Silky folding vs curved and blade question

[Fuori]

1. Has anyone noticed a difference in strength between the folding Gomboy saws and their curved models like the Sugowaza? Does one tend to break or bend to a point it's unusable more than the other?

2. How often do Silky blades break in general? Even when there isn't a problem it takes a few weeks to get their saws and blades. I'd like to put enough aside to last me for a good long while.

 

[BillyJoeBobJim]

I don't know how to answer your questions other than (a) point you to Silky's website and let you judge for yourself based on blade length and thickness per the specifications, or (b) provide you with my personal experience.

(a) The blades vary in length and thickness. The thicker blades are more difficult to bend. Longer blades might be easier to bend. Blades thickness varies. I didn't check them all, but my quick review of their website indicated 1.1mm for PocketBoy, 1.3 for Super Accel, 1.8 for Sugowaza, and 2.0 for KatanaBoy.
(b) I have not broken a Silky blade. I have bent several on several models. I bent a few because I was trying too hard and pushed hard and down at the same time. These are pull-only saws. Another few times a blade became wedged in a branch and bent when the branch fell. None were broken and all are still usable. I have had no problems with the way the folding saws work.

HOWEVER, I recommend NOT flipping one open as you might with a folding pocket knife. I have cut myself trying to do that because the flip did not open it all the way so that it locked, and the rebound action closed it on my finger. The result was much bleeding.

 

[JV3]

no first hand experience on strength but replacement blades are available now from that big river site...if you want a heavy duty folding saw checkout the bob dustrude quick buck saw. the 21" blade length i have is only 15 oz but it can cut some serious-sized logs, like this 8" diameter oak...what's good about full frame folding saws is i don't have to teach a newbie about pull-only saws and all that. i just hand it to them with no worries if they'll wail on it.

 

[Fuori]

I don't know how to answer your questions other than (a) point you to Silky's website and let you judge for yourself based on blade length and thickness per the specifications, or (b) provide you with my personal experience.

(a) The blades vary in length and thickness. The thicker blades are more difficult to bend. Longer blades might be easier to bend. Blades thickness varies. I didn't check them all, but my quick review of their website indicated 1.1mm for PocketBoy, 1.3 for Super Accel, 1.8 for Sugowaza, and 2.0 for KatanaBoy.
(b) I have not broken a Silky blade. I have bent several on several models. I bent a few because I was trying too hard and pushed hard and down at the same time. These are pull-only saws. Another few times a blade became wedged in a branch and bent when the branch fell. None were broken and all are still usable. I have had no problems with the way the folding saws work.

HOWEVER, I recommend NOT flipping one open as you might with a folding pocket knife. I have cut myself trying to do that because the flip did not open it all the way so that it locked, and the rebound action closed it on my finger. The result was much bleeding.

I really appreciate you and JV3 for taking the time to reply.

When I look at the thicknesses of the saws I'm considering it's hard to tell how much that difference really translates into extra durability or if it is so close it comes down to personal preference.

Gomboy 210 1.2 (8.46 oz)
Gomboy 300 1.4 (11.2 oz)
Sugowaza 1.8 (24 oz)

The other thing I've been thinking about is while the extra large teeth work well on the Katanaboy (own it and love it) how would they do on the smaller Sugowaza? There isn't a ton of hardwood in my area, but if I'm carrying double the weight of the 300 and almost triple of the 210 I'd like to not struggle with it.


JV3, will that Bob Dustrude take Bahco 24" blades?

 

[Fuori]

I purchased a folding bow saw, but will still get the Silky Sugowaza if it's going to be valuable.

All saws will dull or break, so now the question I need help with is in most situations will the Sugowaza blade hold up better than 6 bow saw blades (priced out one Sugowaza is 6 replacement blades)? I love bow and hacksaws, but they do tend to break.

 

[JV3]

JV3, will that Bob Dustrude take Bahco 24" blades?

i don't know the details on that bahco blade but according to four dog stoves (where i bought my bob dustrude saw from) it uses a standard bow saw blade...he sells replacement blades for $8 each as well. at that price, you can buy several to last a lifetime if you want. mine is over a year old now and have cut a lot of firewood with no signs of dulling so i don't see myself using the spare blade anytime soon.

I purchased a folding bow saw, but will still get the Silky Sugowaza if it's going to be valuable.

All saws will dull or break, so now the question I need help with is in most situations will the Sugowaza blade hold up better than 6 bow saw blades (priced out one Sugowaza is 6 replacement blades)? I love bow and hacksaws, but they do tend to break.

too many variables to take into account for that...at some point you'll just have to jump in, take as many trips as you can and report back what your first hand experience is

 

[Fuori]

Thank you. I'll stick with the bowsaw and see how it does. It sure looks like a nice one.

 

[Silky Europe]

Good question. The blade thickness of the Sugowaza is 1,7 mm. Maybe the Ibuki is better for you, the blade thickness is 2,25 mm, that's thick! The blade length is 390 mm (smaller then the Sugowaza 420 mm) but the teeth configuration is the same. The blade thickness of the Gomboy is as follows:

- GB 210-10: 1,2 mm
- GB 240-10: 1,3 mm
- GB 270-10: 1,3 mm
- GB 300-10: 1,3 mm

The curved Gomboy:

- GB 210-8: 1,3 mm
- GB 240-8: 1,3 mm
- GB 270-8: 1,4 mm
- GB 300-8: 1,4 mm

The BigBoy 2000 might be ideal for you with a blade thickness of 1,4 and a low angle curved blade of 360 mm. 6,5 teeth per 3 cm.

What do you think?

Team Silky Europe

 

[Fuori]

Thank you for the information. I ended up buying the Zubat and while it's nice I wish it were a bit larger. I was afraid the XL teeth would be a problem on dead or hardwood.

 

[Jason401]

I really appreciate you and JV3 for taking the time to reply.

When I look at the thicknesses of the saws I'm considering it's hard to tell how much that difference really translates into extra durability or if it is so close it comes down to personal preference.

Gomboy 210 1.2 (8.46 oz)
Gomboy 300 1.4 (11.2 oz)
Sugowaza 1.8 (24 oz)

The other thing I've been thinking about is while the extra large teeth work well on the Katanaboy (own it and love it) how would they do on the smaller Sugowaza? There isn't a ton of hardwood in my area, but if I'm carrying double the weight of the 300 and almost triple of the 210 I'd like to not struggle with it.


JV3, will that Bob Dustrude take Bahco 24" blades?

that's my personal collection I have the katana boy and Sugowaza in my collection and I absolutely LOVE the Sugowaza, I'm an arborist and I use my Sugowaza daily! I put it on my belt when I arrive on job site and only take it off at lunch break (sometimes) and at end of day on my way home. It's the best silky period!

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

 

[Fuori]

I ended up buying the Zubat. It's a nice size, but I may have liked the Sugowaza more.