Saw benches

[Little Butch]

Are they worth it over a chainsaw when running a small scale firewood business? I've never used one but they look much easier and faster for cutting cord up than by chainsaw?

 

What size range of cord do they generally cut? I don't have a tractor so would have to be a standalone unit. 

 

Photos of of your saws welcome

[woodwizzard]

I have a similar version to this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/700-MM-PETROL-CIRCULAR-LOG-SAW-4-STROKE-9KW-12-2-HP-SCHEPPACH-HS700GE/162866022549?epid=3013243538&hash=item25eb924895:g:SG8AAOSw1GlaZw3T

 

They cut 10" diam logs, or cut and rotate larger ones. They are far quicker and a lot less strenuous to use than a chainsaw.

[Little Butch]

That's not a bad price, how have you found it? Anything to make life easier!

[woodwizzard]

Mine was £550 from Germany. Run of the mill made in China with a 13hp honda clone engine. Starts first time and have only had to replace the drive belts with better quality ones. It has cut a lot of timber and has paid for itself cutting other peoples log piles.

[Little Butch]

Good buy then! I'll have to keep an eye out, £550 is a great price, I was looking at rock exotica ones but they're £1250 and probably not that dissimilar. 

[Ashes_Firewood]

Got a Balfor saw bench, you can cut up to 12" diameter logs on it although I tend to ring up anything over 10" with a chainsaw now as they can be a fair weight to lift on to the saw bench. Had it for about 3 years. A lot better than using a chainsaw. Always say this every time the subject comes up on here but wish I could afford to buy the version with the conveyor on it!

[richardwale]

6 hours ago, Ashes_Firewood said:

Got a Balfor saw bench, you can cut up to 12" diameter logs on it although I tend to ring up anything over 10" with a chainsaw now as they can be a fair weight to lift on to the saw bench. Had it for about 3 years. A lot better than using a chainsaw. Always say this every time the subject comes up on here but wish I could afford to buy the version with the conveyor on it!

I've got the Balfour saw bench. It's brilliant, don't bother with a chainsaw unless the bits are too big. Wish I'd gone for the conveyer as well!

[Little Butch]

They sound a winner then! I'll look at the Balfour but I bet they're a fair step up in price? 

[scbk]

59 minutes ago, Little Butch said:

They sound a winner then! I'll look at the Balfour but I bet they're a fair step up in price? 

They're 2 or 3 times the price of the chinese saw benches. But going by the ebay link above, chinese one weighs 120kg, balfor weighs 200kg! Which is quite a difference

[woodwizzard]

The Chinese ones don't compare to the likes of Balfour, but it's horses for courses. I'm on a very limited budget and log on a small scale, so the price and item quality suited me fine. They are such a simple machine and easily worked on. Replace the belts with quality items, change the engine oil regularly and there is no reason it won't keep going. I have just moved onto a small petrol processor to make life even easier, I don't do any more logs, just getting older.