| Blog series by Gary Fixler | updated 63 days ago | 7 parts | 4506 reads | 68 comments total |
Part 1: Palax Power100S Firewood Processor
I come across some pretty amazing woodworking/woodprocessing tools online during my nightly research escapades – things I think the majority of the LJs crowd hasn’t seen (like me) – so I thought I’d make a little series to highlight some of the cooler, or rarer things I unearth. First up, one of the most convenient tools I’ve seen for processing entire trunks into firewood in a timely fashion. I have a bittersweet feeling when I see tools this efficient at h...
Part 2: the "dragsaw"
Most of the dragsaws I’ve managed to find online seem to be from years in the range of 1910 to 1920, and feature a mechanical movement similar to, but the reverse of a locomotive’s drive wheel and connecting rod. Instead of a steam-driven piston driving a circular wheel, an engine-driven wheel drives a reciprocating piston, which is attached to a large cross-cutting saw. There are all manner of models on YouTube in every state of restoration or disrepair, but I particularly like t...
Part 3: Predator: V8 Chainsaw
The Predator – born in Washington state, USA – is a 2-man chainsaw powered by a V8 engine, capable of cutting through a 3’ log in less than a second. All of their videos of this monster are fun, but this recap on an unspecified television program (which seems at the very least sponsored by Prolong Oil) sums things up nicely. My first question – “Who would build such a dangerous beast?” – has been answered. His name is Robert Andrews. My second qu...
Part 4: cedar shake saws
This is without a doubt the scariest looking sawyer job I’ve seen yet. Check out how casually he thrusts his unsupervised hand at the 4’+ tall circular saw blade! There are many more videos of people in this job with these saws on YouTube. Scary stuff.
Part 5: 1 man, 1 door, 1 minute and 37 seconds
Looks like I went the slow route on my recent (and first) frame and panel doors! Might as well get an autosander, too.
Part 6: The Bench SlideMount
I think I’m going to end up with several Bench SlideMounts. They’re exactly what I didn’t realize I’ve been looking for. I’ve been dragging my heels on a bad idea I’ve had to install T-tracks in my 8’x2’ work table, seen here almost 2 years ago when the garage was still nice and empty and traversable. I’d make a shelf below the bench to hold my smaller bench tools on squares of plywood, bringing each up as needed, sliding its bolts into...
Part 7: The Circular Swing Blade Mill
Just stumbled upon these tonight. I’ve never seen them before. Very clever! It’s basically a band saw mill with a circular saw instead which can swing from horizontal to vertical blade alignment, and thus be run across a log 2 times to saw out a rectangular piece of dimensioned lumber. It helps to watch these 2 videos to understand what I mean: Obviously, no large through-cuts, so no very-wide slabs, but if you need to turn a big pile of pine, or a very huge tree into dime...
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