bush saws:fixed or folding?

[Dave Budd]

Which is the better buy?

A folding saw that fits neatly in the pack but is 50% handle, so you only have a small saw blade

or

A fixed saw (not bowsaw) that takes up a little more room, but is sturdier and has greater cutting potential?

I'm in the fixed camp, but wondered what others think?

I may be biased because the folding saw is a cheapy axminster job that opens in my bag and closes on my hand. The fixed saw that I use is a handmade one, but the blade is too thick and removes too much material really.

 

[Shinken]

Just take a bowsaw blade and roll it up. And when you need it you can easilly make a handle out of some hazel!

 

[jdlenton]

I'm in the folding saw camp i love my Laplander as it fits nicely in my pocket but i can see the advantage of fixed saw just not come across one that i would put in my pack

James

 

[Hoodoo]

Which is the better buy?

A folding saw that fits neatly in the pack but is 50% handle, so you only have a small saw blade

or

A fixed saw (not bowsaw) that takes up a little more room, but is sturdier and has greater cutting potential?

I'm in the fixed camp, but wondered what others think?

I may be biased because the folding saw is a cheapy axminster job that opens in my bag and closes on my hand. The fixed saw that I use is a handmade one, but the blade is too thick and removes too much material really.

I think it really depends on what you actually need. Often times I don't need anything bigger than a SAK saw. Other times, I wish I had my chainsaw.

 

[Dave Budd]

slightly off topic, but has anyone tried one of those hand-chainsaw things? it's a chainsaw chain with a handle at either end. Thought it looked like a good idea until I thought about the hard work involved

 

[Phil562]

slightly off topic, but has anyone tried one of those hand-chainsaw things? it's a chainsaw chain with a handle at either end. Thought it looked like a good idea until I thought about the hard work involved

I know Marts has one, I'm sure he'll be along in a bit

 

[dommyracer]

I actually find the had position when using a folder like a laplander more comfortable than using a saw where the handle is perpendicular to the blade.

 

[falcon]

Have a look at this link for a collapsible folding bow saw. I spent a week in Scotland in the Spring and a companion produced one of these and proceeded to keep the campfire supplied with iron-hard driftwood all week. They fold down to nothing, are very lightweight and fit easily into your rucksack. Needless to say, I've since gone out and bought one for myself...
http://search.ebay.co.uk/compact-folding-rip-D-saw_W0QQfromZR40

 

[sxmolloy]

slightly off topic, but has anyone tried one of those hand-chainsaw things? it's a chainsaw chain with a handle at either end. Thought it looked like a good idea until I thought about the hard work involved

i have one, they are good for cutting over-head or in tight spots, but i always prefer my laplander otherwise. they are really hard work to use.

 

[gregorach]

All other things being equal, the saw with the longer blade (within reason) is usually the better option. Of course, all other things are never equal.

 

[Dave Budd]

this is the saw that I normally use when out and about.

the blade is about 13" long. It's based on an Roman example, with teeth cut in the fasion of a 19th century pruning saw (basically the same as a SAK saw). That does mean that it's better on green wood than seasoned timber, but I now know for the next saw that I make It's nice and light and with a simple wooden guard on the blade it doesn't interfere with anything in my bag.

 

[scruff]

Nice work Mr Budd!

Did you cut the teeth yourself?! I wish I had that skill.

Could you not adapt the design to make a folding version?

I'm of the Laplander bent too. I've not used the hand chain saws but have used wire saws in the past and found they like to kink or bite and break.

The bow saw falcon posted is ok, but in those triangular frames your losing almost half the cutting length of the blade by the way it sweeps down. Not so efficient.

I've got a pdf document for making a collapsable bow-saw/frame saw someone on here posted me a while ago if you'd like to take a look??

 

[Pignut]

I love my laplander (Bought for me as a prezzie) but think something larger may be of use!

As already said it does depend on what you are doing and where you are!

Scruff A look at that collapsable bow saw would be good..

 

[scruff]

Happy 500th Pignut!

You have a PM

 

[gregorach]

The bow saw falcon posted is ok, but in those triangular frames your losing almost half the cutting length of the blade by the way it sweeps down. Not so efficient.

That's a jolly good point! And here was me thinking "hmmm, that looks quite handy..."

 

[falcon]

Nice work Mr Budd!

......, but in those triangular frames your losing almost half the cutting length of the blade by the way it sweeps down. Not so efficient.

QUOTE]
Not sure what you mean there..?.....the length of the blade is around 52cm, making it significantly longer than the lapplander. I've a lapplander and love it...but I also think that the additional length of the cutting stroke with the longer blade makes more efficient use of your strength and, believe me, it works to your benefit in certain situations...

 

[gregorach]

Yeah, but as you cut down through the piece of wood, the frame gets in the way, stopping you from using the front portion of the blade. You'd only be able to use the full length for the first few millimeters of the cut. Essentially you're wasting a significant portion of the blade length (maybe not half, but certainly a fair bit).

 

[Chance]

I've used one of the folding-frame saws and had the same 'problem': cutting gets more awkward the larger the diameter of the bough. I still pack it, though: it's quicker than a pruning saw, although not quite as convenient for pocketing to clamber up and reach those higher branches. Besides, in normal use, you shouldn't really need to fell a redwood.

 

[scruff]

Not sure what you mean there..?.....the length of the blade is around 52cm, making it significantly longer than the lapplander. I've a lapplander and love it...but I also think that the additional length of the cutting stroke with the longer blade makes more efficient use of your strength and, believe me, it works to your benefit in certain situations...

I've used one of the folding-frame saws and had the same 'problem': cutting gets more awkward the larger the diameter of the bough.

What he said

I meant to say, in a some what garbled manor, that the narrow angle of the frame towards the "tip" limits the diameter of the wood you can cut.

With larger diameter wood its only possible to cut towards the handle end, thus effectively shortening the saw and its effeciency.

 

[Dave Budd]

Yep, I cut those teeth myself As part of my business I sharpen just about anything from kitchen knives to handsaws, so I thought to myself one day "why not make a saw from scratch!" Then half way through the cutting, I though " stupid Bugger!" Actually it didn't take too long to do, I cut them in while the steel is soft adn then go over them when the heat treat is done.

That tooth pattern takes almost twice as long as a normal handsaw on account of the double row of theeth that is created. It's also easier to foul up still, if it works I don't care what it looks like!

I'm actually working on a folding version at the moment. i forged the blade out yesterday and i am going to cut the teeth when I get the chance. prob won't be til next week though, I am busy trying to get kit ready for a drawknife making course that I'm teaching this weekend. Minor problem, I have 6 students adn only one anvil and one pair of tongs! D'Oh! I'm also using an iron age forge setup coz the organisers couldn't muster any forges should be fun!


Oh, scruff, if you could send the pdf my way i would love to have a look at the collapsable saw. I had an idea of how to make an old fashioned frame saw that came apart, but it looked to be a bit comlpicated to actually do.