Manual Chainsaws
- Thread starter HAB
- Start date
They work, but they're sort of fragile - hard not to kink/twist the blade. Not sure where mine disappeared to...
It's a little too easy to kink them when in use. I don't have enough operating time to be able to describe it more clearly. Packing it was never an issue.
If you're rollin with a pack, look no further than Silky Saws. They make a wide variety of folding saws that cut on the pull stroke and are extremely sharp. I have a BigBoy and it's blade is 14", weighs a pound and can easily fit in my pack. I can cut logs up to 8" with it no problem.
http://www.silkysaws.com/Silky_Saws/Folding-Straight_2
Amazon usually has the best prices on Silky, which can fluctuate wildly. One day the Katanaboy was $168, then $99 a few days later.
http://www.silkysaws.com/Silky_Saws/Folding-Straight_2
Amazon usually has the best prices on Silky, which can fluctuate wildly. One day the Katanaboy was $168, then $99 a few days later.
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I carry a Silky BigBoy. Impressive tool, just keep your fingers out of the way.
No kidding, I slipped a couple times recently but was saved by heavy duty leather gloves.
I don't post here much, but...
Yeah on the Silky saws. They work beautifully.
Accept no substitutes!
Yeah on the Silky saws. They work beautifully.
Accept no substitutes!
I'll 3rd or 4th the recommendation for Silky saws. They're really slim and pack well. I carry a Gomboy in my pack on a regular basis and forget it's even there.
Is manualling a chainsaw harder than doing it on a bike?
Everything is harder when your'e married. Unless your'e a bitch...
Yes and yes. I have this one. It does work okay but is best with 2 people. Doing it yourself is difficult as you have to keep the handles spread apart to avoid pinching the chain. But with 2 people it is fast and easy for medium size stuff. Less than 4" diameter you are better off with a folding saw, greater than 12" break out a powered chainsaw.
I use this guy below for 80% of clearing projects, followed by a folding saw and then the hand chain saw. But I carry the hand chain saw with me more often because of how small and light it is.
A 6" dia. 25' long maple fell across the trail. I proceeded it and was back on the bike in 26 minutes.
How long does it take to haul a chainsaw, gas, and safety gear to the location ? Probably a lot longer than 26 minutes.
I can be done before you get there. Carry lite tools and work fast. It's a gnome thing.
How long does it take to haul a chainsaw, gas, and safety gear to the location ? Probably a lot longer than 26 minutes.
I can be done before you get there. Carry lite tools and work fast. It's a gnome thing.
Exactly. Chainsaws are awesome if you're building a new trail or there's a huge section of blowdown, but there are a ton of cases where one tree goes down across an existing trail, where it'll take hours to walk out there with one. I'm looking for something small and light that I can carry on the bike with me to deal with that kind of stuff. Right tool for the job and all that.
large tooth, i assume?
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This is their biggest saw, the Katanaboy 650. A bit too big to fit in a pack though. But none the less a serious piece of kit.
True that.FTFY
I have tendency to wear down the side knobs on the rear. And now started to have "oh shit" moments. Had a massive slide down an off-camber left turn and used o tree to help turn.
I agree and I qualified my chainsaw use with "greater than 12" diameter". For 6" stuff I would also use a folding saw, unless I am already out hiking with the chainsaw. But the park I maintain is urban and not that large so any fallen tree is usually accessible with a 15 minute hike max. Also bringing gas, what is this the stone age? That sucker is electric.
If it's just you, then I second the larger folding saw recommendation. The manual chainsaw is not very efficient and can be frustrating to use by yourself.
I use this guy below for 80% of clearing projects, followed by a folding saw and then the hand chain saw. But I carry the hand chain saw with me more often because of how small and light it is.
I've got one of those as well, in addition to an 18" bar gas machine.
Not near as powerful, but significantly quieter. An important feature depending on where you are working. Sort of an in-between of the gas machine and the Silky. Not really using it to build new, but it's nice to be able to get it into places for storm clean up.
Bonus: uses the same big battery packs as my lawnmower, so I can have a couple charged up to pack along.
I'm going to buck the silky trend, spring on the east coast I was generally carrying one of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bahco-LapLander-Folding-Saw-Made-in-Sweden-Part-396-LAP-/310846336263?hash=item485fe2ad07:g:KaEAAOxytdlRAt~Q
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bahco-LapLander-Folding-Saw-Made-in-Sweden-Part-396-LAP-/310846336263?hash=item485fe2ad07:g:KaEAAOxytdlRAt~Q
How are you guys attaching the Silkys or Bahcos to your packs?
It also looks like the teeth on the Silky are still exposed in the folded position. I guess I could make a quick fabric sheath for it, which could have some loops to strap to my hydration pack. I'm guessing the 14" one would not fit inside.
It also looks like the teeth on the Silky are still exposed in the folded position. I guess I could make a quick fabric sheath for it, which could have some loops to strap to my hydration pack. I'm guessing the 14" one would not fit inside.
That vs. a Silky though seems to be a potato - potahto kind of thing.
But yeah, I generally just carry the small one with me in early spring, or riding post-storm.
Amazing how quickly you can get through some fairly large downed bits with them.
The Bahco is small, just tucked into an outside pocket on my very small camelback or would easily fit inside a bigger pack - no exposed teeth on it.
suddenly I want a six speed gas powered chainsaw.
Carving disc + battery powered angle grinder = nothing you can't cut, and what beautiful sculpted cuts they will be!
Silky makes both straight and curved folding saws. I went with straight because of exposed teeth on the curved ones. Also straight blades are better for cutting logs close to the ground.
A Tomson seat post bag fits the Bigboy nicely. It just drops nicely into my Pisgah pack and barely in the everyday pack.
So when yours is folded, the teeth aren't exposed?
I used an 8" SOG prior to getting the Silky. There is absolutely no comparison between a pull cut saw and a forward cut in terms of efficiency and speed.
Correct.
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The weight is a bit of a killer for taking with you on the bike, but I've found a cordless electric sabre (reciprocating type) saw is a handy bit of kit for trail work or maintenance. The blades are much more tolerant of dirt and sand than chainsaw blades and you can carry a couple of different types for cutting other materials (metal and whatnot)