What can be made from a chainsaw Such popular tools as an electric drill and an angle grinder (grinder) have long passed into the category of “folk”. Not only because they are present in almost every workshop, but also because of their versatility - the scope of their application is truly impressive.
But there is another tool that can adequately compete with a drill and grinder - a chainsaw. Do you think you can only use it to cut firewood? But no!
Today, various DIY chainsaw crafts made by yourself are in widespread demand. The unit itself acts as a universal autonomous drive, and it can be used in various fields.
To make homemade chainsaws for the country house and garage, together with the tool, all kinds of homemade attachments, adapters and other devices are additionally used that allow you to fully realize the functionality of the gasoline drive.
Various homemade devices and mechanisms with a chainsaw engine can also be used in the field, which makes them especially attractive, especially for summer residents, fishermen and lovers of “wild” nature.
On our website you will find only the most useful and interesting homemade chainsaws that are easy to make yourself. True, in some situations you will additionally need the ability to work with welding, as well as access to a lathe.
What is a chain saw
An electric chain saw is essentially an analogue of a chainsaw, which can be used to trim any type of wood. The tool is in demand in small farms and industry. The device includes the following elements:
• cutting part (saw);
• electric motor;
• chain, drive sprocket;
• chain tension system;
• direct drive or bevel gear (depending on the location of the motor);
• brake unit, including a thermal relay and a safety shield;
• lubrication system;
• power cable;
• pens.
How to make the right choice
Hand saws for wood have cutting teeth of different sizes. This characteristic determines the future cut, suitable types of timber and whether it will be comfortable to hold in your hands. However, there are a number of other indicators that are worth paying attention to when purchasing an instrument.
Main characteristics:
- blade width
- blade length
- tooth size
- handle shape
- blade steel grade.
The length of the file affects the width of the workpiece being processed, and also greatly simplifies the work. A long stroke allows you to spend less force, because during one movement the cut is carried out by a large number of teeth. However, a long canvas will have a noticeable spring. When working with hard types of wood, for example, ash, maple or oak, the hacksaw will not be convenient and will quickly become dull.
Most often, the blade has a width of 10 to 20 cm. Narrower files will break even with slight bending, and wider files are inconvenient for manual labor. Remember that when working with thin workpieces you need to use thin saws, and when working with thick ones, respectively, thick saws.
Many models have a plastic handle. Choose options with a rubberized backing, which protects against calluses and also allows for a tighter grip.
The saw tooth is the most important part of the tool. The teeth are:
- for universal cutting
- for cross cutting
- for longitudinal cutting.
Chain saw installation steps
• remove the saw blade from the grinder;
• make holes in the lower part of the metal casing of the device;
• cut a bracket from a sheet of metal (thickness 5-7 mm) (the shape of the part is a circle with one beveled side, two holes for bolts for fastening the saw and one large hole corresponding to the diameter of the angle grinder shaft);
• using bolts, secure the bracket to the protective shield of the angle grinder (where the holes were previously made);
• screw the sprocket onto the motor shaft;
• fix the guide behind the bracket ties;
• put on and straighten the chain, tighten the bolts on the bracket tightly, weld the connections to increase strength;
• do a test run.
Chain sharpeners
It doesn’t matter what kind of chainsaw you have, homemade or factory-made, in order for it to cut wood like clockwork, you need to regularly sharpen the chain. To do this, you can use various auxiliary devices.
For example, for the convenience of sharpening a chain, we recommend using a fairly easy-to-make device - a homemade stand with a clamp for fixing the bar.
This chainsaw clamp is U-shaped and the ends of the legs are pointed. This makes it possible to use the device even in hiking conditions, installing it in a place convenient for you.
We also recommend reading how to make your own chain sharpening device, which can be used both in the home workshop/garage and outdoors.
To make this homemade product, you will need a minimum of materials: strips of metal of different widths, nuts and threaded rods. You will need a standard tool: drill, angle grinder, welding.
Advice from professionals
• Craftsmen advise choosing a transverse engine placement when assembling an electric saw. This option allows you to cut wood comfortably and is less tiring during the work process.
