What do you use your saw for?

[mtds]

Recently I won an auction for a Spartan, but the seller shipped me a Camper.  I offered to return it, but he felt it wasn't worth the trouble and told me I could keep it if I liked.  I already have more Spartans than any sane person would need, and the Camper (with ruby scales) appeared "carried but unused", so I agreed to keep it.

I haven't found a use for a saw in my daily routine or even on an occasional basis.  Maybe I'm missing some secondary uses for it... What do you use your saw for?

[Toolslinger]

Where possible, I mod out the saw or choose to carry a SAK or tool with no wood saw. If I need a saw, it's typically for duties that require a specialized one or something full size.

If I am hiking or camping, my SAK will have one (ie Outrider or Huntsman, etc) and then it's as a backup only for typical wood cutting duties on a small scale as I carry a dedicated saw.

On a very rare occasion I have used it to reach into crevices to fish something out. Usually something that the teeth can get hold off, like fabric or soft material.

[Nhoj]

I use the saw a lot when outdoors for cutting branches. Other than that it doesn't see much use

[Monrogue]

This is an interesting topic, as I have often wondered this myself.  While I like to have a saw on my multitools just in case, I rarely ever use it for wood cutting purposes.  I think I've read on here that some have used it on plastic   I have used it for the purpose Toolslinger mentioned-reaching into a tight spot for a fabric material or something (sock that has fallen between the washer and dryer in my case). 

Also, if I were to be out in the woods for whatever planned reason, I would likely be taking my sawback machete anyway.  I think the saw is one of my least needed tools on a MT/SAK, but it's still nice to have for the occasion that it comes in handy. 

[RedRamage]

I have used the wood saw for wood cutting on occasion, and it really works quite well give it's small size.  But as others have said, I wouldn't plan to use it on anything more than a small branch.  Honestly, I can't think of a secondary use at all... when I had a custom SAK made I put in a metal saw but that was probably as much for the file as it was for the saw.

[Crow]

Making harch cuts when fiddling something.

[Fattsgalore]

Nothing, but I like having it on certain SAKs.
My EDC SAK, nah. My hardworking or outdoors or "Just in case" SAK's, yeah.

Beside branches you could use it to cut dry wall and other materials if need be.

[PTRSAK]

The single most often used purpose for a SAK saw over the past 40 years for me has been MAKING ME BLEED.
I have drawn blood with one of then far more often than the blade. 

[Caranthanus]

The single most often used purpose for a SAK saw over the past 40 years for me has been MAKING ME BLEED.
I have drawn blood with one of then far more often than the blade. 

That's the righ SAK spirit, you can always find a purpose for a SAK tool 

[ducttapetech]

Good for PVC, CPVC, plastic and of coarse wood.

that's us mobile

[Toolslinger]

I think the saw is one of my least needed tools on a MT/SAK, but it's still nice to have for the occasion that it comes in handy.

I agree with it being my least needed tool. Yet, it tends to be one of the more common implements on SAKs. I think that has to do with a lot of their models targeting handymen and outdoors pursuits.

[colt 1911]

I use it for drywall repairs all the time.


Swiss Army knives .

[twiliter]

I've used the 111mm model saw lots more than the 91mm ones I've had. Various woods (esp. thin composites), plastics (mostly pipe), drywall, and occasionally bone and aluminum wire. It's still wickedly sharp, I can relate to the bleeding PTR, lol 

[ironraven]

It rocks for PVC when you only need to make one or two cuts, and I make raking and such from PVC fairly often. Use it when building with found, natural "lumber", cutting bone (after the bettles are done), rope that was soaked and then frozen, cutting hard rubber and various plastics (including circuit board sheeting), placing traps and setting up my hide when hunting, making repairs to all kinds of broken wood stuff...

Reason why I don't leave home without a SAK or LM with a saw. I probably use it about 10 times as much as I do the files.

[Jothra]

When I was still working construction, I used the saw almost daily. Victorinox saws — particularly the 111mm ones — make ridiculously effective drywall saws, and even the 91mm can be instrumental in breaking up flats (since you only have to cut about halfway through before you can just break the rest with Violence).

I also used my Outrider's saw when I was still experimenting with building tin whistles out of bamboo or electrical conduit.  It worked like a dream on those.

