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I swear by my bahco Laplander and a Sven 21... Between the two I can cut just about anything
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Folding saws - the good, the bad, and the fugly
- Thread starter spike22
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- Apr 3, 2013
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- 41
The SawVivor camping saw by TrailBlazer has served my wife and I very well on our canoe and backpacking trips. It's light, sturdy, folds ups, the blade stows safely in the back of the saw, it takes under 30 seconds to assemble, and the blades are easy to replace when necessary.
Folded up and assembled:
I find it works very well on wood of up to 6" in diameter. I've cut fallen trees that were quite a bit thicker, but it's tough going because the blade is not as long as a traditional buck saw, but I've never needed anything that big, even when clearing a portage of blow-downs, much less for firewood.
What it looks like in use:
The trees used for the bench below were cut using this saw, as was everything else in this photo:
Hope this helps,
- Martin
Folded up and assembled:
I find it works very well on wood of up to 6" in diameter. I've cut fallen trees that were quite a bit thicker, but it's tough going because the blade is not as long as a traditional buck saw, but I've never needed anything that big, even when clearing a portage of blow-downs, much less for firewood.
What it looks like in use:
The trees used for the bench below were cut using this saw, as was everything else in this photo:
Hope this helps,
- Martin
I have had pretty good luck with one of these cheap Coghlan's Sierra Saws...usually cost $10 or less
I have one off these that is probably 12 or 15 yrs old and rides in my Kubota. It is rusted and looks like crap but still cuts fine.
Doc
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2008
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- 2,012
I recently picked up a bahco and like it but for many years I have used the coghlans sierra saws and they are a good cheap saw.
Like a mora of saws, there are better and more expensive ones but it will do the job well.
In my woods edc I have the 4inch folding coghlans mini sierra saw.
I have harvested a lot of firewood backpacking with this little saw and cleared a lot of casting lanes on overgrown lakeshores.
Cuts way better than a sak and weighs .8 oz. They sell replacement blades for both sizes. Sk-5 steel too by the way.
Like a mora of saws, there are better and more expensive ones but it will do the job well.
In my woods edc I have the 4inch folding coghlans mini sierra saw.
I have harvested a lot of firewood backpacking with this little saw and cleared a lot of casting lanes on overgrown lakeshores.
Cuts way better than a sak and weighs .8 oz. They sell replacement blades for both sizes. Sk-5 steel too by the way.
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- Nov 11, 2005
- Messages
- 1,076
Ive been an arborist now for 7 years in southern Ontario. I have tried a few saw types when I first started out but nothing out there preforms better then my Silky saw!
SILKY!!!
SILKY!!!
I've been rather pleased with the SAK Workchamp saw.
And since you mention the wire saw ........ I bought the same one they use in mil survival kits. It was durable and all that and I can see its utility but the SAK saw on the same stuff was much quicker and took less energy and the SAK saw is easier to pack.
I had set it up in the bow saw format, and yes, I used the SAK saw to notch it lol, and took pics:
My first ever attempt at the bow saw. I could have made the wood shorter but otherwise that wire type is simply going to take time to cut lol.
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And since you mention the wire saw ........ I bought the same one they use in mil survival kits. It was durable and all that and I can see its utility but the SAK saw on the same stuff was much quicker and took less energy and the SAK saw is easier to pack.
I had set it up in the bow saw format, and yes, I used the SAK saw to notch it lol, and took pics:
My first ever attempt at the bow saw. I could have made the wood shorter but otherwise that wire type is simply going to take time to cut lol.
.
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- Joined
- Jan 24, 2013
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- 1,903
The SawVivor camping saw by TrailBlazer has served my wife and I very well on our canoe and backpacking trips. It's light, sturdy, folds ups, the blade stows safely in the back of the saw, it takes under 30 seconds to assemble, and the blades are easy to replace when necessary.
What it looks like in use:
Hi Martin ... what would be the approximate length of this blade and does this saw take a universal one or proprietary. The Trailblazer break-down buck saw has proven to be a dependable worker for me and I keep one in the vehicle and one ready to work in the porch but like the look of this one you are using.
off topic ps: this makes me hope for a thread on simple, camp 'furniture' ... mobile backrest, easy stuff. Nice table! Trees rarely seem to be where I want to sit leaning up against them! Looks like you and family truly enjoy the bush
What it looks like in use:
Hi Martin ... what would be the approximate length of this blade and does this saw take a universal one or proprietary. The Trailblazer break-down buck saw has proven to be a dependable worker for me and I keep one in the vehicle and one ready to work in the porch but like the look of this one you are using.
off topic ps: this makes me hope for a thread on simple, camp 'furniture' ... mobile backrest, easy stuff. Nice table! Trees rarely seem to be where I want to sit leaning up against them! Looks like you and family truly enjoy the bush
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2013
- Messages
- 41
taldesta,
The blade is 15" (38.1cm) Swedish steel. I honestly don't know if this is a standard size that's widely available. Outlets which carry the saw (such as MEC) also carry and sell replacement blades ($10.00 each). http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Hikin...003-433/trail-blazer-sawvivor-spare-blade.jsp
I was also available to buy a replacement blade at Canadian Tire in their tool department. But they carry the saw in their camping section, so I don't know if it's generally available in hardware stores.
