Hand-made production of a grinder attachment for a chainsaw

Homemade attachment grinder for chainsaw

To make a homemade device, you need the appropriate pulleys, a bearing assembly with a shaft, a tire, a belt. According to the owners, it is quite difficult to create such a device with your own hands, you should prepare drawings and diagrams, make the appropriate calculations.

If you opt out of the tire option, you can use an adapter to mount the cut-off wheel directly to the clutch. At the same time, chainsaw manufacturers warn against using various adapters. This is because the saw is capable of delivering torque up to 14,000 rpm, and the grinding disc is designed to operate at 7,000 rpm. With such intensive use, the destruction of the disk is inevitable, as indicated above. The only way out is to significantly reduce the speed of the chainsaw by installing a gearbox.

This installation method, which is not entirely safe, is presented in the video review:

In fact, the main advantages of a chainsaw grinder are rational mobility, low cost and high power. It is very convenient to work with a grinder attachment in non-electrified places. If you choose between a homemade product and a factory device, then it is wiser to give preference to the latter option, which fully complies with safety requirements.

Before converting a chainsaw into a grinder, you need to responsibly weigh the pros and cons, realistically assess your technical training and the real need to implement such a project.

Features of the grinder attachment for the chainsaw

With the help of such a mechanism, it is possible to combine as many as two in one device - the gasoline power of the main unit - the saw itself, and many advantages of the angle grinder, better known as the grinder. Such a combination can become extremely beneficial if there is a need to perform cutting work with various materials and structures (not wood), and there is no power supply nearby to which an ordinary mains grinder could be connected.

A gas cutter made from a saw with an attachment can be used to cut the following materials:

• metal;
• natural stone;
• brick;
• concrete and reinforced concrete structures.

In addition, they are very often adapted for cleaning welded seams. With most of the nozzles available today, cutting wheels are used - reinforced or diamond, and circular saws.

It is interesting: Technical characteristics of popular models of alko chainsaws (al-ko)

Pros and cons of the solution

For the manufacture of a grinder, different types of hand-held electric and gasoline tools are suitable. The simplest and most convenient option is a device assembled on the basis of a saw with a chain. The advantages of homemade devices:

1. Great power. If we compare a homemade nozzle with factory models, then its power is 2 times more.
2. Independence. The tool does not need electricity, so it can be used anywhere.
3. Simple assembly. All the necessary tools and materials can be purchased in the store or searched on your farm.
4. Affordable price. If we compare it with a ready-made tool, then the assembly of the grinder will require 2 times less money.

Despite all its advantages, the tool has a number of disadvantages. Grinder air filters are clogged with metal dust. Because of this, the engine gradually stalls and fails. Also, a person can get injured from using a grinder. Sometimes during operation, the disks do not withstand the load and burst.Under the influence of traction, they fly apart. To protect yourself from injury, you need to choose discs up to 115 mm in diameter and use a protective cover.

Advantages and disadvantages

The angle grinder attachment can be made from a variety of handheld gasoline and electric tools. But the simplest and most convenient method is using a chain saw.

Advantages of the device:

• they are autonomous, that is, a gasoline device will not depend on electric power, like electric grinders, which, on the contrary, need electrical outlets and extension cords;
• the nozzle can have a very high power;
• it is easy to design and assemble, the main thing is to have the necessary drawings and tools that can be purchased inexpensively at a hardware store;
• the price of homemade equipment will be cheaper than the cost of the original.

The disadvantages of home-made baits include the following points:

• they are too sensitive to metal dust: the filters of chainsaws begin to clog up and fail, and the engine may deteriorate: at first it stalls, and then it will not be able to keep the speed and will wear out;
• sanding discs can constantly burst and fly apart, and this is very dangerous for the employee himself and the people around him.

To make the device more secure, you need to follow some rules:

• limit the number of revolutions of the gasoline saw engine;
• you need to use discs that are designed for increased rotation speed;
• it is necessary to carry out work only using a protected casing;
• the structure must have an inertial brake;
• you need to use models that have a kickback protection function.

