Pocket Chainsaw

R

RatDrall

Joined
Feb 7, 2009
Messages
467
Please school me on the basics of pocket chainsaws, like what to look for in one, what's worked for you, etc. I've been meaning to order one for a while now, and since the wood around here is as hard as granite now I think it's time to give one a try.

Thanks....
 
I've never been able to get 'em to work well for me, but i'm sure that's a "me" problem and not the equipment. For saws, i really like my 'el cheapo' folding garden saw. It was like $4 and maybe it won't last for 5 years of hard labor, but it's done OK so far - especially for the price.

With the pocket chainsaw, i would recommend making a nice, comfy set of hand-grips when you're gonna use it.
 
I have one which is sort of like a chainsaw blade with loop grips - it works ok with dry timber but is not that great with soft or green stuff. Compact and light but I would prefer a folding saw blade.
 
I have the one that resembles a segmented hacksaw. It's pretty handy for cutting in hard to reach places when trimming trees out of or near the fence or in places where it's just not possible to fit a regular saw. It's not easily sharpened or even 'sharp' when new, but it works as advertised and it would probably never need to be sharpened. I've wanted to try the one that looks like a real chainsaw blade, but haven't got around to it yet.

As a part of a survival kit it would be better than nothing and it doesn't take up much space, but it does require a small learning curve that a regular folding saw doesn't.

If you have the room and no weight limitation the FatMax saw, seen elsewhere in this forum, looks to be a workhorse.
 
Here is an overview of 2 popular brands:

http://www.equipped.com/saws.htm

I have the Saber Cut saw and it works very well for me.

I have a Wire Saw also, I do not recall the brand. I have not used it much but will do so in the next few days and post my impressions.
 
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I have one of the braided wire saws (Varco?). I don't know about long term use, but it will zip the antlers right off a deer.
 
I've heard positive things about the chainsaw blades with the nylon straps. The wiresaws I have had snap within seconds, multiple times. I was going to pick one up a few weeks ago, but thought the price was a little steep. Although if I was relying on a saw I'd just get a folding saw, myself.
 
I went out to take some pics for you today. I already had the Saber Cut Saw in my backpack so I only used that for today, not the wire saw. I will take some pics of the wire saw in the next few days.

It was a broken pine so I did not feel too bad taking it down. I harvested a good amount of resin from it at the point where it had broken. I did not take the tree down with the saw because I had a bag full of choppers that I wanted to test so I used them.

I had also used the Saber Cut Saw on the weekend with some friends and they were amazed at its cutting ability. Frankly, I have always been amazed at its cutting ability. I think it is my most efficient backpacking wood cutter. I have a Kershaw folding saw also but it is a one handed saw. With the Saber Cut Saw you can use the power of both arms and your upper body if you want.

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This was only a few seconds worth of cutting.

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I cut through this with 8 strokes total (4 in each direction). The Saber Cut Saw cuts in both directions.

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It is an awful lot of cutting power for a small, light tool that fits in the palm of your hand and weighs almost nothing.

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My son was doing some sawing of his own with my favorite woods folder.

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And a gratuitous pic of the knife that was in the mailbox as I was leaving to go and take these pics.

20120104-00122_resize.jpg
 
I tested the SaberCut Saw and the wire saw today. The SaberCut sailed through that pine trunk in 15 seconds (it had a bit of a head start because there was a slight wedge where I had previously chopped). The stitching in the handle did come loose after about 13 seconds. Luckily I had spare webbing that I carried to make handles for the wire saw. I repaired it and sawed through the remaining in 2 secs.

I have seen a video review of someone using this saw and it binding. I have never had it bind on me, whether on live, sappy pine like today or on harder dry wood.

I used the wire saw and could not make it even half an inch into the wood without it binding. The metal bracket also pulled open after a few seconds. I guess that was my fault for putting too much pressure on it. I put the loop into the split ring and continued but could not get very far. This is the type with the three strands of wire braided together.

IMG-20120105-00127_resize.jpg


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Perhaps it works on harder, dry wood, or like someone said, on antlers and perhaps my technique was bad but be that as it may - I will not use it in future.

On the SaberCut Saw. I will replace the handles with my own webbing, knotted rather than sowed and I will carry spares as I can see wear & tear where the webbing hooks through the metal, so it will eventually break again.

Results of each:

IMG-20120105-00131_resize.jpg


I had previously sworn to myself that I will never post Youtube videos, but I took some video anyway. So my Youtube debut, just for you:

SaberCut Saw:

Handle stitching broke

[video=youtube;nCYKJv8LyPY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCYKJv8LyPY[/video]

After repair

[video=youtube;aOHRwIci11A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOHRwIci11A[/video]

Wire Saw:

Handle bracket split

[video=youtube;RvsN9hb_T5U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvsN9hb_T5U[/video]

After repairs + Kershaw Folding Saw for reference:

[video=youtube;nRTCLSYvc94]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRTCLSYvc94[/video]

Tried thinner wood

[video=youtube;RcioZRCCOHo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcioZRCCOHo[/video]
 
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I also have the SaberCut saw and it works very well for me. I owned the SaberCut, Silky 210 superaccel, the Sawvivor, and the Gerber Exchange-A-Blade Sport saw. I gave the Gerber to my dad this Christmas since I don't use it anymore. The SaberCut is fast, easy to use, lite, and takes very little space.
 
I have a supreme products "pocket chainsaw" that I've used to trim branches in my yard (with ropes tied to the ends) and cut firewood while camping. It works great for me. It does tend to bind in wet wood or if twisted, but I have found it to be effective and sturdy nonetheless. I have not had any issues with dulling, but I haven't been processing cords of wood with it.

I thought wire saws were terrible, which is why I got the pocket chainsaw. Come to find out, though, that guys on this forum (IAwoodsman and others) showed me that I was using them wrong. If you search the forum or his youtube channel, I'm sure you can find his vid's on how to use them properly. I was trying to pull from the ends using my fingers or sticks through the rings, which only ended up in binding, cussing, broken wires, and annoyance. I haven't tried again since, but it does seem like they work very well when used properly by folks more skilled than I am. ymmv.
 
I will second the straps.

Some of the chainsaw types come with them, but others don't. My 'Pocket Chainsaw' just came with two wire loops that you are supposed to pull on. (though the manual sugest suing sticks through the loops to save discomfort on your hands). I've tried that, and it still stinks.

Good news is that nylon webbing is cheap and easy to get. Use that with your saw, and the entire experience is much nicer.
 
Thank you so much guys, especially for the pictures!

I'm going to buy one of the chainsaw blade ones with the nylon handle and give it a try.
 
I've used the pocket chainsaw from bepreparedto surive . Works goods. It requires a different thought process and techniques then a traditional bucksaw. Given the time and choice, I 'll take my bahco PEG teeth blades on a bucksaw for in camp cutting.

The 24 inch PEG teeth blade weighs 1.75 ounce. Cheap and light enough to have in your pack.
 
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