Baraboo, WI Vintage Chainsaws

[heimannm]

Most of you don't know about this event, but one corner of the Badger Steam and Gas Power Show is devoted to vintage chainsaws. On Saturday starting at noon there is a "demonstration" making timed cuts, and the two fastest times get a plaque/commemorative shingle in honor of their efforts.

There are many vintage saws on display, as well as a few peculiar "modern" saws. It's all for fun and a lot of great information is shared amongst the participants and the folks watching.

I'll post some more photos when I have time, as well as the time sheets to give you an idea of what kind of saws are involved. For now, see the pure joy on the faces of these two fellows that both won shingles in only their second or third year in attendance.





Mark

 

[farminkarman]

Most of you don't know about this event, but one corner of the Badger Steam and Gas Power Show is devoted to vintage chainsaws. On Saturday starting at noon there is a "demonstration" making timed cuts, and the two fastest times get a plaque/commemorative shingle in honor of their efforts.

There are many vintage saws on display, as well as a few peculiar "modern" saws. It's all for fun and a lot of great information is shared amongst the participants and the folks watching.

I'll post some more photos when I have time, as well as the time sheets to give you an idea of what kind of saws are involved. For now, see the pure joy on the faces of these two fellows that both won shingles in only their second or third year in attendance.

View attachment 429994

View attachment 429995

Mark

That would have been fun to see. I was at the show yesterday.

 

[Bill G]

Looking forward to some times. I went for 15 years from about 2001 until 2016. It was fun except the year it poured.

 

[Skiptooth Fred]

Most of you don't know about this event, but one corner of the Badger Steam and Gas Power Show is devoted to vintage chainsaws. On Saturday starting at noon there is a "demonstration" making timed cuts, and the two fastest times get a plaque/commemorative shingle in honor of their efforts.

There are many vintage saws on display, as well as a few peculiar "modern" saws. It's all for fun and a lot of great information is shared amongst the participants and the folks watching.

I'll post some more photos when I have time, as well as the time sheets to give you an idea of what kind of saws are involved. For now, see the pure joy on the faces of these two fellows that both won shingles in only their second or third year in attendance.

View attachment 429994

View attachment 429995

Mark

The hard thing is … are they stock as can be or not? Gotta keep the reality and fun factor regardless as number one, obviously you are, otherwise it becomes a trophy hunt. Mind you those shingles are a nice momento. Cool to see an event as this and the many saws in the background, awesome

 

[Bill G]

The hard thing is … are they stock as can be or not? Gotta keep the reality and fun factor regardless as number one, obviously you are, otherwise it becomes a trophy hunt. Mind you those shingles are a nice momento. Cool to see an event as this and the many saws in the background, awesome

Well the majority of vintage saws are pretty tough to modify. Have you ever heard of someone porting a Homelite 990? How about a Disston DA211?

 

[Philbert]

Please post a reminder s few weks, or a month ahead for next year? Maybe we can get more folfs to show up.

Philbert

 

[Bill G]

Please post a reminder s few weks, or a month ahead for next year? Maybe we can get more folfs to show up.

Philbert

I do not believe attendance is an issue. If I remember right Roger said last year the racing was over 4 hours.

 

[av8or3]

Looks like fun to me!

 

[Philbert]

I do not believe attendance is an issue. If I remember right Roger said last year the racing was over 4 hours.

I would like to attend sometime, but never seem to know in advance. I think some other guys would too.

Have a mini- GTG.

Philbert

 

[farminkarman]

I would like to attend sometime, but never seem to know in advance. I think some other guys would too.

Have a mini- GTG.

Philbert

I can try posting dates as soon as they are available. I know several folks who are part of putting on the show.

 

[heimannm]

Bill - "Demonstration" no racing allowed...

Philbert - Google "Badger Steam and Gas" and see the schedule, I don't know if they have already set the dates for next year.

Most of the guys are just vintage saw collectors and few have any experience or inclination to modify their saws other than trying to put a good edge on the chain and maybe utilizing a larger sprocket. The few experienced porters are quite honest about their work and run their modified saws with the hot saws or purely as exhibition at the end of a class.

Starts at noon, went 4+ hours again and actually kept moving along pretty quickly. Scott has divided it up into a few more "classes" to create more opportunities and to make it more fair to the saws and contestants.

The mini class was added a few years ago to allow some of the younger kids to participate but has become a fun contest for the more experienced guys as well.