The angle grinder has:

• a pulley that can wear out or break, so you need to monitor the device and, if necessary, change the pulleys on it;
• in order for the nozzle to serve, it must have an adaptive key, consisting of a metal plate, with a hole and 2 steel pins;
• a special V-belt can transmit torque from the engine to the cut-off wheel (belt is a consumable);
• for attachments such as LBM 1 and NK - 100, spare bearings are needed, because the bearings themselves are a consumable item.

Rules for the operation of a homemade grinder

When using a homemade tool, you must follow a number of important rules.

Their list includes:

• when using the attachment, the operator's hands and eyes must be protected. In addition, to work with the tool, you will need to wear a suit made of thick fabric. It must be remembered that the grinder's cutting disc is fragile enough to break, therefore, at any time, a part of it can break off and cause harm to the operator;
• before using homemade products, you will need to equip it with a protective casing;
• do not install a large cutting disc on a grinder made from a low power chainsaw. This will increase the load on the gardening tool engine and increase the amount of fuel consumed.

An important role for the overall operation of the homemade device is played by the tensioning belt. Its tension affects not only the efficiency of the tool, but also the safety of the operator. To adjust the tension level of an element, you need to grab its central part and try to rotate the belt around its axis. A correctly tensioned belt will turn no more than 900. If this value is greater or less when turning the belt, then it will need to be adjusted.

How to make a grinder from a chainsaw

The combination of a nozzle with a saw not only allows you to efficiently cut various materials, but also to perform work regardless of the presence of a power supply. After all, an ordinary angle grinder angle grinder or grinder, as the tool is simply called, is equipped with an electric motor, therefore it completely depends on the source of power supply.

Demand creates supply, and grinders' attachments for chainsaws of various modifications appeared on sale. And craftsmen mastered this niche of transformations much earlier. The most common tools Druzhba, Calm, Ural serve as alterations.

Finished nozzle - grinder

The creation of a grinder from a chainsaw is one of the first places in the popularity of such transformations. However, before installing it on a saw, you should understand the features of the transformations and possible failures. As a rule, a ready-made device can be bought without any problems at the appropriate store.

It should be borne in mind that the nozzle is not a universal device; choose it for a specific saw modification. Often, manufacturers do not indicate in the instructions which models the attachment is suitable for or provide an incomplete list. To ensure compatibility, compare the diameter of the saw crankshaft with the diameter of the nozzle pulley, after removing the clutch from the saw.

Additional Information

Compared to a conventional saw, the grinder:

• works faster;
• takes up less space;
• increases work productivity;
• much lighter;
• lasts longer (if the tool is used correctly).

To cut wood, you can use special cutting discs with a chain. However, it is very difficult to find the type of attachment suitable for a particular model. The saw blade, which combines the features of a disc and a special chain, is suitable for cutting boards no thicker than 4 cm

Extreme care must be taken when using it. It will not be possible to start the angle grinder at higher speeds than the disc allows

There is also a serious limitation on the size of the workpieces to be processed. To increase it, you have to use larger disks. However, their use is constrained by the size of the insulating casing. And if it does not allow you to put a 125 mm nozzle, problems will arise. Roughing discs connected to chains from chainsaws, on the other hand, allow you to remove bark and branches from the trunk.

This device will also help to prepare a log house no worse than a high-quality ax. But you should not use such a disc instead of a cut-off wheel. The cut line will be ragged and too much wood will go to waste. Another type of attachments - a disc with abrasive coarse grains - is no longer intended for primary processing, but for rough milling. This accessory is safer than a hand rasp.

For more information on the chain saw attachments for the grinder, see the video below.

Finished attachment - grinder for chainsaw

Today, a nozzle for a chainsaw, including the "grinder" type, can be bought without any problems at any petrol tool store. There are no problems with the installation either, since detailed instructions are supplied with it, having studied which you can install the grinder on the chainsaw with your own hands, except for those cases when the nozzle is chosen incorrectly.

Important: the nozzle - the grinder is not universal, it must be chosen for a specific model of the chainsaw. Attachment manufacturers do not indicate in the documents a complete list of chainsaw models for which it is intended, which makes it difficult to choose the right one

How to choose a grinder for a chainsaw

When choosing an accessory for your tool, first of all, you need to familiarize yourself with its technical documentation. If your model is not indicated in the list of chainsaws for which it is intended, this does not mean that the angle grinder attachment cannot be installed on it.

