Slabwood to kindling maker

[WV Sawmiller]

  I debated where to put this. Here, General, Firewood (Probably where it should have gone) but decided it might get more visibility here.

  For a long time I have been thinking about buying a roller rack/table/assembly and making a table to cut waste slabwood and edgings into kindling and small firewood pieces. I drove to Blacksburg VA a week or so back and bought 2-10' aluminum rollers from a Craigslist vendor there,

    Today I got out and took a couple of measurements then made 2 rough sawhorses out of some short tulip poplar 2X4s I cut out out of a short butt log a while back. I cut the legs at 36" and made the I-beam top 48" long.

Nothing fancy just functional. Then I placed one of the rollers on it, centered it, and lag screwed into place with 2" X 3/8" lag screws I had in stock.

Basically I am thinking to just add some sides and make a trough, load it with scrap slabwood, push to the end and cut to length with a chainsaw. The wood will be loaded in and I will push the load to the end and cut in about 15-18 inch lengths for personal use. The rack is tall enough I can back my trailer or cart under it and let the wood fall in.

I was thinking I could lift the rig with my FEL and small tractor and move it but I suspect I'd bend the aluminum frame it I lifted it as it is. I am considering adding a couple of small wheels and tow or push it around the lot.

I noticed the aluminum frame of slightly over 4" wide and I tried putting a rough, full cut 8' 2X4  in the frame and see it is a near perfect fit.

Right now I am inclined to just cut 2- 2X4s to length, nail a 1X12 or such to both of them, then place the 2X4 in the slot and attach with 2-3 bolts on each side through existing holes already there. I guess I could add a couple of short 2X4's on the other side of 1X's for stiffeners and extra support. The 2X4's should stiffen the frame so I could move it with my FEL and tractor. I will have to keep thinking about whether to add the wheel to one end. I think I can get a pair of wheels for about $20 each at HF if I don't see something cheaper at the flea market.

    If it doesn't hold up and replace ever piece easily and cheaply as long as I don't damage the roller frame.

    I sell most of my slabwood at a dirt cheap rate and the customer loads. I could put the rig out by the slab pile and they could sut their own right on site if the want to. I am thinking mostly about my own use and 2 brothers who come buy and cut slabwood into 10-12 inch lengths.

[doc henderson]

The real question,... did you cut the legs on the sawmill?       I am about to do the same for my 2-foot-wide roller tables, but I will leave the rollers and sawhorses separated to make it easier to move and get into place.  the stock legs on the rollers are too flimsy for the way I roll.  I will leave the top end braces off so I can nest and stack the sawhorses.

[WV Sawmiller]

Doc,

   The sawhorses exceed the 32" max height on my mill so I precut them on my RAS and assembled them at my outdoor work site there. 

    I considered keeping the roller and stands separate and will do that if necessary. I can always permanently install some long boats with wing nuts if I need to. Right now I only have the 4 lag screws to remove but will have probably 6 more bolts through the frames and sides as currently planned.