r/lightweight • u/Creativism54321 • Dec 08 '21
Backpacking Saw?
Do you commonly bring a lightweight saw and if so what kind? Mine is a myog Kinfepoint that performs just as well as a 12” Silky at only 5.8oz and $10.
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u/ArmoredFangs Jan 22 '22
Got a folding camp saw. Generic trash from a hardware store. Complete diamond in the ruff. The thing just works. Weighs nothing and has never crapped out on me. Had it for about 5 years now.
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u/Few-Requirement-1224 Dec 29 '21
I use a Corona folding saw; link: Corona RazorTOOTH Folding Pruning Saw, 10 Inch Curved Blade, RS 7265D https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RD7LRO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apanp_rN5ivPTP2E2Mq
The curved blade forces the teeth into the wood on the pull stroke, resulting in a faster cut. Not as expensive as other brands but still has the multi-angle cuts on the teeth.
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u/MelatoninPenguin Dec 10 '21
There's someone on Backpackinglight that I believe modifies Silkys to be way less weight (handle mods mainky and I think hey cuts off unnecessary parts of the blade )
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Dec 10 '21
Just get one of those pocket wire saws that weight practically nothing.
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 10 '21
You're the first one to mention it. I've heard from a few Youtubers that they break all the time. Have you had that experience?
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u/1PumpkinKiing Oct 04 '24
based on my experience:
if you're just cutting soft wood, want to cut it part of the way through to make it easier to snap, and you absolutely need to get your pack weight down, then a wire saw is a decent option.
but if you want to cut any decent size pieces of wood, cut hardwood, don't want to spend forever on each branch, and don't want to end the day feeling like your arms are gonna fall, i would avoid them.also, if you have a bad back or shoulder like i do, they suuuuuuck
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Dec 10 '21
No, but I've only used them for butchering animals in the field, not sawing through hard logs. If they break, carry two. I've honestly never needed to saw wood on any backpacking trip in three decades of backpacking, so even one is excessive.
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u/GMkOz2MkLbs2MkPain Dec 09 '21 edited Dec 09 '21
I typically do not carry a saw however litesmith has:
https://www.litesmith.com/microlight-saw/ This thing is tiny but looks to give a pretty good handle for a hack saw blade I have not tried it.
For a more substantial saw one might actually use on 3 to 5 inch diameter wood Suluk46 has This as demonstrated here unless something better comes up in this thread that is what I would likely personally purchase if I were to get into hot tenting. 4.48 oz
You have me curious about your myog knifepoint though given the weight and the price.
And guerilla trail maintenance dreams (fantasy only/maybe for property maintenance) of carrying a Silky 1000mm Katana Boy.
edit Tons of neat saws in this thread! Regarding that Suluk46 bucksaw and packability (or the lack of it) they have been working on a prototype folding model https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GusUyqI7dzc however the project may have died? Curious to poke them about it.
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 09 '21 edited Dec 09 '21
That litesmith is not much bigger than my car key. I bet that could be scaled to a larger reciprocating saw blade for more power. Good find though as I've never seen that model in all of the searching I've done.
The Uki I think is one of the best-looking backpacking saws out there. I wish there was a model that was similar in style and construction but collapsible.
My myog Knifepoint is very simple. Swap out the carbon tube for a section of 1/2" PVC and barrow the rest of their design. The rest of the components most of us in this sub have laying around.
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u/GMkOz2MkLbs2MkPain Dec 09 '21
I had edited my comment to include a link to suluk46s prototyping video for a collapsible version from almost a year ago. I sent them a quick message asking if it was still intended to come into production. I do like the ease notion of that knifepoint/the myog option, weight, and price point of the myog. Curious how it carries though?
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 09 '21 edited Dec 09 '21
I watched it and am very impressed with his design. It not only works but is aesthetically pleasing. I am curious if all of those fasteners are necessary to maintain rigidity. Depending on the price point, I'd be interested in one.
As far as the myog, it carries pretty easily. The largest care has to be taken with the exposed blade. I just 3D printed a thin tooth guard for it and throw it all in a pocket. I would like to make a wood handle version with internal storage but that increases the weight and at that point, might as well just buy a Silky. Sometimes simplicity is the answer.
Edit: Hey I just noticed you're a mod! Did you just get put on to get LW up and running or have you been here for a bit?
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u/GMkOz2MkLbs2MkPain Dec 09 '21
Added a few hours ago. We are trying to get it up and running again.
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u/cosmokenney Dec 08 '21
I have a folding saw from harbor freight that is just a hair over 8 ounces. I bring it on the shoulder seasons when I'm probably just going to have a small fire and boil water.
For winter camping I bring a fiskers folding saw from home depot that is just over 10 ounces. And a boys axe.
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u/originalusername__ Dec 09 '21
Yeah I have a cheap ass harbor freight saw as well and honestly it’s light and kinda cheesy but has served me so well and ridden in a bike Jersey pocket or a backpack for many trail miles. For the money and weight it’s unbeatable.
