What's the deal with the wood saw?

[Carlos]

It takes not much to conclude that there's a certain bias here towards tools with a wood saw. Huntsman or farmer (vics) are two popular examples. However there's no much love for the metal saw, why is that?

Personally I tend to give more use to the metal saw, even on small wood pieces, for example.

[Ashley]

Metal saw? What's that.

[dks]

The wood saw is also more common.
Not many SAKs have the file/metal saw

[AimlessWanderer]

The only woodsaw I use is on the Wenger Swissgrip, and even that's only very occasionally. I'm not particularly bothered about them otherwise, and they can't compete with the 120mm wenger saw anyway. If I'm going anywhere where I might need one (camping etc) I'll have my bahco laplander.

That said, I don't tend to be cutting other materials that a woodsaw might be useful for such as hard plastic conduit or such, which other people might

[Raukodur]

I would agree with this observation, I don't see what the fascination is with the wood saw. Single function tool, very agressive tooth design, good at cutting wood, but can't be used for any sort of fine work in my experience.

What do people use this for in everyday situations 

[AHB]

I'll just quote myself from 2010..

Nobody really needs a saw..   

Personally I haven't had the need to carry a SAK with saw in my everyday urban life..

[theonew]

I'm a big fan of both tools, especially the newer Vic stainless steel file. That thing is smurfin' sharp.

This is one of my favorite Vics.



It's a Ranger minus the scissors layer. Four thin layers makes it very pocketable with lots of cutting potential.

[Ashley]

I love having a saw. I use one a lot in the summer when I'm cutting small branches and limbs up for my campfires. Also if attacked at work I think a few cuts with a saw would stop someone. I have also found well traveling the country roads at work if there is a low hanging limb I can stand in the back of truck and remove it. Hey girls like to play too.

[IzzyJG99]

I feel more comfortable having a saw that meets the location I am in. For example if I am outdoors and hiking? Must have is a wood saw on my SAK. Just in case. If I am in the city? I want something that if necessary can cut metal and wood.

Better to have it and not need it, I say.

I tend to favor the Ranger and Craftsman because of that requirement I have.

[Tyler_]

Yeah I haven't used the wood saw much, but when I did, to lop off some branches of a small tree, it really is impressive how quick and easy it cuts.

[J Mackrel Jones]

When camping the wood saw is almost silent when cutting branches for the fire, as opposed to the loud Snap of breaking them over your knee.  Or was that my knee?
The SAKOM's use of the wood saw as a rangefinder is better done with the fish scaler...

[ironraven]

I like the wood saw because it does a number on most plastics and of course wood- I've had it save the day several times. I like to have the file in my pliers based multi because... I do. *laughs* I think the two best combos I've found are Supertool and Vic Compact and PST and a Huntsman for the blend of tools.

That being said, I'd love to see a 111mm Vic with just the wood saw and the new stainless file, particularly if they diamond coated one of the sides. No openers, no blades, no backspring tools, no scale tools, just the saws.

[bladechick777]

My Custom SAK Has Both. 

[Carlos]

I'm a big fan of both tools, especially the newer Vic stainless steel file. That thing is smurfin' sharp.

This is one of my favorite Vics.

(Image removed from quote.)

It's a Ranger minus the scissors layer. Four thin layers makes it very pocketable with lots of cutting potential.

(Image removed from quote.)

There is a 111 production version of this: the locksmith.

[Pignut71]

So they do: http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Locksmith

Got to say, I find the back of the SAK saw brilliant for generating sparks from a Swedish army fire steel. (LM saw just as good).

[Styerman]

I've found lots of uses for mine , good on wood , plastics , paneling - all kinds of stuff .

Chris

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I got a Work Champ a few months ago because it's the only 111 mm tool with the saw, file, and pliers.  I use it most for camping and hiking.  It's a bit of a beast, but you can't beat it for those uses.  The pliers are just right for pulling cord through holes, holding a big stitching needle to sew up a torn packbag, etc.  And there's nothing better for pulling stems out of apples (I'm picky that way), and digging staples, thorns, and glass shards out of my bike tires.  I also use it frequently for putting split rings on other stuff, etc.

I love the wood saw on it because it's great for small branches for kindling and the like for making fires, and the blade does a good job for feather sticks and the like.  I've taken a few outdoor survival classes over the past few years, and have learned to make and successfully use a fire bow out of found materials and a boot lace.  There's nothing better for cutting a groove into the indentation you make in a hearthblock for a fire bow to catch the embers as you're using the bow on your spindle. 

The file is the most aggressive one on any tool I have.  I don't have a Charge or a Surge mind you, and I haven't actually tried it yet, but I'd be willing to use the file on my Work Champ to touch up the edge of my camping axe if I had to as well.  My work champ is pretty much a one stop survival tool; I feel like I could get by in the wilderness with just it and a few other things if I needed to.

