Chainsaw meets Miter Saw

[KennyPete]

I have a small machine shop, and I occasionally get odd requests.

This one came from an Amish/Mennonite Fellow (wasn't sure, wasn't asking). He was working out of state with another crew and they had a miter saw that was retrofit with a Stihl FS130R motor. He said they paid $2300 for it, and he's in the market for one for himself and has a $2000 budget.

I'm thinking I will skip the string trimmer motor and retrofit a chainsaw. The picture below isn't mine, but I am thinking about doing something along the same lines.





What do you guys think?

I was thinking about getting a 12" Sliding Compound Miter Saw (Thinking a Ridgid because they're orange and will match a Stihl/Husqvarna saw). I'm sure one of the pawn shops around here has a broken one they will part with for cheap.

Then I need a power head. I have a 029 Super I can part with, but I wonder if that is overkill?

I can machine an extended arbor and modify the sprocket to be a pulley drive no problems.

I'm open to ideas as to mounting the saw to a frame.

As far as throttle control, I'm thinking I will rig up a hand control off of a handlebar trimmer. Thoughts?

I would appreciate any input you guys can give me. I haven't made one of these before, and if someone out there has I would love some pointers.

 

[Czech_Made]

Following.

 

[Cease232]

Are you gonna gear it down to run at WOT? A miter saw spins somewhere around 3600 rpm's. Much slower than a chainsaw.
I'm no expert on these things but a rough calculation puts a Ridgid chop saw at 2.4hp. Hard to compare Bhp and hp calculated from a small electric motor but an 029 seems quite a bit more than needed. Seems like you'd want it as light and least awkward to move as possible.


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[KenJax Tree]

Are you gonna gear it down to run at WOT? A miter saw spins somewhere around 3600 rpm's. Much slower than a chainsaw.
I'm no expert on these things but a rough calculation puts a Ridgid chop saw at 2.4hp. Hard to compare Bhp and hp calculated from a small electric motor but an 029 seems quite a bit more than needed. Seems like you'd want it as light and least awkward to move as possible.


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Why gear it down, 14k is bad ass and the potential for the blade to come loose and go through you and maybe a few other adds to the excitement.

 

[Cease232]

^yes!!^ as long as your wearing safety glasses.


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[Czech_Made]

Rpms can go down on pulleys, the saw blade max speed is what, 4000 rpms?

 

[Cease232]

Rpms can go down on pulleys, the saw blade max speed is what, 4000 rpms?

That's what I meant by "gear it down". Miter saws only run at quick short intervals but I was also wondering how a chainsaw would hold up. It would be under virtually no load and WOT. Granted for short periods of time.


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[blsnelling]

I'm thinking that's a 170/180.

 

[Czech_Made]

That's what I meant by "gear it down". Miter saws only run at quick short intervals but I was also wondering how a chainsaw would hold up. It would be under virtually no load and WOT. Granted for short periods of time.


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Sorry, missed that. Still, what a way to invent the wheel, eh? Dont get me wrong, I like Amish, its just, you know

 

[Definitive Dave]

Dewalt makes a 120Volt cordless mitre saw for $799.00

 

[Cease232]

Dewalt makes a 120Volt cordless mitre saw for $799.00

I guess they can use gas but not electricity. Make you wonder if a gas generator would be off limits?!?


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[KennyPete]

Are you gonna gear it down to run at WOT? A miter saw spins somewhere around 3600 rpm's. Much slower than a chainsaw.
I'm no expert on these things but a rough calculation puts a Ridgid chop saw at 2.4hp. Hard to compare Bhp and hp calculated from a small electric motor but an 029 seems quite a bit more than needed. Seems like you'd want it as light and least awkward to move as possible.


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I'm planning on using a jack shaft and pulleys to slow the blade speed down to ~3600rpm

I guess they can use gas but not electricity. Make you wonder if a gas generator would be off limits?!?


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That was what I first said to the guy, but he explained using electricity is against their code/religion even if its generated by gas.

I'm thinking that's a 170/180.

I suppose I could go with a 170. They're like $160 brand new, and would make for a good starting point.

 

[carhartt]

I guess they can use gas but not electricity. Make you wonder if a gas generator would be off limits?!?


No electricity.... Id like to introduce you all to my Amish neighbor. I promise you I don't want his electric bill. The best is the day he called me from his cell phone to ask if Dish Network was better than Direct TV.
I am not kidding they are Amish and want to be recognized as Amish.

 

[carhartt]

I am not sure why my comment ended up as a quote.

 

[Cease232]

I wonder if the miter saw plunging part would support the weight of a small saw. Eliminate the miter saw handle, trigger, and motor. Mount the power hear right above the blade so you wouldn't need the throttle cable or additional pulley. A ms150 is 6 lbs. even less once you get rid or the handle and brake lever.


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[Cease232]

Haha. I'm sure as with all religions everything's open to "interpretation".


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[KennyPete]

I did a rough work up of cost, and it's looking like its going to cost about $775 in parts assuming they want it made with a NEW saw, so I'm going to tell him $1400 out the door.

He is willing to drop $2000, so I figure he will probably jump at the $1400.

If he isn't set on having a chainsaw for a motor, I have a cheap tecumseh 3hp snow blower I can harvest for parts. It's got a manual clutch engagement, so it could be more convenient to engage/disengage, but not as smooth as an engagement.

 

[KennyPete]

I wonder if the miter saw plunging part would support the weight of a small saw. Eliminate the miter saw handle, trigger, and motor. Mount the power hear right above the blade so you wouldn't need the throttle cable or additional pulley. A ms150 is 6 lbs. even less once you get rid or the handle and brake lever.


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While I like your thinking, I don't think a MS150 has enough power. I suppose I could beef up the spring to support the weight of a saw.

 

[Cease232]

While I like your thinking, I don't think a MS150 has enough power. I suppose I could beef up the spring to support the weight of a saw.

Just a thought. I wonder how the weight of the handle, and motor assembly compares to a small power head. Ms170 is like 8lbs.


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[srcarr52]

I have a small machine shop, and I occasionally get odd requests.

This one came from an Amish/Mennonite Fellow (wasn't sure, wasn't asking). He was working out of state with another crew and they had a miter saw that was retrofit with a Stihl FS130R motor. He said they paid $2300 for it, and he's in the market for one for himself and has a $2000 budget.

I'm thinking I will skip the string trimmer motor and retrofit a chainsaw. The picture below isn't mine, but I am thinking about doing something along the same lines.


View attachment 513119


What do you guys think?

I was thinking about getting a 12" Sliding Compound Miter Saw (Thinking a Ridgid because they're orange and will match a Stihl/Husqvarna saw). I'm sure one of the pawn shops around here has a broken one they will part with for cheap.

Then I need a power head. I have a 029 Super I can part with, but I wonder if that is overkill?

I can machine an extended arbor and modify the sprocket to be a pulley drive no problems.

I'm open to ideas as to mounting the saw to a frame.

As far as throttle control, I'm thinking I will rig up a hand control off of a handlebar trimmer. Thoughts?

I would appreciate any input you guys can give me. I haven't made one of these before, and if someone out there has I would love some pointers.

Umm, they would have had to modify that chainsaw to get it to run backwards to get the blade direction correct.