Charlie Croker | 1952 Ferguson cordwood saw

FERGUSON

CORDWOOD SAW

RESTORATION

MATERIAL: STEEL, OAK AND LEATHER

FINISH: WET SPRAY 2K EPOXY

SIZE: PRETTY HEFTY

CLIENT: LOCAL COLLECTOR

This Ferguson Cordwood saw dating from 1949 was found in a hedge in North Kent where it had sat since the early 80's after being put aside by the owner's Father. Despite being in a sorry state it was almost complete together with the PTO belt drive and original canvas and leather belt. Well worth saving.

The wooden bed was rotted out, the back panel toast and the bottom 6 inches of the frame legs were very thin from being buried in mud for 40 odd years but it had survived suprisingly well. Nothing seized and smooth running bearings once regreased.

It was fully stipped down, media blasted and the rotten sections repaired or replaced with fresh steel.

One modification was required as the owner wanted to have a permanently mounted PTO overrun coupler for safety.

The cordwood saw is a clever bit of design in that when mounted on the three point hitch it automaticaly folds up, collapses the sprung tilt bed and disengages the belt from the belt drive. This all works due to the angles being correct between the belt drive and the lift arms.

With the extra coupler installed this no longer worked so I cut the frame, added 4 inches, re-designed the mountings & linkage and shortened the belt by 5 inches. It now lifts and drops exactly as intended.

The frame and belt drive were sprayed in 2K, the bed was remade in seasoned oak taken from our own woods.

The original blade was re-sharpened and we even managed to save the original brass makers plate. A nice feature as these are normally long gone. It runs as smooth as silk now and as you can see cuts logs just as it did 75 years ago.