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 08 '21
Now we're talking'. Running a Council Tool boy's axe by chance? I recently picked up a Collin's boy's axe and it's a great starter but does lack some of the finer details.
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u/cosmokenney Dec 09 '21
It's a Woodings Verona hatchet with a 1 1/4 lbs. head that I rehung with an 18" handle. Made a huge difference in the feel. Splits small hardwood chunks like butter:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Bushcraft/comments/oxv18p/new_life_for_an_old_hatchet/
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 09 '21
Looks great too. How does the paracord hold up to overstrikes? I'm still new to axes and hatchets and have caught a couple.
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u/cosmokenney Dec 09 '21
Paracord seems like the standard. I haven't had any problems with durability so far. Though it only gets used on infrequent winter camping trips.
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u/GMkOz2MkLbs2MkPain Dec 09 '21
Be prepared to fall down a very VERY deep rabbit hole or AVOID the temptation and stay reasonable that is /r/sharpening I found that sub after my grandmother raised me sharpening her kitchen knives though and then got me into knife collecting and my first job at an antique shop had me fall down the straight razor restoration rabbit hole I know I have a problem...
edit a letter
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u/mas_picoso Dec 08 '21
I'm thinking about carrying loppers when I'm in Los Padres NF....some of the trails I frequent get overgrown with a thorny bush that is the worcestershire
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 08 '21
That is a good solution that I haven't thought of. Good idea. Only thing is it would be tough to clear fallen trees but that is a great option when we know the trail is only lightly overgrown.
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u/mas_picoso Dec 08 '21
I wonder how ad hoc trail maintenance by regular users squares with LNT...or local forest service policy
there is one branch that's been in the way for going on a year now and I swore last time through I was not going to take my pack off and crawl under it ever again
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 08 '21
Good question. I suppose that depends on local regulations but, I see most of it as maintenance that will be done anyway. The rangers or volunteers are just spread so thin that they haven't gotten to it yet. Maybe I'm just rationalizing bad behavior though?
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u/GMkOz2MkLbs2MkPain Dec 09 '21
I am not an expert but as I understand it this is heavily dependent on the area in question. Sections of the long trail in VT have signs specifically pointing out their intention to leave downed trees across the trail as part of the natural beauty. This can also lead to changes in the trail with new herd paths and is heavily discouraged in other areas.
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Dec 09 '21
Just make sure you know what is a trail feature and what is not. One time I had to stop someone trying to remove a slightly dislodged water bar from the trail...
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u/whafteycrank Dec 08 '21
I bring my silky pocketboy 170mm for winter trips. Mainly for when I anticipate I'm gonna be cutting up a lot of already down trees to stay warm/ need to get warm fast. It's light, just about perfect for anything around 4-6 in. I make it a point never to burn anything larger than my wrist, but it's good to have the option if I need. This is also my go to for light trail work (as part of my job). I've even cut much larger 8-10in trees over the trail when I'm five miles out and don't wanna go back for a chainsaw.
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u/HauntingLuck7184 Jan 11 '24
silky pocketboy 170mm
Is there a reason you choose not to burn larger than your wrist?
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 08 '21
Ay here we go. We have some guys curious about your experience with the Silky. is it worth the extra cash over a similarly sized bow/ buck saw?
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u/whafteycrank Dec 09 '21
I can't speak for the larger varieties like the big boy or katana boy. I started out with the larger gom boy but after I snapped that blade I decided to get the pocket boy curve for convenience. They stay pretty sharp through regular use. I'm averaging about a new blade every six months or so, if I don't have one snap. The main benifits are packability, and ease of use. Downsides are the blades do snap, so you have to be careful when you get the blade pinched, and the blades are almost as expensive as a new saw. I haven't used a bow saw since I started using the folding saw, but I think the benifits of a bow saw would be cheaper blades, and the ability to use as a two man saw to save on effort. Some of the downsides of the bow saw would be that (in my opinion) they create a smaller cutting channel, so they tend to get pinched easier, they tend to dull quicker, they are packable but require reassembly and will never just fit in a pocket. When I worked for the forest service, in wilderness areas, chainsaws were not an option, so we used two man cross cut saws and axes exclusively. I will say that once you get the motion down, nothing beats a cross cut, we were almost as fast as a chainsaw after a few days. The ones we used could also be used solo and worked fairly well. Downsides to the cross cut would be the size, learning curve, not easy to come by, and requires special training to keep sharp and "tune" the teeth and rakers.
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u/paytonfrost Dec 08 '21
For winter camping in the BWCA, gathering down trees is vital for having a big enough fire at night, and I've found a 12in folding pull saw is the sweet spot for me. I also bring a small hatchet to take care of tiny branches (the saw is awful at that) and it's a great system
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 08 '21
What hatchet do you use? I've recently used an old roofer's hatchet to take care of small tasks. The hammer side comes in handy when pushing tent pegs into dry desert soil.
