If you’re looking for how to make a sawbuck at home, stick around. In this DIY project, we cover how you can make a DIY sawbuck.
Have you ever stopped to wonder how a person can freeze to death in a forest when they’re surrounded by wood? Wood that can be burned to create fire?
The problem isn’t the lack of wood; it’s the lack of wood in burnable conditions. Most trees are simply too large to catch fire easily. They need to be cut down to size.
While most city slickers have never cut their own firewood, for those who live further out in the country, firewood is still an important part of their daily lives. Wood burning ovens and wood furnaces provide heat for both cooking and comfort.
Unfortunately, whether you’re getting your firewood from a fallen tree, or buying it in bulk, the wood is often too large. You will have to cut it into pieces small enough to use.
We’re going to go over a simple structure you can use to help cut firewood on your property, without killing your back doing it: A Sawbuck.
But first, let’s define what exactly we’re making here for those that don’t know.
What is a sawbuck?
A sawbuck is just a framework for holding wood. Typically the framework is used for holding pieces of wood in place so it can be cut safely. Hence the term, sawbuck.
Fun Fact: You may have heard of a sawbuck being called a 10 dollar bill. That’s because of the X-shaped end pieces that look like the Roman numeral of a 10.
Tools
Here are the tools you’ll need for this DIY project.
- Saw
- Drill and bit
- Tape Measure and a pencil
- Straight edge or framing square
- Wrench
- Materials:
- Eight 4 foot 2×4’s
- Three 4 inch Bolts (with washers and nuts)
- 3 1/2 inch screws
Prep
Set two of the 2×4’s aside for now. They will become braces, while the remaining six will be the legs. Cut one end of each leg at a 30-degree angle.
Use your tape measure to mark a spot 18 inches from the flat edge of the legs. Drill a hole in the middle of each board at the 18-inch mark. This is where you put your bolt.
Instructions
With the prep work done, assemble the boards by sliding a bolt through two of them, holding them together in pairs. Make sure the 30-degree foot of each pair are facing opposite directions, creating a V shape, so they can grip the ground right. Put a washer in between the two boards, and keep the nuts loose enough so the boards can move. This will allow you to fold the Sawbuck for easier storage.
Lay all three crosses on their sides, lined up and facing the same direction, with the 2-inch side of the boards facing up. Mark a spot 20 inches down from the flat edge on each one. The top of the brace should reach that mark.
Screw the brace in place. There should be one cross on each end, and the third in the middle. Only screw into one board on each brace. Add the second brace under the first to give it extra strength.
Alternative Sawbuck Tutorial
Here’s another sawbuck I found from this video if you wanted an alternative.
This project will take about 1-2 hours and you can make it for less than $20.
From the tutorial below, these are the measurements you’ll need.
- 10 pieces of 4 ft lumber boards
- Three 5 inch 5/16 bolts
- 5/16 washers – 5/16 nuts
- 3½ inch outdoor screws
- Measure 29 inches from the long end of the diagonal edge
- Drill 5/16 inch hole in the middle of the 29-inch marks
- Measure 28.5 inches from the long end of the diagonal edge
Here’s the step by step video showing you how to do it.
DIY Folding Sawbuck
If you want to make a different version of a sawbuck, try the folding sawbuck.
Here’s the tutorial on how to make it.
Conclusion
You’re done. A few pieces of scrap wood has now become a useful tool, saving you time and preventing future back pain. All that’s left to do now is unfold the Sawbuck, stand it on its feet, and get to work. You’ll have a pile of perfectly cut firewood in no time.
As far as DIY projects go, this isn’t one of the easiest and quickest ones, but it is one that will yield more results than others.
Having your own sawbuck will allow you to be able to perform many different tasks.
If you liked this post, you may want to check out our DIY category of posts or our complete list of DIY projects for preppers.