David WE Roberts wrote:

"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message
ll.co.uk...
On Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:18:33 -0000, David WE Roberts wrote:

The cheap one seems to be designed to cut the log within the saw horse
snip
I was thinking of one where the log stuck out from the end to give a
clean cut,

"Within the horse" I can see the cut tending to close an bind onto the
bar/chain. "Out of the end" the cut will open but may split/rip before
the cut is completed unless you cut the underside first.

Not sure who the amazon or makita ones work. They clamp the log but what
supports it to stop it pivoting at the clamp point?

snip

The attraction of the Makita one is that it clamps the log at one end then
suspends it over the 'foot' which stops the whole thing toppling over.
You then make multiple cuts along the log (just as if it was still attached
to the tree) and the log falls away from the saw instead of potentially
pinching it.
It looks as though it may handle odd shapes well, also.
Best price so far including delivery is £66.99 which may be justified for
something which folds away neatly and will last for many years.

Noted from many responses that making up a '3 X' trestle from wood is
probably better than buying one.

I've never really understood how saw horses are supposed to work, they
seem fundamentally unstable and hence unsafe to me for use with a
chainsaw.

I construct a solid 'table' (of large stumps, logs, whatever), if it's
not safe for the saw to hit the table surface then cover with a sheet
of old ply, chipboard or whatever. Then along the front a series of
vertical posts are fixed to the 'table' with gaps in between through
which you can saw logs placed on the table. Job done!

The posts along the front are either solidly secured to the table
(which is heavy enough to be essentially immovable) or they are driven
into the ground, or both. Since they are vertical there's no chance
of the log rolling out (as it can on a saw horse) and since the log is
supported along most of its length it doesn't fall as you saw and
pinch the chainsaw bar.

--
Chris Green