• When choosing engine power, the purpose of the electric saw is taken into account. A motor of 1800-2000 W is suitable for carrying out work on a dacha and small farm. A more powerful device is appropriate to use in large-scale construction. If the power indicator is small relative to operating conditions, then the tool will overheat during operation.
Why is the chainsaw so popular among DIYers?
First of all, for its versatility and mobility. A gasoline engine from a chainsaw can act as a drive for a wide variety of devices and mechanisms that can be used in the country, on the territory of a private home, and even outside it.
Moreover, the principle of remaking the instrument may be different. For some homemade products, it is enough to use different adapters (adapters), homemade equipment and other devices in tandem with a chainsaw.
For other homemade products, you will need to disassemble the tool, using only the engine itself as a basis. However, it should be noted that disassembly is a simple process and will not take much time.
In addition, this unit has compact dimensions and low weight, which is also of no small importance. Well, let's see what interesting and useful homemade products you can make.
Chainsaw scooters
The gasoline engine is often used as a drive for a variety of types of self-propelled vehicles. You don’t need to go far - many of you have probably come across a bicycle with a chainsaw engine.
This is a fairly common design, especially in rural areas. But in small towns such vehicles are also found.
An alternative to a powered bicycle is a moped made from a chainsaw and a bicycle. It is easy to guess that such a design is more powerful.
But not only bicycles and mopeds are used for transportation. For example, you can also make a scooter from a chainsaw motor with your own hands. The design is compact in size, but at the same time quite powerful.
To make a homemade scooter, you will need sections of professional pipe from which the frame is welded. You can also use spare parts from an unwanted bicycle - you will need a front fork and handlebars.
The gear unit is assembled on the basis of the grinder gearbox. The detailed process of making a self-propelled scooter is described in our article.
With wheeled vehicles everything is clear. But I wonder - can winter modes of transport be made from a gasoline drive? Certainly!
For example, many craftsmen make a self-propelled snowmobile from a chainsaw with their own hands. So this tool is truly universal - suitable for all occasions.
Crafts from chainsaw parts
As already written above: for the manufacture of various devices and mechanisms, you can use not only a gasoline drive, but also tool spare parts.
For example, a homemade chainsaw that is necessary and useful for the garden is made from a crankshaft. Have you already guessed what we're talking about? If not, then we won’t test your patience.
From the crankshaft of a chainsaw you can make a vibrating sieve for sifting sand (this homemade product is relevant for those who are building or are planning to build something on their site).
The frame of the structure can be made from a profile pipe and a construction angle, and an electric hammer drill is suitable as a drive. The design is simple, so anyone can do it.
The chainsaw chain can also be used for different needs. For example, you can use it to make a saw “attachment” for an angle grinder.
However, we warn you right away: such an attachment is quite dangerous, and therefore information about it is presented in the article for informational purposes only.
What, can a chainsaw bar also be used? Certainly! The tire will make a good machete knife. The main tools for its manufacture will require a grinder and a grinding machine (grinder or electric sharpener).
Homemade sawing table
On our website you will also find simple homemade chainsaws that can be used directly for sawing. Well, what could we do without it? In this case, the tool is used for its intended purpose; there is no need to disassemble anything.
At the dacha, you often have to cut boards and branches (for example, for firewood). Shouldn't you always carry a sawing table with you?
In fact, everything is much simpler: the table itself can be made from a corrugated pipe and a metal corner, and left it at the dacha, and, accordingly, only carry a chainsaw with you.
It's much more convenient. You can read more about this design in our article. But these are not all possible homemade chainsaw products.
If you don't want to bother with welding, there is an even simpler option. The table itself can be made from boards and wooden blocks.
We attach housing bearings with a shaft to the table, to which we attach the chainsaw. And you can work. Very simple and convenient. Be sure to read how to make a platform table for a chainsaw.
As you can see, if you wish, you can always find the most suitable and acceptable option for yourself. Sawing tables and other homemade chainsaws in some situations can even be made from improvised materials.
