New folding saw - Silky Bigboy

Square peg, you ought to instruct your new volunteers that a japanese saw usually means its a pull saw!
 
Great saws I broke my super accel blade once.(pull not push!!) Shipping price on the replacement blade was horrible so I went the amazon route and ordered a pocketboy with it to get free shipping :D
 
Got my Okapi saw for the lighter stuff and Silky Bigboy for heavy stuff. Sawn through fallen logs the size of adult thigh in less than a min.

However, you got me to look at Tajima and i am wondering how good the coated blade on the Alumnist is.
 
I'm hoping to jump on this thread for some advice, rather than starting a new one...

I need to get myself a new saw, having lost my very old folding saw. I was considering getting a 24" wooden-framed collapsible bucksaw (such as the Northern Woodsman ones), but after seeing info and reviews on Silky Saws, they look pretty fantastic.

Just curious if anyone as any thoughts on the relative merits of either choice. I understand from this thread that replacement blades for the bucksaw will be a lot less expensive, but frameless saws are also appealing for (potentially) more versatile applications.

The saw would be used to collect and process wood on canoe camping trips and eventually trips on foot, in combination with a boy's axe, and either a hatchet or a large knife. Ideally I'd like to have something that can handle rounds up to 10" (or even 12") in diameter, but most of the use will probably range closer to 4-6".

Any advice or experience would be really appreciated!
 
The Silky Gomboy with medium teeth I have is amazing. I am used to using bow saws, and was initially skeptical. I'm not anymore, the thing cuts like a light saber. I weighs like nine ounces, so I take it everywhere. Canoeing, hiking, etc. 10" rounds would be pushing it a bit, but they would for a bow saw as well. 6-7", no problem what so ever for the Gomboy. They make longer blades if you really need to cut stuff in the 10-12" range. Great tool, highly recommended.
 
Like others that have chimed in, I was skeptical about just how good they were up until I actually used one and it became immediately apparent that the hype was true. The things cut insanely fast and clean.
 
I'm curious about experiences with the Bigboy as well, over the Gomboy, given its larger size. It seems like it would be able to tackle logs around the size I had in mind, but I'm worried about the possibility of breaking the blade, given how much longer it is. It seems very thin and flexible...
 
Repliqwtl said:
Ideally I'd like to have something that can handle rounds up to 10" (or even 12") in diameter, but most of the use will probably range closer to 4-6".
Click to expand...

If you really want to cut wood that large then the Big Boy is the right choice. There is a learning curve with pull saws. You will damage the blade if you push it into a bind. A few small kinks can be flattened back out but after several times the blade with snap. Order an extra blade with your saw. I recommend the fine tooth blades if you can find them. They cut better on hard woods.

If you're content with cutting 8"-9" trees then consider the Silky 270. It's a more convenient size - fits nicely in the left pouch of your Carharts.
 
Thanks for the advice Square_peg! I'll look into the 270 as well then. I think I'll probably make the jump to a pull-saw rather than a bowsaw in this case, since it seems both more effective and versatile for the uses I have in mind.

Thanks!
 
A worn Silky can be resharpened, as the steel will take a file. Coronas have hardened teeth that will dull a Japanese file. I've had the same Silky Sugoi for about five years and touch it up as necessary.
 
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