In today’s article we will share with you the idea of the author of the YouTube channel Workshop From Scratch, who made a powerful “grinder” from a chainsaw with his own hands.
In principle, you can also use a power saw as the basis for a homemade project.
However, a unit with a gasoline engine will still be more powerful. And there is no connection to an electrical outlet, which in some cases is of great importance.
The maximum disc diameter that can be used is 305 mm. You can install a disc for concrete and stone, as well as a large cutting disc for cutting metal workpieces.
You may also be interested in reading the review article: how to make a simple tool with your own hands that will be useful when carrying out plastering work.
Why do they resort to a homemade option?
Such homemade devices are made primarily to save money. Currently, the garden tool market is overflowing with various offers, but the price of such products can sometimes be very high and not everyone can afford such a purchase.
Another reason why craftsmen resort to this kind of alterations is the desire to have a multifunctional device at home that can help in various works. In addition, this option significantly saves space in the garage or shed. After all, to accommodate several tools you will need to allocate additional space.
Disadvantages of a homemade grinder:
- During operation, solid particles can enter the air filter, and this negatively affects the operation of the saw and leads to overheating. The chainsaw filter is adapted to sawdust and wood dust, and metal particles act more aggressively and therefore cause more inconvenience.
- It is possible that you may get injured while working with a homemade grinder.
Safety precautions
While working on the cutting machine (as well as during its operation in the future), safety precautions should be strictly observed. Be sure to use a protective mask or goggles, and position the angle grinder in such a way that the sheaf of sparks is directed “away from you.” The high fire hazard of the equipment requires work to be carried out in a ventilated area and away from fuels and lubricants. During welding activities, you should also use a protective mask, thick leather gloves, closed shoes and protective overalls.
When using a welding machine, ensure good grounding and avoid operating equipment with exposed cable sections. Remember that welding outdoors in rainy weather is prohibited. As for the operation of the cutting machine, when arranging a button to turn it on, protect yourself by installing a simple decoupling with a 12-volt power relay. To do this, you can make a pedal with any non-latching switch (for example, a doorbell button) and use any solid-state relay designed for switching currents of at least 10A. A battery or accumulator with a voltage of 5 to 24 V is used as a power source.
Important Important advantages of using a mini-chainsaw in farming and tourism
A cutting machine made from an angle grinder is a convenient tool that can be easily made if you have the skills to work with electric welding and metalworking tools. A pendulum circular saw made in just one day will save time in the future and allow you to perform metalwork and welding work accurately and accurately.
Factory chain saw attachments for an angle grinder
For those who do not like to work a lot with their hands or due to poor knowledge of the structure of equipment and tools, some manufacturers of gardening and repair equipment produce special ready-made attachments. In the kit you will also find all the necessary fastenings. This is a very convenient option, but you should carefully select attachments so that they can work harmoniously with the power unit against the background of technical indicators and characteristics.
You can buy such kits at a regular construction supply store or supermarket, branded saw equipment stores, or even at markets. In addition, you can find chain saw attachments for grinders on Aliexpress, Amazon and eBay.
Correct installation of the grinder attachment on a chainsaw
The range of these auxiliary devices is quite wide and is available for most modern chainsaws.
It consists of a drive drum (pulley), which is connected to the motor through a belt drive and rotates directly from it, a safety shield and fasteners.
The process of converting a saw into an angle grinder with a ready-made auxiliary device looks like this:
- study the instructions for its correct installation;
- remove the chainsaw guide and release the clutch;
- assemble the pulley onto the drive shaft of the saw sprocket;
- connect the belt drive to the saw blade, which will help change the torque of the new device (otherwise you need a gearbox);
- take the pins that came with the grinder attachment, or use the fasteners that were removed along with the saw bar, and secure the adapter with them.
As you can see, a series of simple steps - and the grinder attachment on the chainsaw quickly adapts to a motorized tool, which almost everyone has.
Which chainsaw is suitable for the conversion?
Before you start choosing a chainsaw, you need to understand what advantages this tool has and why it is chosen as a basic one.
- The presence of an engine of excellent performance and power.
- Compact motor.
- The motor does not need to be modified; it is completely suitable for use.
