A dragsaw or drag saw is a large

reciprocating saw A reciprocating saw is a type of machine-powered saw in which the cutting action is achieved through a push-and-pull ("reciprocating") motion of the blade. The original trade name Sawzall is often used in the United States, where Milwaukee Electr ...

using a long steel crosscut saw to buck logs to length. Prior to the popularization of the

chainsaw A chainsaw (or chain saw) is a portable gasoline-, electric-, or battery-powered saw that cuts with a set of teeth attached to a rotating chain driven along a guide bar. It is used in activities such as tree felling, limbing, bucking, pru ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, the dragsaw was a popular means of taking the hard work out of cutting wood. They would only work for a log on the ground. Dragsaws are known as the first mechanical saws to be used in the

timber industry Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, w ...

operation. These tools were most useful in the logging business, because they were efficient and very resilient. Not to be confused with a

steam donkey A steam donkey or donkey engine is a steam-powered winch once widely used in logging, mining, maritime, and other industrial applications. Steam powered donkeys were commonly found on large metal-hulled multi-masted cargo vessels in the later ...

History

The use of stone-cutting dragsaws may have started in the Fourth Dynasty, Egypt, about 4,500 years before its commonly accepted date of invention. Early dragsaws of the modern era were human-powered, steam and later gasoline-powered. The post-modern steam-powered dragsaw was most commonly used in logging industry rather than merely clearing land due to its versatility. Many of the basic design principles from early dragsaws still apply to current products in the industry today.

Types

Human-powered

The human-powered dragsaw was a much more commonly used dragsaw among the general population due to their relatively low cost compared with their higher efficiency. Dragsaws powered by humans would often stem from a lever the person would use to manipulate the saw blade in a much easier manner. Other common formats included foot pedals or

treadle A treadle (from oe, tredan, "to tread") is a mechanism operated with a pedal for converting reciprocating motion into rotating motion. Along with cranks, treadmills, and treadwheels, treadles allow human and animal machine power in the absen ...

s. These allowed for greater maneuverability when clearing a tree.

Engine-powered

Gasoline or

kerosene Kerosene, paraffin, or lamp oil is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid which is derived from petroleum. It is widely used as a fuel in aviation as well as households. Its name derives from el, κηρός (''keros'') meaning "wax", and was regi ...

powered drag saws were popular between the 1910s-1940s when chain saws became preferable. They usually did 90 strokes of the saw per minute. Most of all gasoline-engine-powered dragsaws were made in Portland, Oregon, United States. Steam-powered dragsaws utilized a piston hooked directly to the saw blade. The boiler was separate for easier portability. "They were very reliable and very rugged and were significantly more efficient than cutting (bucking) by hand." Some engine-powered dragsaws used a separate engine and were geared to a pulley. Manufacturers: * Ottawa Among the first engine-powered drag saw companies. Saws used a four-cycle hit 'n miss engine usually equipped with an angled water-hopper. Direct gear drive. * Wolf Iron Works Small machine shop that made saws under their own Timber Wolf name as well as Ward Sawer for

Montgomery Wards Montgomery Ward is the name of two successive U.S. retail corporations. The original Montgomery Ward & Co. was a world-pioneering mail-order business and later also a leading department store chain that operated between 1872 and 2001. The curren ...

. Saws were two-cycle, chain driven and had a round gas tank that contained the radiator. The factory today resides at

Powerland Heritage Park Powerland Heritage Park, formerly known as Antique Powerland, is a collection of museums and a self-described heritage site for power equipment, such as farm machinery, commercial trucks, trains, construction equipment, and the engines which power ...

. * Vaughn Vaughn made steam-powered drag saws. They also made drag saws of similar design to Timber Wolf between 1909-1948. After drag saws lost popularity, Vaughn made tracked tractors. * Multnomah Named for the county

Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...

is in. * Wee McGregor * R.M. Wade.

Preservation

Engine enthusiasts and vintage logging machinery collectors have restored many examples of engine powered dragsaws. Restored saws can be seen at some steam fairs.

References

External links

''Gas Engine Magazine'' article on operating an antique dragsaw

{{Forestry tools Forestry tools Saws