How to make a hedge trimmer
If you have large shrubs or hedges on your property, they require constant care. In particular, branches need to be trimmed regularly.
Usually a special tool is used for this - a hedge trimmer. However, not everyone has the opportunity to buy it. Therefore, you can make such a tool yourself, using a chainsaw, as well as a homemade attachment that is attached to the tire.
To make a homemade attachment (or, rather, equipment) for a chainsaw, you will need metal strips approximately 3-4 cm wide. Read below about what else can be made from a chainsaw.
And for work, accordingly, you will need a grinder to cut these strips to size, and a welding machine to weld the workpieces. We recommend reading how to make a hedge trimmer from a chainsaw.
Various homemade attachments
Using all kinds of attachments (both factory-made and those made by yourself), you can either make working with a chainsaw easier or expand its functionality.
Have you ever encountered such a problem when you try to cut a log directly on the ground, but nothing happens because it is pressed into the ground when the pressure is applied to it?
This usually happens when the ground is soft (for example, in early spring or after heavy rain). In this situation, a simple homemade attachment that is attached to the tire will help make the work easier.
What about expanding functionality? It couldn't be easier! You can install a homemade stripping attachment on a chainsaw and process metal or wood workpieces.
It’s not difficult to make all the chainsaw crafts with your own hands that are listed above. Read detailed instructions in review articles on our website. You can also watch the video if something is not clear.
Electric saw from angle grinder
What to do if you can’t buy chainsaws, but you don’t want to cut wood by hand? If you have an angle grinder (even a small grinder will do), you can make an electric saw.
This will require a tire with a chain and some other components. Yes, there are such homemade chainsaws.
It will be necessary to install a tire with a chain on the grinder, and be sure to make a protective cover. We recommend that you read in detail how to make an electric saw using a grinder.
Of course, you should not consider this option as a full-fledged replacement for a factory chainsaw. But nevertheless, you can use such homemade chainsaws (more precisely, from spare parts from it) for sawing boards and small logs.
Particular attention must be paid to observing safety rules when working with homemade tools.
By the way, I can share another design option for a chain saw made from a grinder. With the exception of some individual points, the assembly principle is not very different from the previous version.
The engine from a chainsaw is more powerful than the engine from an angle grinder, and most importantly, the engine runs on gasoline and not electricity, which allows you to use this tool in field conditions.
But a homemade electric saw is “tied” to the house (more precisely, to an outlet), unless you have a gasoline electric generator.
If you are interested in what other chainsaw crafts you can make with your own hands, be sure to look through all the ideas and solutions presented on our website.
Circular sawmill from an electric saw: detailed description and drawings
Before making a homemade sawmill from an electric saw, you need to decide on:
- the length of the materials that will be processed on this machine;
- volumes of workpieces;
- future homemade location.
Special attention should be paid to the choice of disc blade. Discs with a size of 400-500 mm, which are most often used in modern circular saws, are more than suitable for these purposes. And the problem with sawdust can be solved by using a disk with a minimum thickness.
Petrol shears and hedge trimmers made from a chainsaw. Do it yourself!
When we were laying out the spruce hedge, we thought that we could handle its formation with simple garden shears.
Today it is higher than the fence, although we have been cutting it for four years now.
Regarding gardening equipment: we noticed a trend that does not please us. The number of tools is growing. They all take up space and require maintenance. I would like to get more opportunities without increasing the amount of equipment.
We have a STIHL MS-180 chainsaw. I tried to cut Christmas trees with her, but the branches slipped and it turned out crooked. A “comb” will solve the problem.
For the base you will need a 40x4mm strip.
We cut 300mm and process the surfaces.
We cut 8 strips of 130x20 mm in size from 2 mm metal.
We weld them to the base and process the seams.
To mount the chainsaw bar, you need to drill holes.
We check the gap between the teeth of the chain and the “comb”.
Anyone who is interested in the process of creating a hedge from common spruce, ask, we will definitely share.
Thank you for your attention! We are waiting for comments