And speaking of replacement blades, you can carry a spare blade inside the hollow spine of the saw. There are spring clips inside which hold the blade inside the spine so it won't just slip out when the saw is folded up. It's intended to hold just one blade, but you can snugly fit a spare in there. However, the spine of the saw and the blades are the same length, so you can store a spare blade inside it ONLY when the saw is folded up and not in use. When the saw is in use, you must remove any spare blade you have stored in the spine because the two hinged arms won't be able to unfold into working position if there is a spare blade in the spine.
I have no basis for comparisons between the one I use and it's larger, more robust big brother, the TrailBlazer take-down saw, as I have never made use of one myself. The SawVivor is lighter, more compact little brother, but it surely is not as capable as the larger one you use. All I can say is that the smaller version is more rugged than one might think, provided one is not careless with one's tools. I normally would not backpack with a saw, but this one's small and light enough to carry. I've even cleared blowdowns from Crown land portages with this little saw - something I would never have attempted with even a good quality folder. If I were strictly backpacking though, I'd go with a folder such as the Silky. But for my main purposes (canoe-tripping), this is the minimum I need.
Off topic: Like you, I appreciate a backrest when I'm camping. I do without one on day trips or backpacking trips, but on my canoe trips I use the special sleeve that Therm-A-Rest sells which converts an ordinary Therm-A-Rest sleeping pad into a chair. It's a luxury I won't go without on a canoe trip.
And yes, my wife and I do love our time outdoors.
Hope this helps,
- Martin
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Just tested the Opinel Saw No 12 out - really good impression.
It is smaller and lighter than your Laplander type saws, and with a shorter blade obviously it can't handle as big a diameter, but it cuts really well.
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- Dec 12, 2010
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I've got a Bahco, but I recently put this together. It folds up into itself. It's a 30" blade with a 10" brace height. I already had the blade, half the pvc, and the eye bolts. It cost $11 for the wing nuts, the caps, the coupler, 2' of pvc, and the threaded rod.
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- Jun 6, 2012
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Very creative Bowman. I like that rig a lot.
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- Apr 20, 2001
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I just literally came in from doing some yardwork, clearing out about 20 Silver Maple saplings from and old flower bed, using just the saw in my Victorinox Locksmith. Just amazes me how well the saws in these SAK's cut!
synthesist
So many knives so little time
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- Sep 14, 2004
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- 933
I've got an 8" Felco folder that we've used in the garden for many years. It's like the Energizer rabbit - keeps going and going. If it wouldn't do the job I went to get a Sawzall.
I admit that I have drooled over Silkys that I saw at Berland's House of Tools here in Chicago. I may buy a bigger Silky as a backup to the Felco now.
Can you have too many nice tools?
Syn
I admit that I have drooled over Silkys that I saw at Berland's House of Tools here in Chicago. I may buy a bigger Silky as a backup to the Felco now.
Can you have too many nice tools?
Syn
I've got a Bahco, but I recently put this together. It folds up into itself. It's a 30" blade with a 10" brace height. I already had the blade, half the pvc, and the eye bolts. It cost $11 for the wing nuts, the caps, the coupler, 2' of pvc, and the threaded rod.
Thats very clever - I may have to build one of those !
Would another threaded rod across the top and a wingnut make it easier to setup ?
I'm going to do some experimenting with your idea, if you don't mind
I've tried a variety over the years. Lately I've been impressed with my Silky Pocketboy. It cuts like a much larger saw but I'll have to see how it does over time. I bought it mainly for my camping bag as I don't really need one of my 10" Corona Razortooth saws. The Corona's are what I've bought my employees and they cut surprisingly well for their low cost.
I'm eager to try a larger fixed blade Silky though I don't know when I'll get the chance to pick one up.
On the same note I noticed where someone asked about curved vs. straight edge. I'm a big believer in the curve. I can rock and roll cutting oak limbs up to 2 1/2" caliper with a 10" curved blade. The straight blades tend to require a bit more sweat to get the job done.
I'm eager to try a larger fixed blade Silky though I don't know when I'll get the chance to pick one up.
On the same note I noticed where someone asked about curved vs. straight edge. I'm a big believer in the curve. I can rock and roll cutting oak limbs up to 2 1/2" caliper with a 10" curved blade. The straight blades tend to require a bit more sweat to get the job done.
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- Dec 12, 2010
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Help yourself! I had an idea for this a few years ago, & it got backburnered. Now, there's tons of videos on youtube and different takes on this saw. I sorta took about 6 videos & encompassed parts of 'em all in mine. I do wanna replace the threaded rod and the wood spinner with something else though. I'm thinkin' some sort of 1/2" pipe for the threaded rod, and a 6"x 1/4" bolt with another wing nut for the wood spinner. That way I can tension the cord & then run it through the brace & lock it in with the wing nut. Then everything should fit inside when I take it down including the spinner. If that all makes sense.
