Which Saw should I buy?

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dropkickkid

Joined
Dec 2, 2005
Messages
27
I realize there are several of these posts out there, but I could not find one that answers my specific needs/questions. I am looking for something i could do a bit of rough sawing in my Chicago apartment, as well as have a decent camp saw (maybe a day hiker too, but doesn't need to be backpacking light, i plan on getting one for that later on). In the interest of size and portability but not being limited to a backpacking friendly model i was looking at the Silky Gomboy 210 and the Silky Super Accel 210. They seem like a decent size and I am leaning toward the Gomboy due to "beefyness." I am only looking to saw some really rough stuff in my apt, namely scrap wood i find in local recycle bins and remodel trash dumps to size down to make a couple strops, so they obviously don't need to look pretty. That said I am mostly concerned with tooth size. I will be limiting my sawing to mostly dead wood since i am talking about either milled scrap lumber or what my gransfors bruks axe cannot handle or wouldn't make sense to use while camping. if it helps, the places i would go to use it outdoors would be southeast Wisconsin.

So the big questions:
1) what tooth size should i go for?
2) the gomboy and accel seem like decent sizes right?
3) should i even consider a multi tasker, or should i just get an saw for milled lumber and an outdoors axe separately? (as in will i hate how long it takes to saw for certain applications making it not worth it)

Thanks!
 
First of all congrats on your excellent decision to get a Silky Saw. I have a Gomboy 240 and haven't used it on anything I don't believe the Gomboy 210 or Super Accel could not handle. As far as tooth size I have a Pocketboy with Medium teeth and another with Large and I believe the Medium might be best for the scrap lumber as I tend to go with the Medium tooth saw for hardwoods like Oak & Mesquite.
 
Brisket said:
First of all congrats on your excellent decision to get a Silky Saw. I have a Gomboy 240 and haven't used it on anything I don't believe the Gomboy 210 or Super Accel could not handle. As far as tooth size I have a Pocketboy with Medium teeth and another with Large and I believe the Medium might be best for the scrap lumber as I tend to go with the Medium tooth saw for hardwoods like Oak & Mesquite.
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Cool, I just don't wanna go camping and find out that the saw i bought takes forever in the field, and is also mediocre with lumber lol!
 
Silky Saws recommends ...
Fine - for dry milled lumber and hardwoods
Medium - for pruning and camping


In general, the smaller the teeth the finer the cuts but cuts slowly.

Personally, for apartment use on scrap lumber, I'd just use a cheap crosscut hand saw. Then get a dedicated backpack camp saw with large teeth for aggressive cutting.
 
TravisH said:
Silky Saws recommends ...
Fine - for dry milled lumber and hardwoods
Medium - for pruning and camping


In general, the smaller the teeth the finer the cuts but cuts slowly.

Personally, for apartment use on scrap lumber, I'd just use a cheap crosscut hand saw. Then get a dedicated backpack camp saw with large teeth for aggressive cutting.
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I have heard large teeth are bad for dead wood, is this true? I will certainly have my Gransfors Bruks axe with me camping which will be chopping any green wood, so 90% of any saw use in the field would be dead wood.
 
I find very little difference between the medium and large teeth on my 240. Maybe 1 or 2 strokes on a 4x4. Medium is easier to get started as well, especially on square corners like scrap wood. The silky is easily the best saw I've ever used. I use it a lot for landscaping and backyard wood prep.
 
For you to look at - at a later date for backpacking.

Sven Saw.

sven-saw.jpg
 
I have the Gomboy in 300+210 and the Pocketboy in 170. All are in medium and I love them.
 
I have the pocket boy in med and the 210 with large-dead woods more of a challenge-You can get interchangeable blades but medium would probably do fine to cover it all
 
I have several Silky saws and choose the Super Accel or Ultra Accel for "backpacking". For your scenario, I'd buy the straight bladed Super Accel.

