Chris's Un-Ransome Tree Feller

[crueby]

Got the crossbars for the frame notched, using a vise on a rotary base (the Sherline base for their small vise also fits the larger 2x3 vises available elsewhere with some little adapter sleeves for holding them down)

Test fit of the cross bars. They will be silver soldered in place later, after the rest of the parts are made and fitted to them.


Here is the arch bar that will support the outer end of the guide rods. Took a piece of smaller square bar and ran it through the ring roller - just fit in, had to prebend the very end to get it to start. One pass through at the largest opening put just a little too much arc in it, but that was easily corrected by squeezing it in the bench vise.

Next up will be to make the collection of vertical pars to hold the arc bar, the front stand-off, and the worm gear...

[cnr6400]

  Looking great Chris.

[crueby]

Thanks Jeff!

[crueby]

Made up the holder for the worm gear out of some flat bar and bronze bushings. The uprights will get some more shaping to make them look nicer, tapering in the sides and rounding the top, may add some slots like the cylinder holder has too. The bracket is bolted to the crossbar underneath, with the holes for the screws slightly oversize to allow adjusting the mesh of the worm gear.

[Michael S.]

Chris, that looks good. Very stable and compact.

Michael   

[crueby]

Chris, that looks good. Very stable and compact.

Michael   

Thanks Michael!

[bent]

Coming right along Chris! 

Hmmm.  Unidirectional teeth like a Sawzall blade, or bidirectional teeth?  Or, would lance teeth like on an old 2-man bucksaw or felling saw be more period-appropriate?  Sounds like a lot of experimenting to set your teeth into!  I do wonder how well a birdirectional saw does at clearing the chips away? 

[crueby]

Coming right along Chris! 

Hmmm.  Unidirectional teeth like a Sawzall blade, or bidirectional teeth?  Or, would lance teeth like on an old 2-man bucksaw or felling saw be more period-appropriate?  Sounds like a lot of experimenting to set your teeth into!  I do wonder how well a birdirectional saw does at clearing the chips away? 

The original drawings from Ransome show unidirectional teeth, plus thats what I  have, so its a good starting point! The blade has nothing pulling the tip back out like a two man saw would, so bidirectional  teeth may not be good? Time will tell!

[crueby]

The worm gear supports went for a spin on the rotary table to shape them a little nicer...

Then milled up the brackets to hold the adjustable post out the front of the frame that holds the machine away from/to the tree

Here they are installed, with a piece of bar for the post. The post still needs the crossbar at the end.

Getting close to done - parts still to make: end bar for the post, supports for the arch bar supporting the guide rails, um, think thats it? Also need to silver solder the joints on all these parts. Then a display base with a 'tree' holder in it, and we can fire up the LoppenElfer 1900!   

[Kim]

That's looking good, Chris,I like the new look of the supports! 

Don't you need to make a handle so your operator can advance the saw?  A wheel or something to turn the worm gear?  In the pics you posted at the beginning of your build thread one of them shows some kind of ratchet handle for advancing the worm gear, while one of them just shows a big round wheel handle.

Kim

[crueby]

That's looking good, Chris,I like the new look of the supports! 

Don't you need to make a handle so your operator can advance the saw?  A wheel or something to turn the worm gear?  In the pics you posted at the beginning of your build thread one of them shows some kind of ratchet handle for advancing the worm gear, while one of them just shows a big round wheel handle.

Kim

Oh yes! The parts left include the handwheel!   

[cnr6400]

  I just figured you made the handwheel out of that piece of transparent aluminum that Scotty from Star Trek sent the shop elves, so we couldn't see it.   

[crueby]

I just figured you made the handwheel out of that piece of transparent aluminum that Scotty from Star Trek sent the shop elves, so we couldn't see it. 

Yeah, I did, but I dropped it, it rolled away, and I can't find it! Will have to make one from normal steel...   

[crueby]

Got the end bar for the tree post bent and soldered on, as well as the legs for the curved saw support bar:

That leaves making the handwheel and a stop collar for the worm shaft, plus soldering up the main frame, then the display base. Close!

[cnr6400]