Hand saw for bushwalking

[Moondog55]

And other bushie like pursuits. I need to trim a tree in the backyard and I thought it was about time I bought a decent pruning saw. Rather than spend $60- at Bunnings I was thinking of investing in a Silky but I can't decide between the various offerings available here by mail delivery. Anybody here have first hand experience with a variety of Silky saws and tell me which one you prefer to use?
At the moment I am looking at this larger one as the branches I need to cut are 150mm in diametre and the blade size looks reasonable for firewood cutting when car camping

https://treegear.com.au/collections/han ... 6816861227

[ofuros]

I use the smaller Silky Pocketboy for pruning...flexible blade, aggressive big teeth rips through smaller forearm sized fruit tree branches with ease.
Nice hand grip. Quality item.

I also own a Bahco same size but with stiffer blade & smaller teeth...my 7yo plays with that when we prune together. Takes longer to cut through but he can't break the blade.

The larger model your looking at looks like a beast !

For larger hardwood limbs I use a chainsaw & for car camping I just buy some along the way.
I'm aging, so easy is the way to go for me.

Oh, I have a Silky Machete too, sharp & quality steel, heavy.
Makes a mess of my banana patch once they've fruited & swinging it around relieves any internal frustrations. Don't swing & miss though, it'll cut off a limb or slice to the bone.

Last edited by ofuros on Sun 29 Mar, 2020 1:34 pm, edited 5 times in total.

[Neo]

Those style of saws work best on fresh green timber, such as when pruning.

For dry firewood I use a regular handsaw.
Favourite is a Bacho at arout $20 or less. To go smaller a 'toolbox' handsaw works fine also.

[Gadgetgeek]

I'd go for one of the big ones if you are looking at 150mm+ Gomboy at minimum, probably Bigboy. Tooth pitch based on the wood, smaller for harder. I like my pocketboy, but it would struggle with 150mm timber. Could be done, but very low efficiency.

[Franco]

No idea about the Silky. I have tried a few pruning saws, I find the Felco 600 pretty good for the price (from $40 here)

[Moondog55]

I have a little Felco and it is OK but I here that the Silky is several steps above them
I also have a very cheap folding saw in my hunting kit and it's almost as good as the Felco

[CraigVIC]

I use a silky accel 210mm for work (contract gardening). It is an excellent all round saw for garden work. Years ago I used bahco but haven't looked back once I changed.

You could cut a 150mm branch but it wouldn't be ideal. Makes sense to move to a chainsaw if you have a number of branches that size.

Can't comment on using it for camping, as a rule, I never have a fire.

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[north-north-west]

So, Craig, you drive a CR-V?

[peregrinator]

So, Craig, what's the highly technical function of that bulldog clip?

[Lamont]

CR V
Nope -That's a Hi Lux Ute.

[CraigVIC]

It's probably a comment on my driving as I'm always assigned the worst ute in the fleet. This little Hilux needs a good down hill run to hit the ton, leading me to think it might not be around too much longer

[CraigVIC]

The bulldog clip is structural.

[Lamont]

It's probably a comment on my driving as I'm always assigned the worst ute in the fleet. This little Hilux needs a good down hill run to hit the ton, leading me to think it might not be around too much longer

Mine has 499,580 ks on it. They never die.
Various plastic pieces keep dropping off though.

[CraigVIC]

Mine has 499,580 ks on it. They never die.
Various plastic pieces keep dropping off though.

Wow, you better buy it something nice when 500k rolls over

[north-north-west]

Amazing The dash is identical to my CR-V.
I'd still rather have my HiLux, though.

[Lamont]

Mine has 499,580 ks on it. They never die.
Various plastic pieces keep dropping off though.

Wow, you better buy it something nice when 500k rolls over

That car has cache and it knows it.
That's enough.

[Bill P]

I reckon you need a Katanaboy Moondog. Get the 650 one.

[sherpa]

Hi Moondog,
Get a Silky. Glad I did. Had been using Felco and Bahco folding saws for years but never really satisfied with them. Brought my first Silky PocketBoy (coarse teeth) a few years back. Really happy with every aspect of the saw. Great design, quality blade and handle, durable and has a great cutting action. These saws also come in about 4 or 5 different teeth sizes. Also Silky sell an assortment of replacement parts for their saws if something were to break. I’ve since added to my collection but the PocketBoy still gets used the most. It lives in the ute and it’s compact size makes it great for paddling.

[Moondog55]

I reckon you need a Katanaboy Moondog. Get the 650 one.

Awesome but almost triple my proposed budget

[CraigVIC]

Check out Forestry Tools moondog. I've been buying this sort of stuff through them for more than a decade, good range, good service.

[Moondog55]

Been looking at the tree gear site but that site has some nice gear

[sherpa]

+1 for Forestry Tools.
Also check if carried locally, maybe a mower / chainsaw shop. I’m sure they’d be happy for business, if they’re still open.

[Moondog55]

Just ordered both the machete and the 420mm Sugoi from Treegear, from Treegear as they had the best value in static ropes

[Heremeahappy1]

My 2c - Take the time to learn how to maintain the tools, ie clean, oil, sharpen etc. Increased life of the tool, less consumer footprint and regain a lost skill. Just like a good knife, axe or vehicle, maintenance is key.
Buy once, maintain early and often.

[stry]

Oh dear MD - why did you have to bring this to my attention ?

I have looked at the Silky products over the years, but was unaware of the Sugoi.

Would be very handy to have in the ute for occasional light, just in case, use on those trips when my usual chainsaw might attract thieves.

Similar to the times that I pack a folding trenching tool, rather than a long handled shovel.

[Moondog55]

I'll have to check but I thought that the replaceable blade on the Sugoi could not be sharpened, and that is why they sell replacement blades.

[stry]

I'll have to check but I thought that the replaceable blade on the Sugoi could not be sharpened, and that is why they sell replacement blades.

I think you will find that to be the case.

Saw sharpening and resetting seems to be an extinct skill. The disposable age has probably eliminated demand for, and profitability, of the service. Pus modern steels are likely to be a bit more challenging to work with.

[Heremeahappy1]

Consumer decisions... Purchase a tool that can be maintained. Handsaws are but one cutting tool usually when precision is required, say while aloft in a tree. Machete sharpening maybe less esoteric skills.

[Moondog55]

I think I'll be able to handle machete sharpening.
In the long run I don't think that there will be much between an old soft steel saw blade that can be sharpened and a new super hard on that can't.
You could only sharpen an old style saw so many times until they had no tooth edge left. Luckily modern recycling means that there is not much waste of steel.
I know several chippies, there are 3 in the family too and none of them sharpen their saws these days, although many of them have the blades on their power saws retipped.

[CraigVIC]

A specialty saw is still a better option than picking up something from Bunnings as you will only ever buy one handle.