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

John Lannom saw buck.jpg Firewood.jpg

[Doug W Swanson]

Here's one for you...

http://mnwoodturners.com/mwa-chapter...-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.

[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.
saw block.jpg

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.
cutting buck.jpg

[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.

lpc6.jpglpc5.jpglpc4.jpglpc2.jpglpc7.jpg

[Peter Blair]

Here's what I use
IMG_0361.jpg

[Dom Garafalo]

Here's what I use
IMG_0361.jpg

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

Thank you

Dom