log saws

[daver828]

I've seen several log saws, old and new, for sale. But I have never seen a rip saw for cutting logs into boards. I know, why would anyone want to do that, when there are many different ways of having that done by machinery? But, being interested in hand tools, I would love to take a tree from standing, to furniture.

Any thoughts on where to find a log saw used in ripping?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi David

Welcome to the forum and good luck in your quest.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Paul Chapman]

Welcome to the forum, David. Are you a glutton for punishment Is what you are looking for a pit saw, used by two people?

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Philly]

Welcome aboard Dave!
Philly

 

[MIGNAL]

Depending on the grain run out and spiral growth it might be easier to split the log, at least to get it down to a manageable size.
The only one-person saw that I know of designed for ripping or re-sawing are
the frame type, there has been a very recent discussion on frame saws in the hand tool section.

 

[pam niedermayer]

This does it for me. It's called a maebiki and you use it horizontally for the length of the log. It works, it really works.

Pam

 

[Anonymous]

Is that a japanese saw Pam?

 

[pam niedermayer]

Yes, it's a Japanese saw. They're generally not made any more; but you could buy a new one for many dollars (half for pounds) from Iida-san as of a couple of months ago. Don't see it on his site right now.

Anyhow, they show up on ebay every now and then.

Pam

 

[daver828]

Domo arigato Pam (I think--hope that's not offensive, lol).

Yes I've seen these Japanese saws before, but were way out of price range. Maybe the splitting is more manageable, or a frame saw. Will keep looking.

 

[pam niedermayer]

Mine only cost me about $120 on ebay, $40 of that for shipping. Granted that was a good deal, but I was very patient.

And yes, riving is an excellent solution, much more fun than sawing, even with a maebiki.

Pam

 

[pam niedermayer]

Just for kicks, found this maebiki on ebay today from a very reliable seller.

ebay link


Pam

 

[pitch pine]

I have ripped quite large section timber with a hand rip saw. It looks like a panel saw but has teeth cut for ripping with 3.5 teeth per inch. I picked it up from a car boot for a few quid. When sharp it cuts quickly, but I found the novelty wore off quickly too! I have also tried riving a whole log. It was an 8 foot length of freshly felled english oak about 14" diameter. I used an axe and a froe to get the split going and wooden wedges to move it forward. It worked and I learnt alot about grain direction, but I have only done it the once........to rive oak you need stuff with nice straight grain......the kind of stuff that is expensive! Experiment with what you have and learn.