Hey Foxfire, good show on your build. It is a bit larger than mine. I wanted small and light weight. I added wheels to mine to easily move it around the pile. You may consider wheels once you start using it. I would get rid of all that hardware and go with bolts and nuts. Much more simple.
On my design I used 2 metal flats for bracing. They are held by 2 nuts that are just hand tight, no wrench. I have sawtooth on the front and back of lower cross bar. I have angled sawtooth on the swing arm. The pins I made for the swing arm also lock the holder once folded. For now I use a rope to hold the pins once it is folded. I will come up with some lock device for the pins in the future. Mine weighs 40 lbs. with the wheels. Moving it folded is easy, but it is awkward when set up so I added the wheels.
When I place a log on the holder, I put the very end of the log by the swing arm sawtooth. Add a little down pressure and this holds the log good and I do not have to reposition the log while cutting. At times the log for that final cut may fall and i have to put it back on the holder. I normally try to gang cut as much as posible. It all depends on the limbs. As you start using this holder you will come up with a process for using it and you will appreciate it. I love mine. We build what works for us. That is what counts. I am now working on my FEL bucket brush forks.
Good luck with your little Bucker.
