Chainsaw Caddy (carrier)

[Scar0B2150]

There are a great bunch of threads and posts on this subject here, but I like to try my own thing.
This is my version of a home made chainsaw carrier.
It is made from PCV pipe I molded in the shape I wanted.
Mounted with all-thread I bent and covered with tubing to prevent vibrations.

The start of the project.
The setup.
4" PVC pipe, stove pipe as heat chamber, and the mold.

My first attempt did not go so good. On the mold I left 1 side long so I could make it wider if needed.
This caused a problem with the clamps not getting good pressure. I also burnt the end of the pipe, but still did not get it hot enough, which caused it to crack.

I cut the mold side down, and adjusted my heat times. Try 2~3 worked great.

I mounted one to the ROPS with the all-thread I bent.
Only time will tell how well this position will keep the saw inside it, and if the PCV will hold up.
If it does, I plan to add the other one on the opposite side.

 

[Gordon Gould]

A novel approach - nice to see that ! That is a very interesting process. What kind of temp do you need to achieve in the "oven" and how much work time do you have to get it into the compressed mold.

 

[sea2summit]

Very cool. Will be interested to see how it holds up.

 

[PILOON]

I once heat molded a small airplane windshield using the old cracked one as the mold.
I found a willing pizza shop that let me use his oven as the heat source.
Worked out so well that the authorities signed it off as 'airworthy'.*

All to suggest that a pizza oven might be the favored heat source for such projects.

* I was well prepared in that the whole process of molding was done in about 20 mins or so.

 

[ArlyA]

I used HDPE which is tougher than PVC as a sheath. It really got chewed up fast and I'll not do that again. Let us know how this works for you.

 

[Scar0B2150]

A novel approach - nice to see that ! That is a very interesting process. What kind of temp do you need to achieve in the "oven" and how much work time do you have to get it into the compressed mold.

I can't say how hot it actually was. With my Dewalt heatgun set to high heat and low airflow, I heated for 2 minutes, then I turned it over inside the pipe, heat for 2 min, turn, 1 min, turn, 1 min.
At this point the PVC was slouching inside the "oven". Any more and I was afraid it would collapse onto itself.
Working time is not long. Maybe 3 minutes. But once I had a system down that was not an issue.
Pull it out of the pipe, lay it down in the bottom, insert the inside spacer and press the spacer down into the groove. Clamp the ends of the insert.
Roll the sides out as evenly as I could, and placed the top board on it. Clamp it for about 8~10 minutes.
The ends were misshaped a little so I cut them off.
Another thing I noticed is it shortened in length. I lost approx 1"~1-1/2" of length before I trimmed off the ends.
18" to start, -1" shrinkage, -1/2" trim (1/4" [+/-] off each end).
It worked out OK because my saws are 16" and 12".

Two last things to note; I laid plywood on the floor help the "oven" retain more heat. The PVC is nasty bad to breath when heated so I opened the garage door!

 

[ArlyA]

I've heated to bend HDPE many, many times, but I've never done PVC. Now you got me wodnering hows PVC is different....

 

[Scar0B2150]

I once heat molded a small airplane windshield using the old cracked one as the mold.
I found a willing pizza shop that let me use his oven as the heat source.
Worked out so well that the authorities signed it off as 'airworthy'.*

All to suggest that a pizza oven might be the favored heat source for such projects.

* I was well prepared in that the whole process of molding was done in about 20 mins or so.

Not sure I would want to get the first Pizza the next day!

I used HDPE which is tougher than PVC as a sheath. It really got chewed up fast and I'll not do that again. Let us know how this works for you.

I'm glad I decided not to go that route then. I thought about it as possible option.
My big concern is the brittleness of the PCV. Especially when it is cold out.
I'll be sure to keep you all posted as things progress.