[Gareth]

Also they're excellent on plasterboard (drywall).  I do agree however that I tend to find the metal file/saw more useful in the city.

[GigaHz]

I just cut a frozen pork loin in half with the wood saw. It worked very fast and it was about 3 inches in diameter. The wife was amazed. Costco sells these huge 2 in a vacuum pack things and 2 packs per sale. I should of divided them up better before freezing. I don't use either saw much.

[maximus0723]

When camping the wood saw is almost silent when cutting branches for the fire, as opposed to the loud Snap of breaking them over your knee.  Or was that my knee?
The SAKOM's use of the wood saw as a rangefinder is better done with the fish scaler...

Well, there will be thicker dry branches.
Here what helps is that you cut into the wood up to "X' length and snap it off.

Lots of times, you are looking for wood for many other purposes that require branch off a live tree which is hard to rip apart so you need a saw. Other times you may require wood of specific shape, so with the saw you get precise cut.

[bushidomosquito]

I just cut a frozen pork loin in half with the wood saw. It worked very fast and it was about 3 inches in diameter. The wife was amazed. Costco sells these huge 2 in a vacuum pack things and 2 packs per sale. I should of divided them up better before freezing. I don't use either saw much.

I'll never forget the looks I got when I completely processed a 200lb buck with a Huntsman. The saw was great for splitting the pelvis and removing the antlers, the scissors took care of the unpleasant butthole surgery and the 2 blades handled the rest. 4 other guys at deer camp had every manner of implement from big Bowie type knives to bone saws and mini hatchets to gut hooks and I got it all done with a 91mm SAK. 

[AimlessWanderer]

I just cut a frozen pork loin in half with the wood saw. It worked very fast and it was about 3 inches in diameter. The wife was amazed. Costco sells these huge 2 in a vacuum pack things and 2 packs per sale. I should of divided them up better before freezing. I don't use either saw much.

I'll never forget the looks I got when I completely processed a 200lb buck with a Huntsman. The saw was great for splitting the pelvis and removing the antlers, the scissors took care of the unpleasant butthole surgery and the 2 blades handled the rest. 4 other guys at deer camp had every manner of implement from big Bowie type knives to bone saws and mini hatchets to gut hooks and I got it all done with a 91mm SAK.

That's fantastic

[Northern Geek]

I just cut a frozen pork loin in half with the wood saw. It worked very fast and it was about 3 inches in diameter. The wife was amazed. Costco sells these huge 2 in a vacuum pack things and 2 packs per sale. I should of divided them up better before freezing. I don't use either saw much.

I'll never forget the looks I got when I completely processed a 200lb buck with a Huntsman. The saw was great for splitting the pelvis and removing the antlers, the scissors took care of the unpleasant butthole surgery and the 2 blades handled the rest. 4 other guys at deer camp had every manner of implement from big Bowie type knives to bone saws and mini hatchets to gut hooks and I got it all done with a 91mm SAK.

That's fantastic

++

 

Bet it needed a good cleaning afterwards though?

[maximus0723]

I just cut a frozen pork loin in half with the wood saw. It worked very fast and it was about 3 inches in diameter. The wife was amazed. Costco sells these huge 2 in a vacuum pack things and 2 packs per sale. I should of divided them up better before freezing. I don't use either saw much.

I'll never forget the looks I got when I completely processed a 200lb buck with a Huntsman. The saw was great for splitting the pelvis and removing the antlers, the scissors took care of the unpleasant butthole surgery and the 2 blades handled the rest. 4 other guys at deer camp had every manner of implement from =big Bowie type knives to bone saws and mini hatchets to gut hooks and I got it all done with a 91mm SAK.

That is an awesome story.

[bushidomosquito]

I just cut a frozen pork loin in half with the wood saw. It worked very fast and it was about 3 inches in diameter. The wife was amazed. Costco sells these huge 2 in a vacuum pack things and 2 packs per sale. I should of divided them up better before freezing. I don't use either saw much.

I'll never forget the looks I got when I completely processed a 200lb buck with a Huntsman. The saw was great for splitting the pelvis and removing the antlers, the scissors took care of the unpleasant butthole surgery and the 2 blades handled the rest. 4 other guys at deer camp had every manner of implement from big Bowie type knives to bone saws and mini hatchets to gut hooks and I got it all done with a 91mm SAK.

That's fantastic

++

 

Bet it needed a good cleaning afterwards though?

You know it. That was 3 years ago and I took that one apart for mod parts not long ago. I found more than a few little deer bits in there.

[Ashley]

Now that is cool!

[Zed]

I do like to have a saw for most jobs so my PT is prepared for most sawing jobs now 

[Accujohn]

I love the saw option. Not always used, but i use it a few times every year and always saved the day