tiny folding saw

S

siguy

Joined
Aug 26, 2006
Messages
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i am a componant kind of man, and while i like the idea of things like SAKs with saws and scissors and everything else in them, i really prefer to have individual tools most of the time in actual practice.

because of this, i have been lazily casually looking around for a small folding saw that i can stick in my bag or my pocket (yes i am looking for something that small). the other day when i was in the hardware store i noticed a small folding saw by coghlan's hanging in the outdoors section. i like the look of it except for the fact that i think the blade is really quite thin, only about 1 mm (about 1/32 of an inch) at the back, and i think slightly thicker at the teeth to help cut down on binding. i was expecting it to be at least twice as thick, like an SAK saw.

my question is this: do you think that the thinness of the blade would be a problem with cutting at all?

just as a reference, click here to go to the product webpage on a website.
 
For that price I would buy one and give it a shot.

In my mind the thiness of the blade would be an asset.
 
it does mention on the back of the package to not force it on the push stroke (the teeth are set to cut on the pull) because it could result in the blade bending.

it is a couple bucks more at the hardware store, but i figure i would be saving a few clams anyways by not paying for shipping...
 
I have that saw and it works great, pretty aggressive teeth for a small saw.

I can post pics :D
 
hhmmm...pics would be good. thanks

this makes me wary...one person loves it and one person doesn't trust it...

but yeah pics would be useful thanks
 
siguy said:
hhmmm...pics would be good. thanks

this makes me wary...one person loves it and one person doesn't trust it...

but yeah pics would be useful thanks
Click to expand...

Its all gonna be personal. Gotta remember I liked it for what it can do, Small limbs, 1"-2" thick. It zipped through 1"X3"

Give me a few to get those pics up, Im cooking supper :D
 
I'm really looking for a small strong saw as well. I've been eyeing a SAK but all I want is a small saw to add to the cutlery I already have. I don't need all the other stuff on it like you were saying. Thanks for posting.
 
One of the best saws out there, and I carry one in all the autos plus my back pack is the pocket chain saw:

550044c.jpg


It's relatively cheap at under $20, infinitely adaptable and small enough to stick in your pocket, (it comes in a tin about the size of a chewin' tobacco tin.

Click the link to see what I'm talkin' about, Pocket Chain Saw

And this sucker cuts.:eek:
 
Ok, first of all here is the lock depressed.
p4250004ib5.jpg


Then beside a wave and Huntsman.
p4250009qi6.jpg


And comparing thickness to the huntsman.
p4250011on9.jpg


I mean for the price ($10) I got one at canadian tire, why not throw it in a cargo pocket, or even in a pack and forget about it. It weighs next to nothing, saws better than my wave and sak.

Like I said, for the price, pick on up and toss it in your kit and forget about, its a great little saw to have.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
One of the best saws out there, and I carry one in all the autos plus my back pack is the pocket chain saw:

550044c.jpg


It's relatively cheap at under $20, infinitely adaptable and small enough to stick in your pocket, (it comes in a tin about the size of a chewin' tobacco tin.

Click the link to see what I'm talkin' about, Pocket Chain Saw

And this sucker cuts.:eek:
Click to expand...


The pcoket chainsaws are great buys. Mine was $15, delivered.
 
i think i will pick it up next time i am around there...

another thing that i like about it is the little bit of extra length that the blade has

thanks for the pics, they were useful...i was under the impression that the SAK saws were thicker, but maybe that is just because of my experience with the chinese knockoffs. yes i admit i have never actually handled a real SAK saw
 
I still don't understand what advantages these little dinky saws provide over a hatchet or axe, when it comes to shelter building or felling moderate sized trees. I knocked down enough evergreens last winter with a tomahawk to build a decent sized one man teepee type structure, in about 20 minutes. It doesn't take much to get through 4-5 inch diameter trees. If it isn't a chain saw, the Indians up north use an axe. I NEVER saw a northern Indian toting a hand saw in the bush....I just don't get it. Please enlighten me.
 
Here you go-- the blade is very similar to one on a large frame SAK:http://www.wj-enterprises.com/stslfoposaw.html

I sold mine when I got an SAK Trekker, which makes a nice neat package for survival and a much stronger frame than the Stanely. If you're going to bother with a ~3-1/2" saw, I would get one incorporated with a knife like and SAK or a multi-tool; otherwise, I would go to the folding saws like Gerber and other's offer. The Gerber Sportsman's Wood Saw is much larger (2x) than the Stanely above and weighs just an ounce more. I would recommend it over the pocket-sized ones (I have one). The Gerber is 3.4oz and about 7-1/2" long when collapsed (it slides into the handle). It won't go in your pants pocket, but it would carry in a jacket pocket and is perfect for a backpack. It is light at the expense of toughness, IMHO. I go easy with it. Gerber has an Exchange-A-Blade model that looks a little tougher than the Sportsmans model-- I haven't seen one up close. Advertized weight is 5.3oz-- still very packable. Buck makes some folders in the same size range and weight.

