3pt Buzz Saw

On CL I see a 3pt Buzz Saw they say they used on a ford tractor. Has anyone on here had any experience with one of these? If so, I have a few questions.

http://wichita.craigslist.org/grd/4828691959.html

1. Do they work well, or am I better off just using a chain saw?

2. Is there anything I should look at before deciding to buy it?

3. What are they worth, is $450 too much?

4. Does anyone have any advice?

THANKS, Jeff

At that price, I'd expect the tractor to come with it.

I bought the one in the picture about 4 years ago; came w/ the belt pulley attachment & belt. I paid $75 for it just for the belt pulley attachment. The saw is now yard art.

75 Tips

A lot of old ladies here will have a fit when you talk about those.
But there were millions of cords of wood cut with them back in the day.
We used one a lot when I was a kid.
Grampa on the saw, dad feeding him lengths and me and bro throwing the chunks into the wood pile.
Usually about 5" diameter was the max we cut with one as a 5" log was about all dad could heft up onto it.
Here is the trouble with them though.
It is much esier to bring a light weight chain saw to the log than it is to bring the heavy log to one of those saws.
So it's much easier for one man to put up wood with a chainsaw.
As for the price, it's a bit high. $350 would be more realistic in these parts.
nnalert the direct link

We had two wood stoves in da house. A chainsaw would have never kept up with the buzz saw. Made alot of wood every year with that saw. We would saw the bigger logs into 8 foot lengths and then split them with wedges and throw the quartered pieces on the saw and make fire wood. With dad and 4 boys we made alot of wood and didn't get in any trouble cause you wanted to stay warm all winter. Funny when we all left home dad started buying fuel oil!

I use one every year for small wood, also burn some slabs
from the sawmill, and it's the berries for that kind of stuff. On
the mountain I use a chainsaw and block what I haul up as I
load it, but for the small trees I cut down around the place I
use the buzzer. For dirty wood, like slabs and such it is much
better than a chain saw, not sharpening it every ten minutes.

For $450 it would have to be in extra good shape and ready with a sharp blade. I have picked up a good many over the years and have yet to pay more then $50 if even that much. I have 3 or 4 right now

I have a couple and use them and like them. I like best about a 30 inch blade, but use smaller also. If you have at least one more person, you can saw circles around a chain saw. Need both though.

There were millions of cords of wood cut, and quite a few hands and arms as well...

pete

Wood cutting is inherently dangerous.
See the link below.
People think nothing of using a chain saw.
But bring up one of these old buzz saws and the hens will begin to cluck.
I don't know why.
click here

70,
Cut a car load of firewood a year in NE Minnesota using make shift saw rigs. A car load is 4feet x 8 feet x 80 feet. We survived! About 4 years ago got a 3pt buzz for $0.00. Had to buy the pulley for $50.00. Seller did not want liability for the saw. Modified it and works very well if you pay complete attention to what you are doing. Bought a second rig for $75.00. Also modified it to suit my needs and it works quite well provided you pay attention to what you are doing!! I still use both rigs at 66 years. If you decide to purchase one and need hints on modifications let me know. Also have operators/set up pages from a manufacturer. HTH
Mr. T. Minnesota

Those figures makes the cost of a pair of chaps look pretty cheap.

(quoted from post at 19:02:36 01/02/15)
Wood cutting is inherently dangerous.
See the link below.
People think nothing of using a chain saw.
But bring up one of these old buzz saws and the hens will begin to cluck.
I don't know why.
click here

Click to expand...

Dangerous?? Did he read the manual ??

Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwpdMy06_k4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCEDuJGTyNo

Yes they work. I picked mine up a couple of years
ago for under $200 with pulley, adapter
extension(for 1 3/8" shaft) and belt.Also picked
up the pto direct style shaft one for $60. It had
bent legs (easily straighten out on the press) and
dull blade.
I think the price on that one is too high and
should sell for $300 or less.
Mine is a ferguson model. I believe that one is a
dearborn model 22-44.
If you look at my saw you will notice a brace was
added. When these saws were carried on the tractor
in the upright position they bounced and often
cracked where the two pieces of angle iron meet.
This would be something to check as well as any
looseness in the bearings and condition of the
blade, which are almost always dull. Any chipped
or broken teeth and the blade is garbage IMO.
Pulley is metal and some prefer the older style. I
haven't use the metal pulley on the saw but have
used it with the Burr mill without a problem but
I'm also running at a slower speed.
As stated 2 or even 3 people to run it are better.
Ideally one to load, one cutting and one chucking.
Sure you can do it yourself but you will find that
the wood pile at the bottom of the saw will pile
up fast and you will have to clear it.

Kirk

For me they work really well if I have a crew, If working alone I use chain saw.

First I agree with the group that the price is a little high, but, since the Depression of 2008, the used tractor and implement market has been hit hard with people still hanging on to their cash. Add to that that prices on all the stuff has gotten way out of control -look at the same old stuff on ebay for example -plows for $900!!! You'd think after so many months of not selling these bozos would wise up.

Now, to answer some of your concerns, you'll need the belt pulley to operate the buzz saw. The belt pulley had a special bracket attached that allowed the 'wishbone' bracket attached to the saw to be pinned to -THIS IS THE TOP LINK. Note you don't use the normal top link with the saw. If this saw you're looking at does not include the belt pulley, the price is way overboard, and even then at $350 would be even better with the belt pulley. Next is the belt itself. You can get new ones of rubber but not cheap. The saws were better used when two people worked them -see original Operator's Manual. Also says to ground the tractor with 11-hole drawbar by leaning it against the tractor like a running board and touching the ground. Static electricity build-up could spark a fire. If you go to the PHOTO GALLERY you can see some of my pictures. Here's one...

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If you cut a lot of wood and can find responsible help, a buzz saw will cut lots of wood.

Indeed, three men and a buzz saw will make three men with chainsaws pack up and go home, but you will be better off with a chainsaw if working alone.

That said, the saw pictured is priced far too high.

I have two Dearborn saws as well as 6 or seven good blades, all sharpened and set.

IIRC, I spend $50 for one of the saws and 75 for the other with a pulley, spacer and adapter. I believe I spent around $25.00 for each of the blades. All items were bought around 20 years ago.

You will find that a good blade is worth more than a decent Dearborn saw. You will also find that there are very few folks around who can sharpen and set your blade for you.

PTO pulleys for 1 1/8" PTO shafts are readily available for $50 - $60 but you will need an adapter and spacer to use one on a tractor with the much more common 1 3/8" PTO shaft. The adapters are readily available new but the spacers are no longer commercially available new.

PTO pulleys for 1 3/8" PTO shafts are much less common and more expensive.

Dean