Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:25:20 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=199951#Comment_199951 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=199951#Comment_199951 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 18:20:10 +0100 Triassic https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=199961#Comment_199961 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=199961#Comment_199961 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 19:08:00 +0100 ferdinand2000
F]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=199988#Comment_199988 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=199988#Comment_199988 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 11:09:59 +0100 Triassic
I was more interested in something cheap and cheerful, aimed at these cutting fire wood for home use. Something maybe a couple of hundred quid rather than a thousand! Can't imagine that all you cutting your own firewood are using a bow saw ?!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=199993#Comment_199993 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=199993#Comment_199993 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 12:49:13 +0100 PeterW
For the £200 Budget, you can get a decent 2nd hand chainsaw, the PROPER SAFETY GEAR and a good saw horse which means you won't be carting big logs to the saw - you can take the saw to the logs... A 12" bar will cut a 22" trunk and that's a big tree !

I would look at how you are going to split the timber too - it's not the easiest of jobs unless you're doing it on fresh timber. Leave oak a year and even the big tractor splitters have issues

Cheers

Peter]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=200005#Comment_200005 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=200005#Comment_200005 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:21:30 +0100 ferdinand2000
We used wood burners from about 1980 to 2010, due to country house, 2 acre garden, and buying up the warehouse of a kitchen company that pulled out of the UK.

We ended up with a professional level Pillar Saw, which cost about £1500, was used for cutting up planks and logs as well as in a kitchen unit small business.

We sold it 10 years later via ebay for about £600 (in 2010) to a young joiner setting up his workshop, which suggests that you can buy quality stuff second hand for a mid-budget that will last decades.

Previously we had used big circular saws, and chainsaws, neither of which was completely satisfactory over a period of years for firewood.

I'd suggest that if you don't spend the money now, you may have to spend it later, perhaps after an injury or strain. Cutting firewood, amongst other things, did my father's back. But a cheapish option may be good for experience in the short term.

Suggestions:

If arbtalk is too hardcore, perhaps try http://woodworkuk.co.uk/forum/ or picture framers etc with a wanted ad.

I wonder if disillusioned Crafters would be a good source? One house we looked at recently would come with a full-blown lathe left in the outhouse :-).

My other idea would be to haunt a few bankruptcy sales.

I had a wonderful neighbour-involved-in-demolition (Fred Dibnah type who ran his own pair of traction engines, including self repairs) who made table saw from a table and a circular saw by cutting a slot in the table with the saw, and bolting it underneath poking upwards.

If it is of value, ebay has a "Wood Bench Saw 240v Log of Plank Cutter" in the West Midlands finishing at 6pm. Current bid £26.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wood-Bench-Saw-240v-Log-of-Plank-Cutter-/151271100020?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item233875ce74

Hope something there helps.

Ferdinand]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=200008#Comment_200008 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=200008#Comment_200008 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 17:39:38 +0100 Triassic https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=200016#Comment_200016 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=200016#Comment_200016 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 19:16:25 +0100 Beau https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=200022#Comment_200022 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11961&Focus=200022#Comment_200022 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 23:13:46 +0100 Gotanewlife http://www.all-about-the-home.co.uk/atika-400mm-1800w-electric-log-saw-2829-p.asp now £263.
I love it, really, couldn't recommend it enough. I get through about 10 tonnes of wood a year that I buy in 1 to 1.5m lengths. I have never had to change the blade or sharpen it after 4 years use. Very noisy but relegates chainsaw to tool of last resort (ie only ever for logs over 12cm dia). It is so FAST too - I am tall and I find I can push the support with my thigh whilst holding both ends of the log. There are some H&SW inspired rubber bits either side of where the blade comes out that might last 10 mins but they are not important! Whichever you get look out for the max diameter it will cut - bigger is better, as in life changing!

Yes split when green. For splitting the narly big logs I use an axe and then hit the axe with a really big sledge hammer. I did think about a log splitter but too expensive in the end.]]>