Saw Point

[Wayland]

Recently I took a new look at the saws I was carrying into the winter woods. For a long time I just carried a Laplander and a light weight wooden snow knife that I made based upon an Inuit design.

I own a classic Camp Snow Saw but rarely carry the thing because it is so heavy and only really has one use.

What prompted me to re-evaluate the choices was looking at a few YouTube vids on the subject of building igloos which I am planning to try on my next trip.

Most of the guys that seemed to know what they were doing were using ordinary panel saws to cut the snow blocks. I could see that the shape made the job easier but a full panel saw would be problematic in packing. We have to fly to get to any decent snow from this country.

I ended up looking at this stubby saw from Irwin. It has a good length and a wide blade. The teeth are coarse enough for green or dry wood and the handle big enough for working in mittens. Weight wise it sits between the folding saw and the Camp Saw but out performs them both in terms of usefulness.

So that and the snow knife have earned their places in my luggage for the next trip. What do you folks use?

 

[crosslandkelly]

I just use a Laplander for my camps, but I don't sub zero like yourself.
Those stubby saws are very useful.

 

[Tony]

Would not a bigger folding saw do the job? Although I appreciate that it might not cut as square as a panel saw... Now and then Io've wonder if my insulation saw would cut out snow blocks ok... although a bit big as per the panel saw. what about something like the Hultafors Mineral wool knife?

 

[Wayland]

I don’t know, it’s all going to be an experiment really.

I’ve seen people building with all sorts of sizes of block so I’m not sure the length is too important. I think it is more about the lifting surface.

I’ll let you know when I’ve tried it out.

 

[nigelp]

What TPI is it?

Ta

 

[Laurentius]

TBH I find all saws to be much of a muchness, either they cut or they don't.

 

[Robson Valley]

Every few winters, I get a 7' drift in the back yard that I can walk on, over the fence and into the neighbor's yard. Good block snow.

I trashed a nice handsaw doing a soapstone roughout. Hit an unseen band of little pyrite crystals which took every edge off the blade. Maybe 1 tpi and I can whittle that steel into a good snow knife. 1.5 - 2" wide will be plenty. I'll take my instruction from the online examples at UBC/MOA.

 

[Stew]

There’s a lot of sense in using a panel saw. They just work!

Plus you’ll be able to mark out some clean 90 degree and 45 degree angles as well!

 

[Jared]

The Arctic Kit for F35 pilots has a Japanese ARS folding saw for cutting snow.
The other snow specific piece of kit I think is a shovel.

Video pic was from

 

[Wayland]

What TPI is it?

Ta

It's 8TPI with a finer bit at the tip and those raking holes of course.

 

[nigelp]

Cheers.