Folding saw - cheap might not get much use

  • Hey Guest, Early bird pricing on the Summer Moot (29th July - 10th August) available until April 6th, we'd love you to come. PLEASE CLICK HERE to early bird price and get more information.

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,152
1,546
Cumbria
Just thinking that I'd like to try carving. I'm thinking that if I'm walking locally and see fallen or even cut wood I might want to cut a short length off. I know technically theft but I'm not sure I'll take to it. I'm thinking a folding saw is needed. As I said I might not carry on and take up carving long term so a cheap source of one is needed. Anyone got a recommendation?

If I end up buying a house with a garden I might use it again even if I give up carving so it in might get more use in the future. If I really take up carving as a hobby I would later on get a better one when this first one starts to fall. It really is to suck it and see.
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,152
1,546
Cumbria
Thanks. Come to think of it Aldi do them too, probably similar quality but Aldi is local b to me, Lidl isn't.
 

Robson Valley

Full Member
Nov 24, 2014
9,959
2,664
McBride, BC
Take a look at the Fiskars pruning saw blades. You can add any handle to those for a take-down saw.
All my pruning equipment (grapes) is Fiskars. Reliable .
 

BigMonster

Full Member
Sep 6, 2011
1,322
219
Manchester
Tried everything from Aldi through Fiskars to Bahco. Even for small jobs those saws are a pain to use. Just buy the cheapest Silky which is the F180 for a great performance in a very light package. They go for about £20 but last forever.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Code 4

Code 4

Tenderfoot
Feb 25, 2020
86
50
65
Shrewsbury
I have Samurai, Silky and Japeto. All good. Silky are expensive but I can't fault them. I use chains direct if buying. Samurai are strong, cut very well and good value. Buy from the importer. Check out the Japeto as well, cuts very good. YouTube have lots of reviews.
 

gra_farmer

Full Member
Mar 29, 2016
1,800
1,019
Kent
Samurai do saws around half the price of Silky and very nearly as good
Interesting about the samurai, may look in to that, but I was trained as a horticulturalist and felco all the way for me. I have only just replaced a blade on my felco 60, and have had that saw for 20 years. But they are not cheap

I have tried other saws in between and bahco are really good and not a bad price, so can recommend the laplander, look at the 396-JT model, I prefer the dlc black blade over the 396-LAP which has a textured coating.
 

DocG

Full Member
Dec 20, 2013
869
123
Moray
For a starter saw that may not get much use, I've found the Lidl / Aldi c.£3 versions ok. I have 6 I let Scouts use and they've survived a summer camp and other training use. They are starting to show wear and tear much more than my 7 year old Laplander but they cost a lot less.
 

Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,152
1,546
Cumbria
Even my dreams are telling me to get one!

I woke up remembering a dream where we'd just moved into a little 3 bed countryside/small village house with a modest garden and garage. A week after moving in and we're still unpacking when a neighbour comes in for a chat, obviously 2m social distancing! Anyway the old fellow tells us the houses round there come with a right to take wood from a communal wood for domestic use. No restrictions other than sustainable. Even came with training. On finding out my first thought was that I had to check this thread and choose a folding saw option.

It's funny how your mind works in dreams!! Needless to say I'm not that lucky with my house, but perhaps I need that saw.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dwardo

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
I use the short Fiskars X tract because it is very light. An other interesting small option is the smaller Opinel saw.

But for the beginning... Why not the Lidl saw? I think it will do the job.
 

BCUK Shop

We have a a number of knives, T-Shirts and other items for sale.

SHOP HERE