To check compatibility, it is necessary to compare the diameter of the crankshaft of the chainsaw with the diameter of the bore on the pulley from the attachment kit (you will need to remove the clutch from the chainsaw).

The drive pulley of the nozzle can have several types, we will talk in more detail about the types a little later. When choosing, it is necessary that the type of the driving sprocket of the chainsaw and the pulley of the attachment coincide, otherwise it is not possible to install the pulley instead of the clutch.

Types of nozzle pulleys - grinders

There is no official classification of chainsaw pulleys and clutches by type, but it would be more convenient if it was. We will try to explain the differences between the pulleys in an understandable language and show the photos.

Pulley type "Calm 180" - a closed cup for installation in a regular place, instead of a clutch, combined with a pulley. The pulley is non-separable, the bore diameter corresponds to the diameter of the crankshaft with the needle bearing installed on it. It is used in Stihl MC chainsaws 180, 170, 250.

A pulley without a cup, installed on the drive sprocket of a chainsaw, without removing the clutch. It can have several options, depending on the sprocket pitch. The advantage of this type is ease of installation (for Shtil MC 180 with a closed clutch cup, in those chainsaws where the clutch is open, you will need to remove it for installation) and low cost (can be sold separately as spare parts). Such a pulley is more versatile, it can be used in chainsaws of Husqvarna, Partner, Taiga and other Chinese analogues.

For clutches in which the possibility of replacing the drive sprocket is provided, most often these are installed on professional chainsaws, manufacturers make special pulleys. Unfortunately, we did not find a photo of a pulley with such a landing gear, but there is a photo of a clutch and a replaceable link, looking at which you can understand how it looks.

We have considered the most popular models of pulleys, but this is far from all that can be found on sale.

Now we invite you to watch a video in which the master shows and explains how to make a grinder from a chainsaw using a purchased attachment. By the way, this video uses a rare and expensive pulley, it could be replaced with a cupless pulley, which we talked about above.

Installation on a chainsaw with your own hands

How to install a nozzle - not everyone knows a grinder on a chainsaw, so we will tell you more about this.

The installation work should start, oddly enough, with cleaning the chainsaw. It is necessary to remove the side cover, tire, chain and blow the chainsaw with compressed air, under the side cover small particles of wood are compressed and accumulate, which, when disassembling the clutch, can get into the bearing.

Next, you need to unscrew the candle and limit the piston stroke with a piece of not thick and dense rope, with knots imposed on it. To do this, the rope must be inserted into the cylinder through the spark plug hole. These manipulations are needed in order to securely block the stroke of the piston and, accordingly, the crankshaft and unscrew the clutch.

Further, the clutch cup is removed from the crankshaft and, depending on the type of the nozzle pulley, either changes, or a pulley is installed on it instead of the drive sprocket. The assembly is carried out in the reverse order.

Now we turn to the installation of the nozzle itself - the grinder. It is mounted in place of the standard tire, nothing complicated, you just need to install the nozzle on two fastening screws, close the side cover and tighten with the screws.

At the final stage, the belt is tensioned. We described how to check the tension above.

What else do you need to pay attention to?

Despite the fact that do-it-yourself equipment is increasingly becoming an integral part of our life, the leading manufacturers of both grinders and saws still strongly advise to completely abandon such modernizations. And the point here is not at all in the competition between production technologies and handicraft production. This warning is based on the fact that modern chainsaws have a very huge torque, several times higher than that of a grinder. How can this threaten?

Firstly, the sanding disc may not withstand such a load and fall apart right in the middle of work. Accordingly, the tool itself will lose its performance and may fail.

But this is not the worst thing that awaits lovers of homemade products.The worst option is associated not only with damage to health, but also with a threat to the life of both the operator himself and those who are nearby.

Therefore, before deciding on such an improvement, it is worth weighing all the pros and cons, and only after that make rational conclusions and actions.

Video reviews

Below is a video review showing the chainsaw attachment

Alexander Mikhailovich:

Getting two tools in one is a great idea. A friend who is well versed in the repair of such equipment helped me to implement it. We used all the necessary parts from the grinder and got a multifunctional device. It works great, but I realized that it is better to put a small disc at 115 mm, it works more efficiently.

