Replies

1. 
   xMikeSmith | Jun 14, 2003 05:24am | #1

   depends on the diameter of the posts and how slight the taper is..

   my 10" Milwaukee will cut them in a single pass, you can clamp  guide on the post..

    you can tack a board to the post and freehand them with a sawzall..

   you can mark and cut them with a handsaw...

   you can cut them in multiple passes if the saw won't do it in one

   Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

2. 
   Piffin | Jun 14, 2003 05:34am | #2

   If they are larger columns with a taper, you can build a cutting trough. It would have a giude for a handsaw at the cut point. Make the trough level and then shim them in level and cut away

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

3. 
   FrankB89 | Jun 14, 2003 05:34am | #3

   One method of getting a true cut on logs is to wrap the log with something like a piece of metal flashing, or a length of tarpaper and make a pencil mark along the edge. 

   With a line, then, that has accomodated the taper, you can cut it with whatever tool you choose.

    

4. 
   junkhound | Jun 14, 2003 05:54am | #4

   eyeball and chainsaw - just make sure you have a correctly sharpened chain,

5. 
   Boxduh | Jun 14, 2003 05:55am | #5

   I could go into detail about how my timber framer friend does it with large peeled logs.  It is a nifty technique involving a smart level, chalkline, a pretty simple plywood box jig with large clamping screws, and a chainsaw with a jig follower arrangement screwed to the blade.  Does a perfect job.  Maybe it is more technique than you need.

   But . . . try something simpler, if you can.  Saw your post end as square as you can, a little over length.  Stand it on its cut end and brace it up plumb, or get someone to hold it plumb, and then scribe around your bottom some small distance up from your smooth floor to get a finish cut line, just barely clearing your first attempt.  Whack it with a chain saw just a little outside of the line, and finish with a belt sander and 40 grit, to get to the line.

6. 
   wrick2003 | Jun 14, 2003 07:57am | #6

   my .02;   make a four-sided plywood cutting guage that fits snugly around the post. basically rip scraps joined with screws and fitted pretty tight. you can throw it away when you are done.  

   clamp or screw the form to the post and set it back the distance from the edge of your circular saw baseplate to the blade, about 1 3/8" usually.

   run the circle saw around using the the form for a fence.

   this method has worked for me on numerous occasions for square posts, gang cutting boards to length when a chopsaw was not available, etc.  even when the posts are set in the ground and they need to be trimmed off up top.

   good luck     rg

7. 
   kostello | Jun 14, 2003 01:49pm | #7

   how about a giant tube cutter???

    HAHAHAHA

   aleks

8. 
   Framer | Jun 14, 2003 03:44pm | #8

   Ron,

   Years ago I had to cut a bunch of tapered columns and I set up a plywood jig probably similar to what Ricky said.

   I made a four sided plywood box. I then marked the column length to the top of the column and measured back towards the bottom the thickness of my saw table to the front of the blade and marked that.

   From that mark I measured the thickness of the column and marked it on the plywood jig and cut out a square slightly big so you have room to spin the column.

   That mark is where I nailed the plywood jig to the subfloor and down towards the bottom of the column.

   The bottom of the column has a couple pieces of 5/4 as a stop.

   Then I put the saw on top of the column up against the plwood jig and used that as a Fence and then cut the column and spinnong it until I was done.

   If you have alot of columns it's worth it. To make the jig and set it up takes a lot less time then what I explained.

   You can cut the columns by yourself this way.

   Joe Carola

   
9. 
   Framer | Jun 14, 2003 03:47pm | #9

   Resize Drawing.

   Joe Carola

   
10. 
    Davo304 | Jun 15, 2003 09:14am | #10

    Ditto Junkhound's chainsaw use...but don't "eyeball it"...mark it and then cut. Quick, fast, and it works...gets easier with each successive cut.  Make sure your post is properly clamped before cutting so it won't wander. Rev up the the RPMs and cut the sucker!

    LOL.

    Davo

1. 
   RonW | Jun 15, 2003 06:47pm | #11

   Hi Guys -

   This is great - lots of good ideas. thanks!

   ronw