How to Build a Sawbuck for Cutting Firewood

One of the most useful tools for cutting firewood is a good "X" shaped sawbuck.

A sawbuck is a special kind of sawhorse framed for holding rough wood so you can saw it into lengths suitable for use in a stove or fireplace.

The sawbuck basically consists of two "X" forms -- one at each end -- which may be stabilized by a third (central) "X". The long firewood to be cut is placed in the top ("V") part of the "X" pieces where it may then be sawed.

Steps

1. Select the size. Design the permanent sawbuck to be 6 vertical 2x4's (38 mm x 89 mm) or 2x6s (38 mm x 140mm) of about 4 feet (1.22 meters) long and 4 horizontal 2x6's 5 feet (1.52 meters) long using 3.5 inch (8.89 cm) wood screws or nails. (See "Tips" for information on making a demo/prototype version instead.)
   
   
   • Cutting the "V" form portion at an angle as shown makes it lighter and more open.
2. Place the middle of the "X" a little higher for use with a chainsaw: rather than lower for a bow saw, if you prefer.
   
   
3. Design your sawbuck/sawhorse by considering various methods shown in the illustrations. Tailor the design as you desire or require.
   
   
4. Use suitable boards for your project. Nominal 2X6s or 2X4s of pine (southern yellow or lodgepole or white), or spruce will be fine.
   
   
   • Decide the taller or shorter height that you think you may want, namely, cut the "X" pieces about 48 inches (1.22 meters) long.
   • Adjust the height according to what feels right to you.
5. Consider starting with one (the first) "X" temporarily attached together with two nails/screws to see how tall and wide that you want to make it.
   
   
   • Take it apart and angle-cut and trim the angle of the "V" as shown in the photo above. This angled cutting of the "V" will make it less top-heavy.
6. Use this as your pattern for the rest.
   
   
   • Feature: the "V" part allows you to nestle and cut two or more narrow poles or tree limbs (around 3 to 8 feet (91.44 cm x 44 meters) in length) with a chainsaw, to make your firewood quickly.
7. Design the sawbuck lower if you are using a smaller "X" sawbuck with a hand "bow-saw". Make the sawbuck about only 20-24" (50.8 cm x 60.9 cm) high to the center. This will allow the user to put a foot on top of the poles or the split wood being cut, when it is that low (as illustrated).
   
   
8. Design a wide, heavily braced base to give you more stability for the power of a chainsaw.
   
   
   • Caution: A lightweight sawbuck might lead to an injury if it falls over while cutting. Don't use a smaller sawbuck for chainsaw work.
9. To build a non-folding sawbuck, simply connect the "X" forms together, using 4 to 6 nails/screws driven permanently into near the center of each "X".
   
   

Folding Sawbuck

1. Make the sawbuck fold if you like. One way to connect the sawbuck together is to use one big bolt of about a 4 inch (10.16 cm) long, and 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) in diameter.
   
   
   • You may find inexpensive [or free] long bolts, and nuts that fit them, on the ground in a self-service, automobile wrecking yard). Put it in the exact same placement at the center of each "X", using extra-large washers, so that it can be clamped together and loosened to fold for storage.
2. Consider screwing on a leg spacer-brace on each "X". Then unscrew the end spacer-brace to allow the "X" to fold.
   
   
   • Long, common bolts are not very expensive near $1 to $1.50 each at a lumber or hardware store. (But, tempered, hardened, fine threaded bolts cost about 4 to 5 times as much.)

Rustic Method

1. A simple rough sawbuck or sawhorse may be built in the woods for a camp or lodge.
   
   
2. The rustic form shown here can be made in the field from available materials, following a similar process but with wooden poles.
   
   
   • State parks and such probably do not allow any harvesting of wood, and so this is for private land or the untamed wilderness.

Video

This is another kind of "sawbuck" for extending a miter saw table to support long pieces of wood/lumber for cutting with the miter saw. You could be able to cut the straighter limbs and poles for firewood with this kind of sawbuck, using your "miter saw".

Tips

• For a sawbuck left outdoors in weather, you might prefer lumber that is pressure treated to resist rot and insects.
• Possibly start with a demo, "prototype" version: Consider a temporary first version -- perhaps smaller and simpler than it might be ideally, with old scrap lumber from shipping pallets or other 1x4 or 1x6 boards, just to give you the chance to try out a design and height.
  • Add some extra bracing near the bottom and across the end of the legs for strength, weight and stability.
  • Then, in a year or two, try a new improved design with 2x4s or 2x6s.

Warnings

• Ordinary head, hearing and eye protection should be adequate protection or as recommended by equipment manufactures, when sawing lumber, poles, limbs and/or driving nails.
• Avoid tipping the sawbuck over due to chainsaw kickback while cutting. The base should be built heavily enough to be stable.

Things You'll Need

• Soft rubber, tissue or cotton ear plugs,
• Simple hat or hardhat,
• Safety glasses,
• Circular saw or handsaw, tape measure, square;
• Hammer
  • Zinc-galvanized nails, 3.5 inch (approx);
• Or: Electric drill
  • Zinc-galvanized screws, 3.5 inch long;
• Lumber, of the type you prefer

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