Pluses: not expensive, multifunctional device.

Disadvantages: Must be used with care as it is a homemade device

We saw everything around or a grinder on a chainsaw

The cutting disc is used of a large size, this is taken taking into account the maximum revolutions that the chainsaw can give.

List of materials:

- plywood; - screws for wood; - bolts with nuts; - thin sheet metal; - Sheet steel; - a piece of leather or tight rope; - square steel pipe; - cut-off wheel.

Tool list:

- rivet gun; - drill and drilling machine; - jigsaw; - lathe; - wrenches, pliers, clutch release wrench, spark plug wrench; - belt sander; - grinder; - semiautomatic welding or inverter; - wood glue; - pencil, ruler, tape measure, paper.

Homemade craft process:

Step one. Preparing the grinder

First of all, remove the tire from the grinder, then you will need to remove the clutch together with the sprocket. This task can be quite difficult, since often the clutch sticks tightly to the shaft and cannot be unscrewed without a service center. To try to unscrew the clutch, you will need a special wrench, it is similar to the one used to unscrew the nut on the grinder. Remove the top cover from the grinder and unscrew the spark plug.

Insert some rope or a piece of leather into the candle hole that you can pull out. This will allow you to block the piston and try to unscrew the clutch. If it works, great!

Step two. Thrust sleeve
Step three. Manufacturing the drive pulley

Step four. Cutting out the fastener
Step five. We make a driven pulley

Step six. How is the cutting disc attached?

Step seven. Bearing platform
Step eight. Protective cover

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How to convert a chainsaw into a grinder?

Before you make a grinder from a chainsaw, you need to prepare the components required for work.

To assemble homemade products, the manufacturer will need:

chainsaw engine - it is important that the internal combustion engine has a power reserve, which will be enough for sawing hard metal products. It is best to use a motor with a capacity of more than 4 liters

with.;
working mechanism - a node from any old household grinder will do. It must be completely serviceable, otherwise, it will not withstand the load from the engine;
4 guide rails, length from 40 to 50 cm;
belt;
2 drums.

The work algorithm is as follows:

1. First, the belt used must be installed parallel to the standard chainsaw tire;
2. After that, you will need to install a pulley on the saw. You can fix the element on the standard drive sprocket of the garden tool;
3. Then, from the working mechanism from the old grinder, you need to dismantle the gear built into it and carefully grind it;
4. After that, you will need to assemble the pulley. It is necessary to fasten it to the general structure of a home-made grinder by welding;
5. The 2 remaining guide rails from the manufacturer must be shortened. As a result, they should fit snugly into the seats and not interfere with the operation of the belt during its movement. It is best to sharpen one of the tires used for the installation of a working mechanism from an old grinder;
6. Further, all the remaining parts of the structure will need to be welded together. After that, the manufacturer will have to buy circles for cutting and start operating the grinder.

When using homemade products, you need to constantly monitor the condition of the air filter from the chainsaw. It must be kept clean, otherwise the homemade device will quickly fail.

Table circular saw

Sometimes there is a need to change the width of the board or the thickness of the bar. The best option for this kind of work is a circular saw, especially if there are a lot of boards. For cutting boards of small length (1-2 m), the table version of the circular is very useful. It is not necessary to buy such a machine, you can do it yourself from the same grinder.

The design of a circular saw is much more complicated than a miter saw. The contact time of the saw blade with wood is quite long, therefore, the reliability of fastening the grinder body to the bed should be higher.

This is how one of the options for a table circular may look like.

The photo shows that the desktop consists of two planes

• the upper table is designed to advance the workpiece;
• the lower one serves as a stop for the grinder.

The disc passes through a groove in the top surface. If the angle of contact of the two planes is provided with pivoting hinges, then it will be possible to adjust the working height of the saw blade to reduce the area of ​​rubbing surfaces.

On the upper surface of the table, the head of the bolt is clearly visible, with the help of which the grinder is fixed. Protruding bolt

limits the width of the processed board. You can cope with this problem by laying another layer of plywood.

The abutment angle should be as long as possible in order to prevent the board from deviating from the cutting direction. It is better to fix the corner so that you can change the working the distance between it and the disk: then the width of the section to be cut will also change.