Old Fart Deck Post Cutting Tool

17 years ago

I tried and tried and tried and finally gave up! I am not experienced like some of you professionals - just a backyard hacker that is tired of having to hack too many times :-)

I tried a Sawzall and a chainsaw and no matter what I did I could not get a good straight cut and the chainsaw leaked gas!

So I cogatated for awhile - took one of the small unsuccessful pieces over to my buddies machine shop and asked if 'we' could make me a surround. Not exactly what I described, but more simple. Steel as I was afraid aluminium would be too soft and a blade would hack it to hell and back!

Only thing I have to do is make sure the blade is resting on the metal BEFORE I power the sawzall up. Go through blades pretty quickly, but the cuts are pure and square. A little sanding and wal-laaa.

There is a reason for them needing to be square and that will be coming in a future post, as I am going to complete this damn deck before the end of April as long as Mother Nature cooperates. Period!

Here is a link that might be useful: Deck Post Cutting Tool

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Comments (6)

john_hyatt
17 years ago
Thats not the sillest thing I have ever seen but its in the top ten. J.
aidan_m
17 years ago
Try the right tool: a skil saw. Mark the post all the way around with a speed square, put a decent blade on the skil saw and set the fence square. Cut from both sides. It may produce better results to hold the saw left-handed for the second part of the cut, so the big side of the fence faces down and rides on the stable part of the post.

If you can't get the technique with the skil saw, I recommend using a japanese "pullsaw" handsaw with that post cutting jig. It will produce the most accurate cut, and it's surprisingly fast. It is much safer than a chain saw riding on a metal jig.

Here is a link that might be useful: nice hand saw
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big_deck
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks aidan_m,

I tried the "Thats not the sillest thing I have ever seen but its in the top ten. J." again yesterday and it worked pretty well, but the posts shook like Jello and the sawzall battery does not last forever!

Think I'll goes to Blowes and get a saw like you referred to. I just have been unable to get the lines to meet when I use a speed square and it is important that these cuts be clean and level - which is why I am going to the belt sander on each cut.

Again, thanks for the suggestion.

Supposed to nice here in North Central WV over the weekend so I would like to get this damn deck done so the wife will get off my back and bring out the rest of the Honey Doo list!
sierraeast
17 years ago
Sharp blade and squared up saw are the biggies when using the skil saw. I cut them a pinch bigger and belt sand down to the line. That O.F.D.P.C.T. is pretty darn innovative for sure, good on you for the idea! You got a great project going there but I hear you on the do's. About the time your finished and ready to sit down and enjoy a cold one on your new deck, here comes the boss!
john_hyatt
17 years ago
Man, those posts are kinda tall,big reason the recpo is not working the posts are moving as fast as the recpo.

As long as we have been working on that project I still come back to the same thing>> your not killing snakes Slow Down. Think it thru.

If you need that height post brace each one before you go cuting and dont use a recpo or a chainsaw get a wormdrive skill saw.Follow the Aidan advise mark the posts all around cut slowley.

J.
sierraeast
17 years ago
Your on track to cut a pinch big and belt sand down to where you want it. I can scribe, shave, cut radiuses, overhead, sideways, whatever with my worm drive, but no matter how dead on your saw is and clean sharp blade, wood isn't always dead on. For clean post topping, cutting big and sanding down has always worked on my projects, just takes a little more time.