Need a large Cross Cut Saw

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Jan 5, 2009
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I am planning on buying an axe (one of these) to supplement a chainsaw and I figured I would need a good saw to go along with it. I am looking to get something like this but would like to know if there are any other good sources for saws that are either better or more reasonably priced. I have looked around the antique shops locally but all I can find are two man saws, and that's just not what I need. Any advice or guidance on using these would be much appreciated as well.

Thanks,

Aaron
 
First things first, DON'T buy a production saw! They cost way more than they should. They are flat ground and require a ton of set, and thus cut very slow. Another thing to keep in mind, lots of 2 man saws are "Bucking saws" and can be used by 1 person (http://tinyurl.com/3gsdvhn illustration of the difference). Ebay is also a good source for the 1 man saws. You can get one in good shape for under 50 dollars with shipping, sometimes much less. Just need to be patient. Search for crosscut saws, usually there are a few ending everyday. Good luck!
 
Don't know where you live, but if you go to enough flea markets, yard sales and auction you can get a lot of them for $5, $10 or $20 + or -. I got a six foot 2 man for $20. A huge bow saw for 3 bucks and my wife brought home a one man saw around 5 foot long from a yard sale for 5 or 10 bucks, just keep looking.
 
Most of the good old cross cuts are hanging on a wall somewhere with a nice scene painted on them or cost more than a nice Stihl - Hell, I'd buy a second Stihl and a couple of wedges. Then again I stopped going to Flea Markets when I saw made in China
 
I have the saw you linked, and, with a good sharpening and some additional set, it's a good saw. I'm lucky in that there's a local guy who does all the Forest Service saw work, and he does it for peanuts. I got him to give that saw a once-over, which cost 15 bucks and totally changed the saw (for the better). But, you're not going to do much cutting out-of-the-box with that saw. FWIW, I bought mine elsewhere for a tad less than that price (about 80-85 bucks). I like the saw --- in fact, I went out today and used it to buck some standing-dead aspen I chopped down. It was some work, but I got a full load in the truck!

I've also got a few longer old saws. Of course, they needed set/sharpened when I bought them, so just count on that part no matter which way you go.

One thing I'd add (or ask) is that you consider what kind of cutting you'll do with it. The saw you linked is sort of short. Sounds long if you've never used one, but 32 inches is barely a decent, full stroke. You'll pull the saw out of the log more than you want with that saw. 36 or 48 inches is better if you're going to be cutting any logs bigger than around 8 or 10 inches in diameter. At least, that's my experience. YMMV.


-ben
 
I have something like that, but it's about 5' long and has better teeth. Cuts good. It was my father's so it must be about 70 years old, but still in top condition. I used it solo, and easily stroked the full length. My sons used it dual when they were small. Never used it much, just some firewood, and now it hangs in the garage wrapped in canvas for 30 years. I would sell it just to have it used by someone. Law Powell 303-940-1639 near Denver.
 
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check with with the fellow at 'the axe hole'. he's a nice guy and has lots of old crosscut saws.
 
does anyone know of a forum or other place where a person could learn to sharpen and set saws?
 
I have something like that, but it's about 5' long and has better teeth. Cuts good. It was my father's so it must be about 70 years old, but still in top condition. I used it solo, and easily stroked the full length. My sons used it dual when they were small. Never used it much, just some firewood, and now it hangs in the garage wrapped in canvas for 30 years. I would sell it just to have it used by someone. Law Powell 303-940-1639 near Denver.

Wow, that's a really generous offer, but I think that's a little bigger than what I am looking for. And I don't even want to think about shipping from CO to NC! :) Thanks anyway though!


Aaron
 
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