- The unit can be used in any conditions, even in more difficult conditions.
- The design feature allows the saw to be used in various positions.
- The clutch is located in a special way, protecting the main components of the tool from damage.
- A convenient output shaft makes it possible to attach additional devices.
What else should you pay attention to?
Despite the fact that DIY equipment is increasingly becoming an integral part of our everyday life, leading manufacturers of both grinders and saws still strongly advise against such modernizations completely.
And the point here is not at all a matter of 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 the same parameter for an angle grinder. What could this threaten? Firstly, the grinding disc may not withstand such a load and fall apart right in the middle of work. Accordingly, the tool itself will lose its functionality and may fail.
But this is not the worst thing that awaits lovers of homemade products. The worst case scenario is associated not only with damage to health, but also with a threat to the lives of both the operator himself and those nearby.
Therefore, before deciding on such an improvement, it is worth weighing all the pros and cons, and only then making rational conclusions and actions.
Homemade grinder attachment for chainsaw
To make a homemade device, you need appropriate pulleys, a bearing assembly with a shaft, a tire, and a belt.
According to reviews from the owners, it is quite difficult to create such a device with your own hands; you should prepare drawings and diagrams and make the appropriate calculations. If you opt out of the tire option, you can use an adapter to mount the cutting wheel directly on 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 sanding disc is designed to operate at 7,000 rpm. With such intensive use, disk destruction is inevitable, as mentioned 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 use the grinder attachment in non-electrified places. If you choose between a homemade device 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 an angle grinder, you need to responsibly weigh the pros and cons, realistically evaluate your technical training and the real need to implement such a project.
How to do it yourself
If it is not possible to purchase a factory attachment, then you can make a cutter from a saw yourself. To make a grinder from a chainsaw with your own hands, you will need the following tools and materials:
- working module (grinders);
- professional saw with high power;
- factory tires - 3 pcs. (40-50 cm);
- drum - 2 pcs.;
- belt.
Instructions for self-assembly of the device:
- The belt is laid along the tire.
- A pulley is attached to the drive sprocket after installing it on the saw.
- The gear wheel located on the grinder assembly is ground and removed.
- The pulley is assembled following the diagram and secured to the base by welding.
- In order for the belt to work smoothly, 2 guides are shortened. Sharpening 1 tire is carried out for mounting the grinder unit and welds them to the base.
- Then the grinding wheels are installed.
Making a grinder from a chainsaw is not difficult if you use the drawings and follow the manufacturing instructions.
Factory Attachments and Parts Kits
An extensive market for spare parts and necessary parts allows the owner of a chain saw to buy a ready-made attachment not only for an angle grinder, but also for other tools, which makes the chainsaw an incredibly multifunctional equipment. Such attachments are easy and simple to install, and if you have any questions, you can refer to the instructions for use.
An important point is that very often manufacturers of such attachments do not indicate which chainsaws they are suitable for. For this reason, the buyer has a high probability of purchasing a tool that is not suitable for him.
Video reviews
Below is a video review demonstrating the chainsaw attachment
Alexander Mikhailovich:
Getting two tools in one is a great idea. A friend who is well versed in repairing such equipment helped me implement it. We used all the necessary parts from the angle grinder and got a multifunctional device. It works great, but I realized that it is better to install a small 115 mm disk, the work will be more efficient.
Advantages: not expensive, multifunctional device.
Disadvantages: Must be used with caution as this is a homemade device
Instructions for installing this adapter
- Read the instructions for the grinder attachment in detail;
- We empty the oil tank in the saw itself;
- Remove the tire and clutch drum;
- The drive sprocket, namely its drive shaft, is equipped with a pulley;
- Using the kinematic principle of the belt mechanism, it must be aggregated with the immediate axial center of the sawing disk. This in turn will change the speed of the main shaft;
- Fastening the nozzle using pin elements. If they were not included in the kit, you can take regular pins that were used to secure the chainsaw bar. Wherein. Often the holes in the nozzle, their diameter and location can be selected individually, depending on the specific modification of the chainsaw. This will also vary the size range of the cutting disc that can be installed.
Thus, when purchasing, it is very important to pay attention to the serviceability and reliability of the groove for fastening. After all, it will depend on him whether it will be possible to integrate an additional device with the main one - a gasoline hacksaw - or not.
