Skid Loader-Mounted Brush Saw

2004 - Volume #28, Issue #6, Page #26

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James Boyd didn't want to spend the money for a skid loader-mounted brush cutting saw. So the Galveston, Ind., farmer built his own.
  "I spent about $650 to build it. Similar commercial units sell for about $4,500," he says.
  He bought a big 26 1/2-in. dia. blade equipped with carbide teeth on ebay, and ordered a hydraulic motor from Northern Tool. The blade mounts on a 1 7/16-in. dia. steel shaft. The shaft was slightly bent but Boyd was able to straighten it in his press. The hydraulic motor mounts on top of the 18-in. long shaft and direct-drives the shaft, connected by a chain coupler. Heavy bearings anchor the shaft to a steel plate. The shaft/blade assembly mounts vertically at the end of a 5-ft. length of 4-in. pipe.
  He uses the auxiliary hydraulic switch on the Bobcat control handle to operate the saw.
  "It works fast and is easy to use," says Boyd. "My son and I used it this summer to saw down about four acres of scrub trees in less than four days. We cut down the undesirable species and left the desirable ones. We have about six to eight acres left to do. We plan to overseed the area with pasture mix in order to create some new grass land for our small cow calf operation. The saw will cut through a 9-in. dia. tree in one pass, flush with the ground so we can mow right over the stump. Since we don't plan to till the soil, we're leaving the stumps which will eventually decay. The roll cage on the Bobcat offers great protection from falling trees."
  Boyd says the design eliminates the need to clear brush from around the base of the tree. "I just lay the saw blade flush with the ground and cut right through it all, turning the saw on only as it's needed. After I'm done using the saw I remove it and put the bucket back on the Bobcat so I can pile up the trash."
  Boyd notes that he can remove three bolts from the mounting plate and manually rotate the saw blade to a vertical position, allowing him to trim tree branches more than 12 ft. high.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, James D. Boyd, 3149 E. 1175 S., Galveston, Ind. 46932 (ph 574 699-7421; email: jdboyd@holli.com).

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Skid Loader-Mounted Brush Saw TRACTORS Skid Steer Loaders 28-6-26 James Boyd didn't want to spend the money for a skid loader-mounted brush cutting saw. So the Galveston, Ind., farmer built his own. "I spent about $650 to build it. Similar commercial units sell for about $4,500," he says. He bought a big 26 1/2-in. dia. blade equipped with carbide teeth on ebay, and ordered a hydraulic motor from Northern Tool. The blade mounts on a 1 7/16-in. dia. steel shaft. The shaft was slightly bent but Boyd was able to straighten it in his press. The hydraulic motor mounts on top of the 18-in. long shaft and direct-drives the shaft, connected by a chain coupler. Heavy bearings anchor the shaft to a steel plate. The shaft/blade assembly mounts vertically at the end of a 5-ft. length of 4-in. pipe. He uses the auxiliary hydraulic switch on the Bobcat control handle to operate the saw. "It works fast and is easy to use," says Boyd. "My son and I used it this summer to saw down about four acres of scrub trees in less than four days. We cut down the undesirable species and left the desirable ones. We have about six to eight acres left to do. We plan to overseed the area with pasture mix in order to create some new grass land for our small cow calf operation. The saw will cut through a 9-in. dia. tree in one pass, flush with the ground so we can mow right over the stump. Since we don't plan to till the soil, we're leaving the stumps which will eventually decay. The roll cage on the Bobcat offers great protection from falling trees." Boyd says the design eliminates the need to clear brush from around the base of the tree. "I just lay the saw blade flush with the ground and cut right through it all, turning the saw on only as it's needed. After I'm done using the saw I remove it and put the bucket back on the Bobcat so I can pile up the trash." Boyd notes that he can remove three bolts from the mounting plate and manually rotate the saw blade to a vertical position, allowing him to trim tree branches more than 12 ft. high. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, James D. Boyd, 3149 E. 1175 S., Galveston, Ind. 46932 (ph 574 699-7421; email: jdboyd@holli.com).

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