Thread: kamikaze saws

We had one that was belt driven from the old Fordson major. My grand father used it for pine when cash flow was low. My Brother in law has a crazy sawmill you run with a PTO shaft I want to set that up but I think the sister inlaw will kill me if he tries to us it by him self

Now there's a name to strike fear into the heart of the knowing and wise!!

I had, thankfully, forgotten of their existence until this. I may have an OH&S nightmare after reading this!

you talkin about the old mobilco swing saws. that would chop you off at teh knees at the drop of a hat.

I am not sure.I am trying to get over there to see if an old 25 hp lombardi diesel I ve got can be retro fitted to it .Will take pic s while I am there

cant find any pics.

the mobilcos were a set of wheels with a wotor on them a long arm out teh front with a huge blade on the end.

blade was driven with a belt. the belt would twist when teh saw suaw swung over.

used for cutting railway sleepers mainly. and spit posts

I think I know the one you're talking about Carlo. There was one at the mill we used to be at, it was a frightening machine and I'm not dissapointed that I never saw it run

Originally Posted by itsposs

I am not sure.I am trying to get over there to see if an old 25 hp lombardi diesel I ve got can be retro fitted to it .Will take pic s while I am there

Think that's a"lombardini" motor. Had a small one myself on an irrigation pump. It had an aluminium casing and mounting flanges. Kept breaking from its mountings and it was not uncommon for me to find it 5-10metres away from where it was supposed to be. Finally ran the electricity up there and put in a 5hp WEG mototr from Brasil.

Originally Posted by weisyboy

cant find any pics.

the mobilcos were a set of wheels with a wotor on them a long arm out teh front with a huge blade on the end.

blade was driven with a belt. the belt would twist when teh saw suaw swung over.

used for cutting railway sleepers mainly. and spit posts

That's the one!! Still have visions of an old fellow I knew sitting on the ground after losing control of one of these. Luckily he was near the motor but th saw blade was doing crazy hings above his head!

They are now banned if it is what I am thinking of, and rightfully so. there were MANY deaths and dismemberments caused by them. last one I saw working was about 1993 but I think a few kept running for a few years after that. I admire the BALLS those old sleeper cutters had mounting a blade upto 3 ft and larger on the ends of a couple of bits of gal water pipe and strapping the biggest motor they could find to the other end and hoping nothing let go.

I had a hargon saw with a BSA motor. They aren't that bad as you stand behind them. If the log pinches on the saw it would just jump up out of the cut. You push down on the handles and it is ok.
The saw just spins in the air above the log. Don't let go or you have to chase it up the paddock.
My mate still uses a "swing saw". This is not a hargon saw. You work it from the front and the VW motor at the back is the counter balance. If the log pinches on it you fall over backwards and the saw undoes your shirt buttons for you.
He uses his every day to break down and also to cut transoms. I'll take a pic and post soon.

cheers
Steve

Ah yeah I know the ones. We had 2 of em down at a mates place at Narraden near Lake Cargellgo in NSW when I was 16-17 the old man put tables on em to cut fire wood they were made by Howard they also made rotary hoes

hi guys, carl ours was not a swing saw it was fixed but i know what you mean, ours had a bloody big blade and in my time i think we just refered to them as hargons this may be the common name i think back then even for the swing saw, ah the memories all in the past now, cheers peter (grandad)

mobilco log saw - eBay, Equipment, Machinery, Woodworking, Industrial. (end time 06-Feb-10 14:19:57 AEDST)
is that the machine your talking about its similer to the one s we had

Originally Posted by itsposs

mobilco log saw - eBay, Equipment, Machinery, Woodworking, Industrial. (end time 06-Feb-10 14:19:57 AEDST)
is that the machine your talking about its similer to the one s we had

thats them sends shivers down my spine just looking at the pics.