Remember, it is a PULL-only saw.
 
don't rule out the bob dustrude quick buck saw. a replacement blade is only $8 and it's both a push and pull - that means you can give it to anyone without worries they'll wail on it and bend/snap the blade unlike a silky...mine is the smallest and it weighs 15.5 oz.

084_012_zpseipvg702.jpg
 
I was a construction carpenter and used the fine toothed saw for kiln dries wood for accurate cuts

The medium toothed saw is very good and quite fast enough for live wood
 
JV3 said:
don't rule out the bob dustrude quick buck saw. a replacement blade is only $8 and it's both a push and pull - that means you can give it to anyone without worries they'll wail on it and bend/snap the blade unlike a silky...mine is the smallest and it weighs 15.5 oz.

084_012_zpseipvg702.jpg
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This! Bobs saws are where it's at.
 
dropkickkid said:
I have heard large teeth are bad for dead wood, is this true? I will certainly have my Gransfors Bruks axe with me camping which will be chopping any green wood, so 90% of any saw use in the field would be dead wood.
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Silky recommends the large teeth for green wood.
 
Mannlicher said:
I keep a 15 inch Sven saw in my old 4Runner. It has saved my butt more than once, when 4X4 trail riding in the back country.
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Yes this is an excellent saw
Too big and heavy for backpacking

My favorite is the Opinel folder
Very light and plenty sharp enough for 'domestic' use
But not a tough as the industrial tooling of Sliky
 
My hands down favorite small saw is the sturdy little GW-2 Griz Saw by Outdoor Edge. With an 8" long cutting edge and 11-1/4" overall it fits in a front pants pocket, on a belt, etc. Rips through trees like you wouldn't believe. Thick, tough blade. Most of the time that is all I use. Somehow this lil gem has flown under the radar for a long time. Everyone I show it to gets one.

For a medium saw I pack a Harbor Freight 21" Bow Saw which comes with two blades. Cheap, reliable, works well. Fits in most of my backpacks.

For a large saw, just the blade from a 30" bow saw. There are many styles of frames for buck or bow saws that can be easily packed or quickly made in the field. Having the Grizz saw and a knife makes short work of DIYing a quick frame for a saw blade in the field. There are also many ways to pack it. Duct taped to a belt, coiled up inside a cook pot or - my fav - inside an old bike inner tube. After inserting into the inner tube put the heaviest duty split ring you can find and a carabiner on either end. Then clip it to the outside of a pack, shoulder strap, etc. Those split rings keep it in the frame during use as well.
 
I've used a Bahco Laplander for a while, it's a good small, light, foldable saw that's easy to lose in the woods simply due to the fact that it's black and green in color, but that's the only thing I've found wrong with it. It's got replaceable blades even, for a folding saw it's the best I've used. Saying that, I've been looking into getting a bigger bow-style saw so this thread is very useful for me :)
 
There is another Bahco which is orange. It's not called a Laplander but they're basically the same. Very good saw and comes with a dry wood blade.

Not quite as good for carpentry work but better for collecting wood. Keep in mind that the Silky only cuts in one direction.

As for the axe, it really depends on your needs. If you're camping in the fall/winter in northern areas you need at least a forest axe (2-2.5 pound head) and preferably a full-sized felling or general purpose axe, most likely 3-3.5 pounds. The advantage of the axe is that it is much more durable and more versatile than the saw, and if you are skilled with it then you will cut just as quickly as any saw (and the folding saws and the mini-bowsaws are no contest for it). The advantage of the saw is that it uses less energy and can be used after dark.

Keep in mind that the Gransfors Scandinavian Forest Axe will nearly double the work output of the Small Forest Axe, and generally with less effort. Other forest axes will definitely double the output of large hatchets like the Small Forest Axe considering that the Scandinavian is on the small side, it's basically a limbing axe. It excels at making nice poles for shelters though, so the Scandinavian is a good choice if that is your primary use. Otherwise the larger axes are a little more versatile and better for harvesting wood for fuel.
 
Thanks for all the great advice everyone! I haven't decided yet, but am putting the research into all the great ideas! If anyone else has any ides feel free to post them!
 
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