My Special Chainsaw Cart

[3RRL]

Hi guys,
I just finished a little project which I wanted to share with you guys.
It's a home made Chainsaw Cart made from all scrap materials except the tires some roller thrust bearings and some expanded metal I had to buy. I know I could've bought one for a little more than I got into this one (about $80 bucks), but what's the fun in that? Anyway, mine is special, to me at least.

The cart frame is made from the last batch of scrap angle iron which the implements for Loretta's tractor came in.
The wood body was from scrap I had lying around from the home build. The tie rod and removeable sides and tailgate are made from 1/2" iron pipe pieces I had rusting away. The front wheels ride on roller bearing thrust washers so it will steer easily even under load. I figure it has a 1,200lb gross capacity, if I need to haul some cut logs in it...or whatever. The cart has a handle and interchangeable trailer hitch.
Here are some photos...



I made the wood frame so it holds my 2 chainsaws and ALL of the stuff you need when cutting wood.
Like bar oil, 2cycle mix, extra gas and a mixing container, funnel, miscellaneous tools and files, extra chains, eye protection and chaps. I can throw the log dog in the back or make a rack for it.
Here are some photos of it loaded up ready to work.

 

[radioman]

very nice rob. now you need a cover for the top bin for a table to put your chainsaw on. maybe add a vice? :thumbsup: as always nice job.

 

[3RRL]

Thanks radioman,
Great suggestion for a top to place the saws on ... I will do that for sure!

A few more details, since you're probably wondering why I have the handle point down?
It is interchangeable with a ball hitch mount. That way the pivoting main handle ends up level, depending whether it's being towed by the boxblade, ATV or truck.



There is even a spot to hold either the handle or hitch, whichever is not being used.



The handle was made from scratch and the ball hitch was modified.

 

[3RRL]

The tailgate is pretty cool because I can roll my mower onto the wagon.
I had to TIG weld the expanded metal for the sides and tailgate because it has pretty small ends.



And as I mentioned before, I put roller bearing thrust washers under the front wheels for easy movement.
The tie rods are pipe I machined so it would move without too much slop.

 

[dodge man]

I've gotta be honest, I see several problems with it. If you pick up the shipping cost, I'll give you my adress and beta test it for you for a couple of years and make my comments. If you don't hear back from me, that means I need to keep it longer.

 

[Mousefield]

Interesting what can be put together with some spare material. Looks great and obviously a lot of thought went into the design. Really appreciate the great pictures.
My only thought would be it pretty much needs to be on fairly level hard ground. 1200 pounds is a lot on the tires and would worry they will sink into soft ground. Could you put larger balloon type tires on it to make it easier to move in rough terrain?

 

[Thomas]

Nice..very nice,but sure hauling lot of work time.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Nice build Rob!

I have a off topic question. I have owned Still Saws in the past but am not impressed with then new ones. I see you have a Solo. I know its a small saw but how do you compare it to Still and Husqvarna? I really like both of them a little better of the Still Saws but am not totally against the Still at this point.

Chris

 

[coreshot]

Rob, as always, great craftsmanship. I need to build something simialar, but maybe with larger wheels and tires to travel along the atv trails at my place. Maybe a larger box too for wood. Nice job.

 

[EddieWalker]

The Swiss Army Knife of Wagons!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great job Rob. I love it.

Did you make the mounts for the tires so that you could pick it up with your forks? I can't tell if the front space is big enough for forks, but it sure looks like a good way to pick it all up and carry it around those areas that you can't pull it.

Eddie

 

[Steve C]

very nice rob. now you need a cover for the top bin for a table to put your chainsaw on. maybe add a vice? :thumbsup: as always nice job.

Nice project. When you put the cover on top of the bin to use as a table, Install a thin padded top that can be snapped on and off for cleaning, so when you have the saw laying on the clutch side for fueling and oiling it won't knock the paint off the clutch cover and it won't knock the paint off the bottom of the saw when you are doing chain adjustments. A thin pad will also stop the saw from sliding around while you are working on it.:thumbsup:

 

[Steve C]

Nice build Rob!

I have a off topic question. I have owned Still Saws in the past but am not impressed with then new ones. I see you have a Solo. I know its a small saw but how do you compare it to Still and Husqvarna? I really like both of them a little better of the Still Saws but am not totally against the Still at this point.