From there you can go to heavier folding saws like Silkysaws and collapsible buck saws like the Sven Saw (REI has them in 15" and 21" sizes) and the Sawvivor. If you really want to cut some wood, they are probably the way to go. They are about equal with an average hatchet for weight and you could buck up a small tree. I would put one in a vehicle kit in a heartbeat-- as much for cutting trees out of the roadway as shelter bulding or firewood.
 
The Coghlans mini is a great little crafting saw. It cuts on the pull stroke and is much faster than a SAK saw of the same length.

The thinness of blade actually allows for faster cutting. If you are a clutz though these can bind on the forward stroke and if forced will readilly overbend taking a set or worse.

Not for shelter building or cutting fire wood but very useful for making traps ect. Very clean finish on the cut.
 
upnorth said:
I still don't understand what advantages these little dinky saws provide over a hatchet or axe, when it comes to shelter building or felling moderate sized trees. I knocked down enough evergreens last winter with a tomahawk to build a decent sized one man teepee type structure, in about 20 minutes. It doesn't take much to get through 4-5 inch diameter trees. If it isn't a chain saw, the Indians up north use an axe. I NEVER saw a northern Indian toting a hand saw in the bush....I just don't get it. Please enlighten me.
Click to expand...

Okay, here are just a few reasons to use a saw...

1) Weight--a small handsaw weighs much less than an ax, hatchet, or tomahawk. When you're backpacking, and carrying your "home" on your back, every once matters!

2) Ease of carry--you can carry a small saw in your pocket or even in your swim trunks, so you are more likely to always have it with you in an emergency/survival situation.

3) Safety--it is virtually impossible to maim yourself with a small handsaw. But it is VERY EASY to cause serious injury to yourself or others with an ax, hatchet, or tomahawk...especially if the user is tired and cold and hungry and weak.

4) Confined spaces--it is much easier to use a small handsaw in a confined space than an ax, hatchet, or tomahawk, which need some swinging room.
When I was a Soldier and we had to dig fighting positions we often encountered large tree-roots...there's really not enough room in a fighting position to use an ax or hatchet, but a small handsaw works perfectly.

5) Sound--small handsaws are much more quiet than chopping with an ax or hatchet or tomahawk.
"Noise discipline" is very important in the military since you don't want to give away your position to the enemy...but it's also important in the civilian world as well.
Being quiet in the wilderness is a good habit for several reasons:
You will not bring unwanted attention to yourself (two-legged predators).
You will not spook any nearby game.
You will not disturb the natural peace and piss off other campers and hikers.

6) Night--it is much easier to use a handsaw effectively in the dark than an ax, hatchet, or tomahawk.
Swinging an ax or hatchet around in the dark, especially if you have other folks near you, is just asking for an injury.
 
. . . and a sharp saw typically uses less energy to sever a given piece of wood - a consideration in survival situations.
 
upnorth said:
I still don't understand what advantages these little dinky saws provide over a hatchet or axe, when it comes to shelter building or felling moderate sized trees. I knocked down enough evergreens last winter with a tomahawk to build a decent sized one man teepee type structure, in about 20 minutes. It doesn't take much to get through 4-5 inch diameter trees. If it isn't a chain saw, the Indians up north use an axe. I NEVER saw a northern Indian toting a hand saw in the bush....I just don't get it. Please enlighten me.
Click to expand...

If I were camping or hiking in areas where I could cut wood legally, an axe would be useful (I have a Fiskars). My hiking survival gear is for what-ifs and CYA beyond my regular gear-- I carry a stove and fuel, and most of the stuff in my pack is shelter and clothing. Heck, my whole hiking kit is my survival kit for the duration of my trip. I don't want to haul a couple pounds of steel that I won't use every day. An SAK, a wire saw and a couple razor blades is a different story. For the weight of an axe I can carry more small survival items than I could use if stranded for a few days, let alone extra food or clothing.

If we're talking about a vehicle kit for a big weather, earthquake or civil disturbance, then yes, by all means an axe should go in the kit. As I've said before, I think when hiking with a group, each member can carry a different kind of tool, leaving each person covered if solo, and ready to kick butt as a group.
 
I realize you're looking for a single component type saw but I wanted to plug the Wenger Century with woodsaw. Only drawbacks...the saw blade doesn't lock and I wish they made one without the partially serrated main blade.
 
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