blade for cutting round bales

[kenojoe]

I need to cut some round bales up for use in the barn. I remember somewhere that you can get a chain for your saw that is made for cutting up hay bales. Does anyone know where you can get one? Thanks

 

[jkwilson]

You might check Farmshow's website. I seem to recall an article about it a few years back.

http://www.farmshow.com

 

[mwj]

You might try setting them on end and unwrapping the amount that you need. I would be leary of using a gas powered chain saw in dry hay if it was done in or near buildings.
your friend
Mike

 

[Oldtimer]

We have just used a regular chain when cutting up bales for pitching into a manger or taking into the barn- just set them on end and cut down in 2 or 3 places-- works pretty good as long as you don't hit a buried twine...

 

[Subsoil]

If you want to spend some money, you could get one of these.

http://vermeerag.com/pdf/500sbalesplitter.pdf

 

[dun]

I had a steak once that I could have used that to cut.

dun

 

[denoginnizer]

Man ,that thing looks some kinda fun.

 

[eric]

I had a steak once that I could have used that to cut.

dun

I know the feeling, that's why I am switching to angus!!

 

[Medic24]

We have used a chainsaw in the past, but think it can be dangerous, we have a few, so what we did was take one out of service from cutting firewood, and use it strickly for cutting hay and cutting mushroom logs.

We use vegetable oil instead of regualr bar oil, although I dont think the small amount of regular bar oil you would get on the hay and be eaten by the cattle is any big deal, we like the idea that veg. oil is good for the cattle anyway. And it does not add toxins to the wood we use to grow our mushrooms. So we are killing two birds with one stone so to speak.

 

[shorty]

If your bale is packed tight I use a good sharp ax to chop thru and then unroll it layer by layer but if your hay is loose it don't work. It works the best for me with haylage that's packed good and tight. Best is when you can just throw whole bales in the feeder without cutting them . but when I'm just feeding a few young heifers in my old barn I have to cut them apart.

 

[gabby]

I unroll them back and forth across the hay loft floor. No cutting involved other than cutting off the strings. Can be hard to start rolling if they have a large flat bottom. Or use a pitchfork to peel off enough layers so you can unroll the inner core.

Re cutting, I remember seeing gin hands around 1960 use a skilsaw with a smooth sharp blade to cut into cotton bales for samples. Never tried this with hay bales, and don't know where to find such a skilsaw blade but I bet it would work with hay too.
Gabby

 

[cherokeeruby]

Would a saw like this work on round bales?