suitable for working in conditions of high humidity;
  • professional chainsaws are significantly more powerful than electric ones;
  • You can use the chainsaw continuously for an hour.

To cut logs into boards, a special frame is used together with a chainsaw, which is attached to the device and allows you to create boards of the same thickness. A device is also needed to secure the log in one position. In addition, you will also need a guide.

Since household gasoline saws are not designed for heavy loads, it is worth using professional tools for sawing logs. When choosing, you should pay attention to devices with a power of more than 7 horsepower. Before work, the fixed frame is adjusted in accordance with the selected width of the boards. To create a frame, you can use legs from a school desk or metal corners.

Types of working attachments

The choice of nozzles for work depends on the volume and type of work performed. The following devices are used with a chainsaw:

  • drum debarker, which is necessary for removing bark from logs;
  • lightweight attachment for sawing logs;
  • standard attachment used to create boards.

Attachment for longitudinal sawing

When using this attachment, sawing occurs in a horizontal direction. It is fixed to the rail using special clamps and allows you to create boards of equal thickness. After the work is completed, the boards are dried and can then be used in construction.

Lightweight nozzle

Such devices are often used, but they should only be used when creating boards for fences or sheds. This is due to the fact that the attachment is secured to the tire only on one side.

Ocarivator

The attachment for removing bark from logs is used using a clinometer transmission. Attachment occurs with belts - special pulleys are used for this. It is worth noting that the performance of the nozzle can be changed, since the shaft rotation speed depends on the size of the pulleys.

Features of sawing logs using a chainsaw

Create optional equipment for sawing logs it is quite simple:

  1. To create a support, a frame is used, which can be created from the legs of a school desk. The most suitable are pipes with a square cross-section of 20x20 mm.
  2. When constructing the frame, it is necessary to create 2 clamps and secure a cross member at one end. This element must have holes for tightening bolts. A protrusion for the tire is created in the middle.
  3. In order to saw a log lengthwise, it is necessary to construct a support frame, the width of which must be at least 8 cm less than the length.
  4. For ease of operation, a handle should be welded to the frame.
  5. Before carrying out work, you must carefully check whether the frame is securely fastened to the tire.

Use homemade instrument simple enough. Before sawing, you need to install 2 sawhorses - they will be used as a support for the log. In addition, a metal strip or flat board is prepared, which will serve as a guiding element.

Long sawing technique

The most difficult stage of the process is making the first cut. To do this you need:

  • install a leading ruler, which consists of two boards that are fastened together at an angle of 90 degrees;
  • after this, it is necessary to place the sawn log on the supports and fix it;
  • then it is important to check whether the log is level;
  • at the next stage it is necessary to secure the leading ruler to the supports using self-tapping screws;
  • After this, you can start creating the first cut.

Features of cross cuts

Cross cutting is used only for creating firewood or interior elements. The work is carried out according to several principles:

  1. Before carrying out work, the log is placed in a horizontal position on supports. The height of its location should be 0.5 m.
  2. After this, it is necessary to completely clear the log of bark.
  3. At the next stage, it is necessary to make marks on the entire log, located at an equal distance from each other.
  4. Then, cutting can be done using the created marks.

Cross cutting does not require specialized tools.

Safety rules during work

To avoid injury, you must follow these basic guidelines:

  1. Before using a gas powered tool, you must carefully read the instructions included in the kit.
  2. Since a chainsaw is a dangerous tool, work should not be carried out while intoxicated or sick.
  3. You need to hold the saw with both hands. A secure grip will allow you to control the movement of the tool and maintain its position during unexpected jerks and in the event of kickback.
  4. There should be no fuel mixture or oil on your hands while working, as this reduces the reliability of your grip.
  5. Do not use the saw if it is damaged, not fully assembled or not adjusted.
  6. There should be no children or animals on the site during work.
  7. Unless you have special skills, you should not use a chainsaw on stairs or other unstable surfaces.
  8. Do not cut with your arms outstretched or above shoulder level.

By following the described rules, the risk of injury is significantly reduced.



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