Chris

Chris, pop over to Arborist site and ask that question. Is there something specific about your Stihls that you don't like? I have several saws. I must say the the Husky XP's are pretty nice tools. I had a new 372 last year. I also have an Echo 6700 that has some very nice features. It actually has a knob that you can turn to set the idle speed without using a tool, and an easy to get to adjustment for the chain oiler output. It has cut a lot of wood and it shown no sign of wearing out anytime soon. :thumbsup:

 

[beenthere]

Nice cart project.

Regards the Stihl saws, can't beat the MS361, 20" bar. It likely will be regarded as a classic. EPA regs are continually downgrading the performance of all the chainsaws.
We continue to shoot ourselves in the foot with the unrelentless Gov't control. They get hired, then have to figure out something to control (called job security, and use of free "to them" money).

 

[jayste]

ANOTHER quality product by Rob! I can really appreciate the use of those machines and tools you have there, buddy! Unfortunately, they're here at work and not at home! BTW, I see one problem with the cart....it's at your place not mine!:thumbsup:

Like Eddie says, "the Swiss Army Knives of carts"!:laughing:

 

[mmurphy]

Great job, and do not forget to proudly label it "PROUDLY MADE IN AMERICA"!

 

[3RRL]

Thanks very much guys,
The wagon is just large enough to be able to slide the forks under it if needed. The outside dimensions are 40" wide by 56" long. That happened to be the size of the steel angle iron which was already welded together. I just used it as it was and made everything to fit. You can see the pile of scrap I had and notice the frame in the middle of it.



I used those Harbor Freight tires which were on sale for $9.99 and I already had 2 for some reason?
I have the same ones on my Special Firewood Cart. They leak down so I filled them with tire sealant goop. I'll do the same for these ones. Although each one is rated for 300lbs, I'll probably never have that much weight in the wagon. Those photos with the trailer hitch were attached to my boxblade ball. But this wagon pulls easily behind my ATV. I have roads and trails to most parts of the property now, so it is very easy to get to the downed trees for firewood harvest.

The wood platform comes out of the frame.
Even fully loaded with the chainsaw stuff, Loretta and I can easily lift it out of the steel frame.



My plan is to leave the chainsaw stuff in that wood platform.
Then make another platform so the wagon can be used for gardening. Just to put my lawnmower and weedeaters on, or pots and stuff like that...even cement bags or whatever. For all of us who work outside, you can never have enough "stuff" with you. The platform not being used will keep all the chainsaw stuff together when stored. Same goes for the one with the gardening stuff. Loretta and I plan to build a large Garden shed this Summer. That's where I'll store the wagon and other platform.
Again, thanks for all you swell comments.
Rob-

 

[jayste]

I know what you mean, Rob. The pics below show !ONE! of my ongoing projects that started as a machine crate and is turning into a small trailer, ramp, etc., etc.

 

[3RRL]

I know what you mean, Rob. The pics below show !ONE! of my ongoing projects that started as a machine crate and is turning into a small trailer, ramp, etc., etc.

There you go Jay, nice work!
That's pretty much exactly what I do. I use what I have and if it works the way it is, I use those dimensions. After all, it's strictly for my my use so no one will ever know the difference ... except you guys of course.

The only thing I do pay particular attention to, are the stress points.
That is why I added those thrust bearings under the front wheels. I also took particular care to have the tongue built well (most trailers are solid) because it's a wagon and not a true trailer. In this case, the tongue swivels sideways at the wheel frame to move the wheels with a tie rod. Then in front of the tongue, the handle part swivels up and down for the handle or trailer hitch.
Here are some photos that show how the tongue is fixed to the wheel frame and tie rods. I split a cross tube piece to put one part on top and one part on the bottom of the wheel frame to (sort of) balance out the pulling force on it. The second photo shows only the lower one, but the 3rd photo shows the tongue with the cross tube on top and bottom of the wheel frame like a clevis or yoke. The pin goes through both of them.



Then at the handle end of the tongue I made a pivot for the handle portion to swivel up and down.



I used 1" diameter leader pins as pivot pins for all those connections.
Each of those pins are drilled and tapped for greasable Zerk fittings too.



Other than that, it's just build it with what you got and make it work.

 

[Dog Lover]

Real nice cart. Organized, and I like organized!

 

[gasbag]

Great cart its a very cool idea having different job specific tops should save time and make things easier. I have a couple of questions, how much does the unit weigh when loaded and is it stable in off canter situations. My 4-wheeler weighs about 600# and I fear having the cart leading the horse. Thanks Mark