Building the Saw Donkey

I built a saw horse. But this thing looks better. So its a saw donkey. Don't ask questions.

In case its not clear, I like to build things from natural wood. It's a given, really. The wood I used was willow. Betcha you didn't see that coming.

It comprises of 2 Xs, and 2 support poles. 4 willow poles in all. You can make it as tall or long or short as you want. You know, 9 feet high, 6 feet wide, soft as a downy chick.

Why?

Because it could be useful, and its a lovely excuse to get outside and do something.

What?

The saw donkey, I already said.

When?

Somewhere in the twentieth century. I forget when

How?

With my cunning and fabulous skills, honestly, you should've caught on by now.

Where?

In my outside workshop (little paradox going on there), next to our trees.

Who?

The Boss.

To be continued...

You'll need six willow poles. Four will have to be the same size, those'll be your cross sections. The other two will determine the length of your saw donkey. You could add more support sections, if you plan on skinning hangliding cows on this thing, but I didn't, mostly because I'd need a machete to skin a hangliding cow.

You'll need a saw. And maybe a machine gun, 'cause the trolls won't give you it back. Show them who's boss and get dat saw. Sharktooth lost some teeth, so I've been using Sharktooth 2.0, who's a lot more polite.

You'll want a knife, and maybe some chisels. Depend on how sharp and nifty your knife is. Mine needs to be sharpened (I'm using my Swiss Army Knife; call him Guppy), but my chisels were pretty handy. Cause that's how I hold them. With my hand.

This I'dible was partly inspired with my own need, but also by Bricobart's Tree-nex project, which was pretty cool. If you haven't read that I'dible, I'd recommend it.

Anywho, let's get building.

You're gonna want a sharp knife for this.

Measure out the approximate angle you want the saw donkey to be at. Once done, I used the saw to cut into the wood, without going through it, then I whipped out Guppy and started cutting between those lines, making a little flat space. Do this on all four poles, so they fit together properly.

This'll make the saw donkey fit together way better, making it hold its shape under stress. Like a heavy log, for example.

You thought four notches was bad? Ppfft, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

Stack your Xs. Do this at the angle you want the finished product to look like. Other wise it won't work. Obviously.

Now mark the area you want the support poles to be at (second pic). Do it on both, while they're stacked, so that the lines you drew are even.

Listen to the Music.

And then notch them poles. You've got to love those notches. You'll know each other so well when you're done. Unfortunately.

Now for dem supports. That's what those last notches were for, if I didn't already say.

There's One up around the Bend.

Pictures are worth a lot of words. Forget the exact number. Notch the things, listen to some 80's songs. Or sea shanties. Depends on you, really.

You'll likely want something to lean the Xs against, cause they ain't standing on their own. Put the support beams in their notches, hammer the Xs together, and add two plus two.

And get 5, evidently. You'll have to flatten those notches again, 'cause you didn't do it right the first time. Make sure the whole thing's super sturdy, 'cause you do not want it to come apart. That's why its emboldened, btw.

I used nails, and that made it wobbly, so I'd recommend screws. Less bushcrafty, but sturdier. Add a couple more supports for that cow, if you like. Or not.

I squirted some wood glue into them notches, just in case. That's my middle name, btw. Brokk Just-in-Case Hrafnsson.

So...yeah. Here we are, the saw donkey, assembled and complete and lookin' good. It holds together pretty well; the flatter the notches, the better it'll fit together.

Big thanks to those 12 subscribers, you guys are awesome.

I'll be back with some death-dealing I'dibles soon, and thanks for reading!!