Saw Modifications Part 4 - Just needs a lick of paint now.

Here, as promised are the photo's of the finished saw modifications. It will get a clean, rust treatment and a lick of paint at some point in the coming months. Now that it's inside and in the dry, that can wait until a suitable time when it's a bit warmer out.



The stiffening piece, probably totally unneccesary, was welded on at the end of the last session, before attaching to the tractor for the first but after it was too dark to take photo's.



All in all, I'm very pleased with the result and it's turned out pretty much exactly as I had hoped. I am not yet sure if the DB will be able to lift it high enough, I havn't tried. Yes, it does stick out a long way to one side. I had to make allowance for the off-centre weight distribution. I will just have to be careful when I move it around, not exactly as though I'm going to take it far.

Saw Modifications Part 3 - Over Engineering

The pathetic 10 Amp fuse which all lights and sockets in the garage are currently connected to isn't man enough for the welder on full power so I had to place the saw within extension lead reach of the Sockets in the car port.



Positioning and welding on the already produced frame for the bottom hydraulic arms went easily and quickly.



The original "sketches" drawn up with London Son had a very simple rising vertical piece from the middle of this frame for the top arm. Having slept on this for a few nights and seen that most other equipment has a triangle arrangement I was beginning to have doubts. When I measured and found out that I had enough steel I changed my plans. After a few hours of semiconsious thought during the nights leading up to the weekend, the construction details were clear in my head.



One problem with building from a design which is only in my head and not thought through on paper is that angles are rarely correct first time. It took me a coulple of cuts to get this triangle to sit squarely in the correct position (I had to allow room for the belt gaurd (taken off in all but the first photo). No major problems, but with the thickness of the steel I did get through a few 9" cutting discs on my big angle grinder.



More cutting and many Km's of welding wire later and it was starting to look the business. I did more or less complete the job that evening and the saw is now in the top barn attached to the Zetor, but as it was too dark to take pictures at that time you'll have to wait for Part 4 for the final photo's.

Saw Modifications Part - 2 Moving

I had a very successful day with the saw on Sunday, but due to time constraints now, I'll blog it one bit at a time!

The original plan was to work on it in situ, but after some thought, considering gas, extension leads, wet grass and all the rest I decided to move it. As you can see from the photo's, with the right equipment the task was easy.

One!



Two!



Three!



And an "In-Tractor" Shot for good Measure.

Saw Modification - Part 1

Many of our visitors have become well acquainted with our saw. The saw sharpner, whilst especially well acquainted with it, is not the only one who has suggested that it should be covered or even better moved inside when it's not in use.



For a long time now, it's been my plan to modify it, adding a frame which can attached to the three point lift on (one of!) the tractors. By doing so will not only allow me to put it away when it's not in use but also to locate it in different positions dependant on where the wood I'm chopping is or where I'm stacking it. All part of my cycle time reduction efforts.

London Son and I had such a productive weekend that we were able to turn our attention to this project on Monday. A quick head scratching session with a tape measure and a look at the materials available in the barn produced an outline sketch. We made a trip to the local farm shop for the only purchase of the project, the two pins required to connect to the hydraulic arms (which as you will notice cater for both sizes, the DB being smaller). Then a quick consultation with the neighbour produced 4 more bits of steel, amazingly complete with ready holes that were more or less the correct diameter. All this and we had a raw materials we needed as below.



After a couple of hours with the angle grinders and welder, we had this, the first part of the frame completed.



Pretty pleased with the welding if I say so myself, I'll be dissapointed if this doesn't hold!



I was going to weld the frame to the saw in situ but after some thought, I realised that it'll be a lot easier on the flat concrete in the garage. So, the next step of the project is to move the saw. As you already are aware, I have just the tool for the job!