How to split flakes of hay

[NaturallyHappy]

This is a great idea! I know someone who did try a chain saw; it was an epic fail and I don’t think oil was the problem. Whoever comes up w an invention to slice these bales will be set for life😀.

[Displaced_Yankee]

How about a saws-all? I’m thinking the blades are at least a little different than a hedge trimmer?

[eightpondfarm]

there are roundbale electric saws
and there is this: i actually have one. it came-with our farm https://www.ebay.com/itm/234225410923?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1Y6EhI0gYR2qJZSLyb7uaDg71&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=234225410923&targetid=1262843334929&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9016421&poi=&campaignid=15275224983&mkgroupid=131097072938&rlsatarget=pla-1262843334929&abcId=9300697&merchantid=8576924&gclid=Cj0KCQiAk4aOBhCTARIsAFWFP9E_K-g4lxdo7nFoaJyxqamoAjMiG8SX1KBTLYbAex3yxt11QKI8-rMaAv9hEALw_wcB

[clanter]

@NaturallyHappy

I don’t think oil was the problem

there are Food Grade oils available… we did a project at a zoo’s animal enclosures where we had to have eatable oils in all the equipment (in case a hydraulic hose failed was the primary concern). My manufacturer of the automated equipment thought I was nuts until I provided them with the oil to put into the equipment. One of my clients was a major petroleum company who I knew had also had lines of food grade oils as I had seen the product in their warehouses.

[Unfforgettable]

@frugalannie, I will have to try a pruning blade in my reciprocating saw. I tried it with a 10 inch all purpose heavy duty blade and got nowhere.

[frugalannie]

I’m so chuffed! Got the 10” blade today. Won’t need to use it for a couple of days. Yep: using it will be my Christmas present!

[OTTBs]

I’ve seen that suggested on here as a way to chop hay.

@frugalannie

But then, an idea. I tried an electric reciprocating saw with a pruning blade. That worked pretty well! I only had a 6 inch blade but I’m going to get a 10 inch which I think will work even better. It’ll require a run from each side of the bale, but that’s actually better because then the half bale holds together.

Quoting here in case I want to find this again!

[Unfforgettable]

I found a hay/ice saw and it works great! They are sort of antiques, but it makes short work of sawing flakes in half.

[frugalannie]

Ooh. Post a pic please!

[Unfforgettable]

It works great. Takes about five strokes to split a flake in half, on a downward angle.

[frugalannie]

What a very cool and beautiful piece of equipment. I’ve never seen anything like it but will have to scour local barn sales and “antique “ shops for one.

[Unfforgettable]

Check eBay and Etsy too. Sometimes called an ice saw as well.

[frugalannie]

Good ideas!

[eightpondfarm]

i posted a link to one of those hay saws on ebay scroll up (Post22)