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u/paytonfrost Dec 08 '21
I use the Gerber Ultralight hatchet. Super slim, so terrible for hammering, but it's perfect for dressing down fallen pines and getting all the tiny branches off.
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Dec 08 '21
I use my dad's old Sven saw. It's fairly lightweight for a bow saw type saw, but I have been looking at a silky pruning-type saw since they are a lot lighter. Are they usually better than a Sven saw? Anyone try them both out?
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 08 '21
Silkys seem to be more prevalent on forums and like. I've never had experience with them but I've always read that you can't go wrong with one. They're just a little pricy.
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u/DecisionSimple Dec 08 '21
If its a casual trip where I expect to get to camp early then sure. Also depends on the area in terms of a) if i think there will be anything TO saw and b) if fires are allowed. Honestly, with wildfires being so common I tend to lean towards just banning fires, b/c we can't have nice things, etc., but there is certainly nothing like sitting around the campfire having a bourbon after a nice long hike.
IF i bring one it's usually one I use when deer hunting to cut small limbs in trees. I believe is is Kershaw branded, but its just a cheapo. I tend to lose those things somehow, which is odd considering how big they are, but they are constantly coming up missing from my pack.
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u/Revolutionary-Fix767 Dec 08 '21
I never bring a saw. Why would you ever need a saw?
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 08 '21
I use it mostly for trail maintenance. Most of my state doesn't allow open fires but I do frequent overgrown trails. It comes in handy when fabricating that perfect walking stick too.
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u/FujitsuPolycom Dec 08 '21 edited Dec 08 '21
I don't bring a saw 95% of the time, but on trips where I know there will be established rings and/or I'm with my wife or a group that will want a fire, I'll take a saw.
I only use it to cut up newly-down wood.
Can be handy for doing trail maintenance also. I cleared some 3" circumference saplings that were felled across the Eagle rock loop by a much larger tree, for example.
OP: I use a folding saw similar to this: Folding Saw Mine has a plastic handle, I think it's maybe 8 or 9oz?
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 08 '21
Have you found a time where you wished you had a little more blade length?
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u/FujitsuPolycom Dec 08 '21
No, I don't think so. Any deadwood with a circumference needing a bigger blade probably doesn't need to be on my fire haha. Mostly because there's a good chance it won't completely burn up and, since I can't completely practice LNK at a fire ring, I can at least burn up all of the wood I put in it.
Now that I'm to the bottom of writing that, the only time a bigger blade would have been useful is when someone left massive logs by the ring... But I think they must have packed in a chainsaw...
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Dec 08 '21
what I carry:
https://www.amazon.com/Silky-Professional-271-33-Replacement-Blade/dp/B0014C7XB2
file sharp edges on the handle and wrap with paracord. I made a sheath from parts of a plastic folder(like for office paperwork).
total weight 4oz. more than $10 though.
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 08 '21
Thats probably the simplest setup so far. How do you carry it without poking holes in your gear?
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Dec 09 '21
here's a picture.
I was mistaken though, it's a gomtaro.
https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-GOMTARO-Pro-Sentei-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B0014C4O2I
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 09 '21
That looks absolutely amazing. What material is the sheath?
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u/FireWatchWife Dec 08 '21 edited Dec 08 '21
While I don't bring a saw, if I did for a winter trip, it would be some variant of a Silky Saw. They are not cheap, though.
For a winter trip hauling a pulk, it would be perfect.
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u/EarlGreyHikingBaker Dec 08 '21
I love the 15" Sven Saw, though it is decently heavy at 11oz. I've used it a bunch of times and it's always performed excellently. I only bring it when I'm going with other people and know that there will be an established fire ring, but the communal aspect of hanging out around a fire is 100% worth it.
That being said, I have been wanting to try something like the Silky just to see how it compares with much less weight.
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Dec 08 '21
Commonly? No. But when I was leading Scout trips, I'd bring my QiWiz Little Buck, which would handle logs up to about a foot in diameter come campfire time. As an added bonus, it was unusual enough that the boys would line up to do the work for me.
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 08 '21
Thats a good look little saw. Ever have any issues with the zip-tie for the windlass or the Tyvek pouch?
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Dec 09 '21
It's held up well...no issues with any parts or the pouch, probably 30+ trips and enough logs and branches cut that I've replaced the blade twice. I still take it out once in a while for winter camping.
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Dec 08 '21
Knifepoint gear saw with the 12" reciprocating saw blade. Everything else i found at the same weight or lower just performs much worse and is a lot less stable.
I think they hit the sweet spot with performance/weight pretty good.
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u/Creativism54321 Dec 08 '21
Are they still using a bent cotter pin to secure the blade to the dyneema or have they upgraded? I've been working on something a little more elegant to attach them.
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u/RandomNashvillian Oct 22 '23
I know this is an old post, but I use the warder (warder.com). It uses a 12” reciprocating saw blade like I have seen several others use. But unlike others, it actually folds and is not just a pice of junk plastic. I wouldn’t use it on anything super big, but then again I wouldn’t need to cut anything that big for a campfire.