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11/04/08, 11:10 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Western NY
Posts: 43
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Has anyone ever tried cutting Round Bales with a ChainSaw?
Has anyone here ever tried cutting Round Bales of hay with a chainsaw? If you have does it work? I have the oppertunity to buy some 1200 pound bales but they are to big at that size. It was suggested we try cutting them in half with a chainsaw. Would this even work? Thanks for any input you can give!
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11/04/08, 11:34 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ozark foothills, Mo
Posts: 1,051
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works
but not real good also tried choppin with an ax, neither way is as easy as small squares..:-(
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11/04/08, 11:43 AM
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Retired farmer-rancher
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: north-central Kansas
Posts: 2,897
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I've done it. Hard on saws. I didn't cut the bale in half, I cut wedges ,like cutting a pie, that could be peeled out and pitched to the sheep. Besides being hard on the saw chain and blade, you must be carefull a spark or hot muffler doesn't catch some hay on fire. 
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* I'm supposed to respect my elders, but its getting harder and harder for me to find one. .*-
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11/04/08, 03:36 PM
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In Remembrance
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: South Central Kansas
Posts: 11,076
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While I don't have any experience I think it would depend upon a bale of what? Sorghum, corn stover, straw, alfalfa, prairie hay, ????
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11/04/08, 06:29 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 964
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How about a silo bag? :-) I have to sample a silo bag, and need a clean face. It gummed up the saw, but did work.
Back to the thread... get an electric chain saw. They are cheap enough that you can use it until it dies. You don't need to worry about much, just keep the chain sharp. I've even run them dry (no oil) for some sampling. (frozen rummen fluid...)
Unless the bales are a great deal, it just might be better to go with small rectangular bales. If they aren't available, then go with the round/chainsaw route. As others have said, clean the chainsaw well after each use.
One problem I had with the silo bags was toasting the end of the bar on my Husky saw. The rotating teeth/bearing on the tip of the saw was hotter than I would like. I cleaned it up, oiled/greased it, and its fine now. For heavyier use, I would keep an eye on it. But if you get a less expensive (cheap electric, used :-) ) saw, its not as much of a concern.
Another option is to roll out the bale. Some have had good luck with this method, some have failed miserably.
Michael
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11/04/08, 06:44 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 401
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I have been in the situation where all I had were large round bales and I needed to feed a few calves inside a barn and I got by. I set the bale on a flat end and just unwound it as I needed and carried it in with a pitchfork. Not Ideal by any stretch of the imagination but for a short period of time (6weeks) it worked. Good luck. JLP
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11/04/08, 07:29 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: WI
Posts: 1,245
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Look around for a hay saw. It is about 30" long, and has 5 teeth that are as dull as a spoon. I can cut a round bale in half in under 2 mins.
Note, it will not stings.
Based on why you want to cut it, I would suggest you tip over onto the flat side and just unwind what you need and wheel off.
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11/05/08, 07:54 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Delaware
Posts: 2,249
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Picture of Hay Saws
Quote:
Originally Posted by travlnusa
Look around for a hay saw. It is about 30" long, and has 5 teeth that are as dull as a spoon. I can cut a round bale in half in under 2 mins.
Note, it will not stings.
Based on why you want to cut it, I would suggest you tip over onto the flat side and just unwind what you need and wheel off.
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I don't know if they make them new or not?
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DG
http://medford.craigslist.org/clt/891036095.html
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11/05/08, 12:12 PM
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Disgruntled citizen
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Northeast Michigan zone 4b
Posts: 4,458
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I unroll mine with a pitchfork as I need the hay. Easy and not that big of a deal.
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11/05/08, 02:01 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MS
Posts: 24,572
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That's what we do too Kazahleenah.
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11/05/08, 10:28 PM
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Thats MR. Redneck to you
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 804
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i did it last year during the ice storm,,awful, it was too much like work! I have a Husky 55 rancher 18" blade
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We are never defeated unless we give up on God.
Ronald Reagan
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11/06/08, 06:54 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: WI
Posts: 1,245
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blufford
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Yes, that is exactly what I have, and you will be shocked as to how well they work. When you look at them, you will see the teeth are VERY VERY dull, as in rounded off. Dont worry about that at all, it will work fine.
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