This was a new group last year and proved to be very popular for the 10-10, XL, and similar smaller models that used to have to compete with saws up to 5 In3. The Jonsereds 621 was given to me earlier in the year in terrible condition, and the PM55 is a work saw I use pretty regularly.



The 71cc & under was a new class this year and proved to be a lot of fun as well. Congratulations to Mike Duwe for the fine performance with the Solo 70, love the whistle. I'm sure there will be more saws in this group next year.



The 5 In3 & under group always brings out a large group of saws and usually some close contests. This year was no exception. Bobby Framke's PM800 and Scott Mueller's 250 were both past winners and so were considered exhibition only to give others a chance.



Another new class this year was 105cc & under, helps level the playing field for everyone. Bruce Meinhardt's McC 300 did very well at 87cc but didn't quite get him a shingle.



Mark

 

[Bill G]

Looks like fun to me!

It very much is !

 

[heimannm]

Formerly we only had under 5 In3 and over 5 In3 direct drive saws but the SP125's really dominated so Scott put those in a separate class. The over 105cc direct drive group had some interesting saws. As I mentioned, Luke Punzel ran his ported 797 at the end of the group for the fun of it. Between the capability of the saw, Luke's skills with chains, and his technique the modified 797 was pretty impressive.



The SP125 class was smaller this year as Luke and Parker didn't compete. My iron bore 125 with a LRB piston must have found a soft spot.



There were two tractor driven hydraulic saws competing in the two man saw division, as well as Mark Meyers/Chris Beans double ended Poulan saw. One of the hydraulic saws did very well, but could not outperform James Shimniok's big Disston.



The gear drive saws are divided into under/over 5 In3. Since we were cutting some smaller wood the small displacement saws were very competitive. Scott's BP-1 was last years winner so his was exhibition only.



There weren't as many big gear drive saws as some years, but the Homelite came out on top once again.



Mark

 

[Bill G]

Bill - "Demonstration" no racing allowed.........

Mark,
I am fully aware of the show.....been there a bit.

 

[heimannm]

In past years there were only two or three vintage hot saws, but that class has really attracted some attention the past few years. Luke and Parker get a lot of credit, not only for their own saws but they also got both of mine operational again just ahead of last year's event. Vintage hot saws make three cuts, direct drive saws make two cuts, and the gear drive & two man saws all make one cut. I totally missed on my first up cut attempt with the 101 saw, and Scott's clutch came loose and sheared the key.



I don't have many photos of the demonstration, but do have most of the collections captured and will add photos when I have time.

Mark

 

[Bill G]

The 2025 dates are Friday August 15 through Sunday August 17.

 

[farminkarman]

The 2025 dates are Friday August 16 through Sunday August 18.

Those were the dates for this year. They don’t have the dates set yet for next year.

 

[Skiptooth Fred]

Well the majority of vintage saws are pretty tough to modify. Have you ever heard of someone porting a Homelite 990? How about a Disston DA211?

Cool and no i haven’t i haven’t even seen them, Au’ has a bit if old stuff normally hidden away, we aren’t blessed with the huge collections of various saws as you fella’s. Top stuff it look to be

 

[Bill G]

Those were the dates for this year. They don’t have the dates set yet for next year.

Yes I made a mistake and corrected my post. I was doing math in my head and made a 1 day mistake

The 2025 dates are August 15-17. The show is the 3rd full weekend (Friday-Sunday) in August. I am betting depending on what gate you came in you would have seen a sign that had the 2025 dates. A simple rule of thumb is it will be two weeks prior to Labor Day weekend. A lifetime of going to tractor shows I tend to remember a few things. For years folks told me I needed to go to the Edgerton WI show but that is Labor Day weekend and is the same as Old Threshers Mt Pleasant Iowa. Mt. Pleasant has been a family staple for generations. This year it will be a tough as my son will be out at the Nebraska State Fair that weekend. I always wanted to get down to Shelbina MO for their show. This year it is September 12-15. There used to be a guy down there that ran two Merc-Disston 2 man's, one at each end. I never made it down there as I was pretty much at a show every weekend and just could not get down there since it was so close to harvest.

 

[Bill G]

Cool and no i haven’t i haven’t even seen them, Au’ has a bit if old stuff normally hidden away, we aren’t blessed with the huge collections of various saws as you fella’s. Top stuff it look to be

I used to have some pictures of a few Mercury KB7 and Disston DA211 2 man engines that were heavily modified but they were not in saws.