Ready-made nozzles
Grinder-type attachments and other models are sold in petrol equipment stores. The device is capable of not only cutting brick, concrete, stone and metal materials, but also cleaning seams after welding. The nozzle fits:
- cutting discs (diamond and reinforced);
- grinding wheel;
- circular saw (for longitudinal cutting).
Instructions for installing and operating the nozzle are included with the kit. The grinder can be mounted not on all chainsaws, but only on mass-produced models.
The list of models to which the device can be connected is indicated in the documents of the attachment. If such a model is not there, then the angle grinder fixture is checked for compatibility with the saw. To do this, remove the coupling from the saw and compare 2 diameters: the hole for fitting on the grinder pulley and the crankshaft of the saw. If they are the same, then the instrument can be connected. If they are different, then no. Types of grinder attachments for pulleys and their differences:
- A pulley with a closed cup, type Shtil 180. Instead of a coupling, the device has a closed cup for installation in a seat. The pulley cannot be disassembled. The crankshaft with the needle bearing and the pulley mounting hole have the same diameter. Suitable for Shtil MS chainsaw models (180, 170 and 250).
- No cup. To install the pulley, removal of the coupling is not required. It is mounted on the drive wheel (drive sprocket) of the saw in several ways. Which option to choose depends on the width of the sprocket teeth. The product is easy to install, is cheap and is used for Taiga, Partner, Husqvarna saws.
- With sprocket replacement. There are a number of special pulleys that are made specifically for professional saws. These are clutches with removable drive sprockets.
What do you need to get started?
To convert a chainsaw into an angle grinder at home, you will first need to buy a factory kit, the correct installation of which is extremely important.
The ready-made delivery kit for such a device usually contains:
- drive pulley, or as it is often called, drum;
- casing for protection;
- belt equipment;
- there may be a key or studs, although often the same ones are used as on the gas saw itself.
In this case, the kit should include detailed instructions with a detailed description of each part.
Useful tips for beginners
When making a nozzle at home, you need to use only reliable materials.
Not only the serviceability and efficiency of the homemade device, but also the safety of the operator depends on this. When further working with the equipment, it is best to install grinding wheels with a diameter of 11.5 cm. These discs can withstand high rotation speeds, which cannot be said about elements with a diameter of 2.3 cm.
During frequent use of the device, the operator should regularly change the chainsaw engine oil. This will protect the rubbing parts of the tool from premature wear and extend the service life of consumable parts.
DIY installation on the saw
Not everyone knows how to install a grinder attachment on a chainsaw, so we will tell you more about this.
Installation work should begin, oddly enough, with cleaning the chainsaw. It is necessary to remove the side cover, bar, chain and blow out the chainsaw with compressed air; small particles of wood are compressed and accumulated under the side cover, which can get into the bearing when disassembling the clutch.
Next, you need to unscrew the spark plug and limit the piston stroke using a piece of thin and dense rope with knots tied to it. To do this, you need to insert the rope into the cylinder through the spark plug hole. These manipulations are necessary in order to block the stroke of the piston and, accordingly, the crankshaft as safely as possible and unscrew the clutch.
Important! In Shtil chainsaws, the installation and fastening scheme of the clutch cup does not require unscrewing, so the above steps are not relevant for them.
Next, the clutch cup is removed from the crankshaft and, depending on the type of pulley attachment, it is either changed or a pulley is installed on it instead of the drive sprocket. Assembly is carried out in reverse order.
Now let's move on to installing the attachment itself - the grinder. It is mounted in place of the standard tire, nothing complicated, you just need to install the attachment on the two mounting screws, close the side cover and tighten it with the screws.
When installing, it is necessary that the rod of the adjusting screw coincides with the hole in the nozzle that is intended for it. If it does not match, it will be impossible to tighten the belt.
At the final stage, the belt is tensioned. We described above how to check the tension.
Homemade miter saw
An angle grinder of any model and size can be modified into a miter saw. A miter (pendulum) circular saw is an electric tool (rarely battery-powered), used only in a stationary form for cutting workpieces from various materials at an acute and right angle. The difference between this saw and others lies in the high accuracy of cutting at a given angle and maintaining the integrity of the cut edge.