 

[Scar0B2150]

HDPE is not as hard, is it more resistant to chips. I use it for cutting boards because it is easy on the knife edge.
PVC is harder, but prone to scratches/chipping, and being harder it's more brittle.
EDIT:
There are also different PVC compounds. Some are softer then others.
IE; PVC conduit Vs PVC SDR 35 which is what I used.

 

[Smokeydog]

Like in blacksmithing, heat is your friend. Controlling the heat is the trick.

Having a hard time seeing all the pictures.

Like my poly lined steel scabbards.

 

[BackRoad]

I used my heat gun to customize the bend in a piece of 1inch plastic electrical conduit to attach to my subsoiler for burying a cable.

Worked well, but there was a point where it was firm...then in seconds it got very soft and almost too bendable...

You did well to get an entire length of PVC to a workable temperature!

Guessing the area around the holes for the U bolts may be the weakest point, with some of the most stress?

Do you think it might be worth adding some metal straps for reinforcement?

 

[Scar0B2150]

Like in blacksmithing, heat is your friend. Controlling the heat is the trick.

Having a hard time seeing all the pictures.

Like my poly lined steel scabbards.

Earlier the Pics were having a hard time displaying on the site. Not sure why, but seem OK now. Also, if you click on the Pics they get a bit larger.

I used my heat gun to customize the bend in a piece of 1inch plastic electrical conduit to attach to my subsoiler for burying a cable.

Worked well, but there was a point where it was firm...then in seconds it got very soft and almost too bendable...

You did well to get an entire length of PVC to a workable temperature!

Guessing the area around the holes for the U bolts may be the weakest point, with some of the most stress?

Do you think it might be worth adding some metal straps for reinforcement?

My thinking also. I still have a bunch of pipe left so when this one breaks, I will add strapping to the next one.

Bending PVC; Heat sand in an oven and fill the pipe, then bend it. It bends evenly that way with even heat.

 

[BackRoad]

Brilliant idea using heated sand!!

 

[Scar0B2150]

First test, success.
Today I ran the tractor cleaning up branches and I also did a little brush hog work.
The saw stayed exactly where I put it while I was going into, thru, and out of brush/ small trees, and as branches flexed around the ROPS then slapped the caddy. No signs of wear or stress on the caddy after 6 hours of work. By 2 hours in I kinda just forgot the saw was even there. But sure enough when I needed it, there she be sitting nicely in the caddy.
The saw also stayed put while I was brush hogging. I thought the the bouncing over the ground might cause the saw to come loose or slip out a little. Nope!

 

[Smokeydog]

A lot of satisfaction comes from imagining an idea, fabrication and a successful outcome. On our property you can’t go far without having to cut a tree. Good job.

 

[oosik]

This is mine. Kind of expensive but, fortunately, it has multiple uses.

 

[ArlyA]

I always wanted to try some PVC to build some project but usually went with HDPE which can't be glued*. Do have some ABS here which does like glue and to be heated. No PVC other than some angle shapes and of course water pipe.

* some glues claim to work...

 

[deezler]

This is mine. Kind of expensive but, fortunately, it has multiple uses. View attachment 692675

Lol right until you forget it's in there, and grab a log and smush your chainsaw on it. And then dump it out in the log pile. Lots of stories about people forgetting what is in the bucket until you go to use it. I put all my tools into a dirt pile once.

 

[ArlyA]

Lol right until you forget it's in there, and grab a log and mush your chainsaw on it. And then dump it out in the log pile. Lots of stories about people forgetting what is in the bucket until you go to use it. I put all my tools into a dirt pile once.

Everyone including me throws tools in the bucket, heads to to job sight and says "must remember that", then 15 minutes later grabs a bucket of gravel. For me, not do that again.

 

[AnotherBueller]

I made my saw holder out of a 2' piece of PVC foam core vent pipe (lower crush strength than PVC water pipe) I got at a big box store. I set the oven to 325 and put the pipe in. When the oven reached temp, I took it out laid it between two pieces of wood and leaned on it for about 3+ minutes until it didn't feel hot. FYI: If you reheat it the pipe goes back to kinda round.