Now that I'm in a school setting full-time, I'm carrying a Climber in my pocket...but there's always an OH Forester in my bag, just in case. And if I ever get out camping, my Huntsman will probably go back in my pocket.

[CanadianLMfan]

I never use saws, at least in urban environments. That's why I prefer SAKs without them.

[Syph007]

Never needed it.  I was also cut really bad with one as a kid so I dont tend to like them much.  For me the metal saw/file is much more valuable than the wood say.  I think vic should release urban farmers with the metal saw instead off wood.

[False Cast]

I'm a traditional bowhunter and I like to cover a lot of ground while hunting so I pack light. My Vic saws (Climber and Farmer) are perfect for trimming small branches and limbs for shooting lanes while in the woods.

[Romanoat]

I use it for drywall repairs all the time.


Swiss Army knives .

I use it almost daily for cutting drywall. It's perfect for installing coax cable wall plates. Drill the hole for the cable, cut it open a bit with the saw, mark the 2 screw holes with the awl, and use the Phillips to run them home. Wall plate installation with nothing but a SAK.

[burnside]

I'm a traditional bowhunter and I like to cover a lot of ground while hunting so I pack light. My Vic saws (Climber and Farmer) are perfect for trimming small branches and limbs for shooting lanes while in the woods.

Good usage! 

Glad to see you made it over here! Welcome to the place were the SAK addicts gather. 

[Jothra]

I almost forgot -- the back of the saw is far more effective on flint strikers than the blade. Really!

[Rich S]

I find it makes a great back scratcher :-)

Rich

[papercut]

I love the idea of an urban farmer with a metal saw.  That would be an awesome urban edc to combine with a classic.

Cheers

[ducttapetech]

A farmer with both saws would be sweet.

that's us mobile

[Toolslinger]

When I was still working construction, I used the saw almost daily. Victorinox saws — particularly the 111mm ones — make ridiculously effective drywall saws, and even the 91mm can be instrumental in breaking up flats (since you only have to cut about halfway through before you can just break the rest with Violence).

Capital V violence. Lowercase just won't cut it .

[daverobson]

Never needed it.  I was also cut really bad with one as a kid so I dont tend to like them much.  For me the metal saw/file is much more valuable than the wood say.  I think vic should release urban farmers with the metal saw instead off wood.

Although I've owned Campers, Hikers & Farmers, I've never used the wood saw yet!

An "Urban Farmer" sounds more like it.
Do you think it would be possible to mod a Farmer by changing the wood saw for a metal file/saw using the same backspring?

[RamoN]

For cutting plastic bottles is great, cutting bones for cooking, etc. 

[Mr. Whippy]

Good for PVC, CPVC, plastic and of coarse wood.

that's us mobile

Yes!  All the time.

I use it for drywall repairs all the time.


Swiss Army knives .

I use it almost daily for cutting drywall. It's perfect for installing coax cable wall plates. Drill the hole for the cable, cut it open a bit with the saw, mark the 2 screw holes with the awl, and use the Phillips to run them home. Wall plate installation with nothing but a SAK.

This also!  It is a great drywall saw, but man, drywall is tough on the teeth. 

BTW, the teeth can be CAREFULLY sharpened with a triangular file.  I've done it a couple times after watching some youtube video on it.



How I use a Vic saw:  When out trailrunning or horseback, it makes a quick and effective tool for clearing fouling branches.  I actually got a chainsaw free that had been pinched in a branch, by cutting of the offending end of the branch.

When I'm installing electrical stuff, I use it all the time for adjusting openings and clearing cables in tight spots. 

I would say I use the saw much more frequently than scissors.

[Jothra]

When I was still working construction, I used the saw almost daily. Victorinox saws — particularly the 111mm ones — make ridiculously effective drywall saws, and even the 91mm can be instrumental in breaking up flats (since you only have to cut about halfway through before you can just break the rest with Violence).

Capital V violence. Lowercase just won't cut it .

It really won't!

This also!  It is a great drywall saw, but man, drywall is tough on the teeth. 

BTW, the teeth can be CAREFULLY sharpened with a triangular file.  I've done it a couple times after watching some youtube video on  it.

I've never had to sharpen mine, but I sure had to clean a lot of drywall dust out of it.

[ironraven]

Honestly, the best hand powered saw for sheet rock that is SAK sized, at least in my experience, is the fish scaler! Use a round needle file to just touch the edge up, and rips through dry wall without picking up a lot of crud.