You can make an installed structure with your own hands, which will allow you to use the grinder as a miter saw. To assemble the simplest modification you will need to prepare:
- wooden blanks - a sheet of fiberboard corresponding to the size of the future working surface, various bars (can be made from the same fiberboard);
- wood screws;
- bolts and nuts;
- a regular piano-type door hinge.
Tools needed to make a miter saw:
- jigsaw or hacksaw;
- drill or screwdriver;
- two drills – 3 mm and 6-8 mm;
- plastic tightened clamp.
Assembly process. The future pendulum frame of the miter saw should be located on a solid, level, not shaky surface. A workbench table or a separately assembled structure can be used. The height of the plane on which the product will stand must be sufficient for comfortable work. The cutting element of a miter saw is always located on the edge of a table or workbench. This fact is taken into account when assembling a homemade miter saw.
The size of the working plane of the machine is determined by the size, weight of the grinder and the purpose of its use. For the smallest size angle grinder, a 50x50 cm fiberboard sheet is suitable. It must be secured to the workbench so that one of its edges protrudes 15 cm above the floor. A rectangular cutout is made in the middle of the protruding part, designed to lower the cutting element of the grinder into it. The width of the neckline varies from 10 to 12 cm, length – 15 cm.
On one side there will be a machine operator, on the other, a piece of a piano hinge 5-6 cm wide will be fixed. The canopy, like all other wooden parts, is secured using self-tapping screws. To do this, a 3 mm hole is drilled in the workpiece - this is necessary so that the self-tapping screw does not destroy the wooden material. In the same hole, another one is drilled - 6 mm in diameter and 2-3 mm in depth - a countersunk hole for the screw head, which should not protrude above the working plane.
The angle grinder is attached to the last beam from below. To do this, a hole is drilled in it with a diameter equal to the diameter of the threaded hole in the angle grinder. A bolt of the appropriate diameter and length is threaded into it. Any discrepancies between the dimensions of the frame and the angle grinder are compensated for by additional washers, groovers, and gaskets. Its gearbox must be positioned in such a way that the direction of movement of the cutting disc is directed towards the machine operator.
The back of the angle grinder is attracted to the supporting beam with a plastic clamp. The start button must remain accessible for emergency shutdown of the power tool. A 5x5 cm wooden beam is screwed to the plane of the working area, intended for use as a stop for cutting a workpiece made of wood or metal. Its presence will ensure smooth cutting and no beating of the material. The design in question, upside down and with an angle grinder attached, can be used as a homemade sawmill. Depending on the intended purpose, it is possible to manufacture a portal frame for an angle grinder.
The model of the miter saw described above based on the grinder is shown in the following photo.
Pros and cons of the solution
Various types of hand-held electric and gasoline tools are suitable for making grinders. The simplest and most convenient option is a device assembled on the basis of a saw with a chain. Advantages of homemade devices:
- Great power. If we compare a homemade nozzle with factory models, then its power is 2 times greater.
- Independence. The tool does not require electricity, so it can be used anywhere.
- Easy assembly. All the necessary tools and materials can be purchased at the store or searched on your farm.
- Affordable price. If you compare it with a ready-made tool, then you will need 2 times less money to assemble an angle grinder.
Despite all its advantages, the tool has a number of disadvantages. The air filters of the grinder become clogged with metal dust. Because of this, the engine gradually stalls and fails. A person can also get injured from using an angle grinder. Sometimes during operation the disks cannot 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.
Rules for using a homemade grinder
When using a homemade tool, you need to follow a number of important rules.
Their list includes:
- When operating the device, 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 cutting disc of the grinder is quite fragile to break, so at any moment a part of it can break off and cause harm to the operator;
- before using the homemade product, it will need to be equipped with a protective casing;
- You cannot install a large cutting disc on an angle grinder made from a low-power chainsaw. This will increase the load on the engine of the garden tool and lead to an increase in the amount of fuel consumed.
The tension belt plays an important role in the overall operation of the homemade device. Not only the effectiveness of the tool, but also the safety of the operator depends on its tension. To adjust the tension level of the 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.
