Bench Design Ideas For Processing Logs Into Turning Blanks

[Dom Garafalo]

I'm looking for a safe and secure way to process average size logs into blanks for bowls, platters and turnings for use in my basement shop. I want something where you can stand and make the cuts.

Anyone have any creative and easy to build benches for processing logs?

Thank you

[Leo Van Der Loo]

I'm looking for a safe and secure way to process average size logs into blanks for bowls, platters and turnings for use in my basement shop. I want something where you can stand and make the cuts.

Anyone have any creative and easy to build benches for processing logs?

Thank you
I build a saw buck that is sturdy and has no metal parts in the top, so it is safe to use the chainsaw on it, I build it after seeing a picture of one made by John Lannom, I had/have no measurements, I used some pressure treated wood I had sitting.

The top two pieces 2X6 are held on with 5” long 1” dowels, (I turned some Oak for that) got a picture of the one from John Lannom and the one I build by my firewood pile.

Legs are set at 20 degree both ways, HTH :)

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[Doug W Swanson]

Here's one for you...

http://mnwoodturners.com/mwa-chapter/blog/project-log-processing-center-lpc-kit-assembly-instructions/

[Wes Ramsey]

I've been needing to build something myself. Figured holding pieces with my foot wasn't a good idea so I go a big bandsaw, but I still need a way to make the chunks small enough to process on the saw.

Hopefully Reed will post up the video of his contraption. It is a beautiful machine and a fine piece of engineering!

[Scott Underwood]

I realize you said you wanted to stand while cutting, but a timber jack certainly does make things fast when chunking up a long limb or trunk.

http://i.imgur.com/yfZtEBH.jpg

[Bob Bouis]

Big logs are so heavy and unwieldy that it's harder to get them on a bench or saw buck than it is to cut them bending over -- just my opinion, of course. Use wedges to hold them in place.

[Prashun Patel]

IMHO a sawbuck is what you need. They are small enough to take to the wood. Wedges are nice, but bucks keep the work off the chain-dulling earth, which is my biggest problem.

[Dom Garafalo]

Thank you everyone for your input and some good ideas.

[John K Jordan]

I went simple. I fasten three cedar 4x4s to a piece of plywood and put it on saw horses. Quick, cheap, portable, sacrificial. The 4x4s are set parallel with different spaces between them to hold different sized rounds. I often lay pieces the other way across all three 4x4s.

Stuff too big for this I cut on the ground on pieces of old plywood and/or sections of 4x4.

I use a electric Stihl chainsaw for all my slicing at the shop since it is quiet, instant on/off, needs no gasoline. After sectioning into pieces less than 12" in at least one dimension and making a rough flat spot if needed, I carry the pieces inside and finish on the big bandsaw. I make some bowl blanks but more for spindles, boxes, and other relatively small things.

JKJ

[robert baccus]

I like simple too. Mine is a 20"dia x 16" tall virgin longleaf stump with a shallow V cut into the top. Rot proof and dense with a few wooden wedges laying about. Has never moved in use.

[john taliaferro]

White oak stump on wheels same height as tailgate on pickup . 20 x20 flat drive ,then rool it in to shop door . Jib crane and face plate ,1" climbing webing . No lifting . Shavings back in truck to spread in woods . O most important electric saw so as to not disturb Her .

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Being 74 and counting, I try to stay in shape by using my muscles, however to stay safe and not get over-tired, standing upright is a good idea.

I have used the stump idea for many years, however when cutting whole logs a buck works better for me, lifting one end onto the buck and the the other end to slide it in place works well for me, mind you I have to shorten some larger logs to be able to handle them.
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The buck that was linked to earlier I find not very safe as it is angled to steep IMO, making the halves possible pinch the chainsaw and causing a kickback, If I was to build that one, I would change that to a less steep angle.
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[David Delo]

I did one from the MN woodturners site and added a MDF convertible top for inside the shop. Cut the bottom support to fit a HF movers dolly. It's become my roll-around tool caddy to put stuff while turning and the spot where I do anything messy like glue-ups or waxing blanks etc. I don't use the extension arm much anymore but it's there if needed.

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[Peter Blair]

Here's what I use
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[Dom Garafalo]

Here's what I use
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Pete, it looks like the base frame is adjustable and factory built. If so, what is it and who made it?

Thank you

Dom

[Robert Henrickson]

Pete, it looks like the base frame is adjustable and factory built. If so, what is it and who made it?

Looks like it's recycled Workmate

[Walter Mooney]

That's a "WorkMate", and I think they're by either B&D or Craftsman. There are four legs on the bottom of it that are folded under in the photo. The legs make it able to be used at two different heights -- as shown in the photo and about six inches higher with the legs folded out.

[Peter Blair]

Sorry Dom. The others are correct. I simply screw a couple of waste pieces of 4x4 to the top of an old Black and Decker Workmate. These is still metal available to my chain saw but have been using this set up for about ten years and haven't hit any yet. And yes it has four legs folded under that would allow it to be raised about another 12inches but fir me this height works best. Sorry I didn't add this information before, for some reason I thought that everyone would recognize the Workmate😳

[Jamie Straw]

I've been needing to build something myself. Figured holding pieces with my foot wasn't a good idea so I go a big bandsaw, but I still need a way to make the chunks small enough to process on the saw.

Hopefully Reed will post up the video of his contraption. It is a beautiful machine and a fine piece of engineering!

Here's the link for Reed's Chainsaw Chopsaw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JCwwCxkROw), super-cool, super-saw-buck.

[Dom Garafalo]

Thanks Robert, Walter and Pete for identifying the Workmate. I never had one so I didn't recognize it. It's something I should also consider.

[Peter Blair]

Just found this one on AAW site. Looks like it could be made with wood but would need some engineering!
I can't figure out how to post a photo from this iPad so if you are interested search
Shark jaws AAW you should find it

[John K Jordan]

Just found this one on AAW site. Looks like it could be made with wood but would need some engineering!
I can't figure out how to post a photo from this iPad so if you are interested search
Shark jaws AAW you should find it

Peter, I thought I used a pic from an iPad before so I tried it again for a test. With the picture in the iPad camera roll I touched the normal photo attachment icon in the message dialog, touched the Choose File button on the From Computer tab, then picked Choose Existing from the iPad menu that came up.

This didn't put insert the photo thumbnail in-line as it does from my laptop but shows it in the Attached Thumbnails section.


If it works, my test image is of Elm engrain.

[Olaf Vogel]

Here's what I use
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For ripping lengthwise, I have a piece of plywood, with two 2x4's glued in the same configuration.
Roll a large log on using a Cant hook, then cut it with a saw.

that keeps it from rolling away as you cut, but has very little angle so the log opens up and doesn't pinch (as Leo described).
Olaf

[Michael Dye]

Peter, that is exactly what I use. The B&D Workmate is perfect for this kind of work. If you are ripping logs, they remain steady and at the last inch or so, you can close the jaws to prevent pinching, then finish the cut with the pieces falling to each side. Can't imagine a better way to do it............other than Reed's bench.

[Joe Bradshaw]

I use short lengths of landscape timbers. I drill holes in the ends sized to accept pieces of 1/2" pvc pipe. I then stack them up log cabin style. I use 10 or 12 pieces. I have no worries about cutting into the timbers and there is no metal to damage my saw chain. It's easily broken down when not in use.
Joe