Metal file/saw or wood saw ?

[appletree_man]

Bit of a nonsensical question, but if you had to choose between a metal file/saw combo, or a wood saw, on a multi which would you choose ?

'Both' is not allowed 

I would choose the metal file/saw combo as at a pinch the hacksaw could be used to saw wood as well as metal, but the wood saw only has a single purpose.

It's all part of my ongoing quest to lighten my EDC tool as much as possible.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yeah, as much as I'm devoted to the humble woodsaw, if I could only have one, it'd be the metal file

[Benner]

Definitely the file.  Not a saw user on MT's.

[Mike]

Yep ...... gotta go with having the file.

Mike

[max6166]

Metal file most of the time, but I would possibly prefer the wood saw when in the outdoors. However, even then it is a tough call and I would have to think about it some more to be certain...

[Mike]

Metal file most of the time, but I would possibly prefer the wood saw when in the outdoors. However, even then it is a tough call and I would have to think about it some more to be certain...

So, that's a definite maybe?   

Mike

[Medic82]

This is a little tricky. Butt considering that I spend most of my time in the city surrounded by metal, I choose the metal file/saw. Butt like most other people in the forum I have more than 1 MT and I would just use a different MT for city and out in the bush wear, and I got the Swisstool that have both implements.

[max6166]

Metal file most of the time, but I would possibly prefer the wood saw when in the outdoors. However, even then it is a tough call and I would have to think about it some more to be certain...

So, that's a definite maybe?   

Mike

Yeah, I think that's what it is. 

At first, I thought a wood saw would be more useful in the "woods". But then I thought a metal file/saw might be useful for maintaining gear.

In most outdoors scenarios, and especially if I only had the multitool and nothing else, I would prefer a wood saw over a metal file.

If my multitool was a Surge, however, I would take the metal file so I could maintain the multitool itself. 

[Mike]

Metal file most of the time, but I would possibly prefer the wood saw when in the outdoors. However, even then it is a tough call and I would have to think about it some more to be certain...

So, that's a definite maybe?   

Mike

Yeah, I think that's what it is. 

At first, I thought a wood saw would be more useful in the "woods". But then I thought a metal file/saw might be useful for maintaining gear.

In most outdoors scenarios, and especially if I only had the multitool and nothing else, I would prefer a wood saw over a metal file.

If my multitool was a Surge, however, I would take the metal file so I could maintain the multitool itself. 

LOL! I hear ya! For me, if I'm in the woods, I prefer the saw. If I'm around my house, working on my lawn mower type stuff, I prefer the file. But in general, I'm not in the woods so the nod goes to the file. But yeah, it's kind of a tough call.

So, I guess it's a definite maybe for me too. Hahahaha, pretty messed up.

Mike

[american lockpicker]

I would go with the file.

[Biru]

If I'm in a generally urban area, I'd go with the file/saw. In an emergency situation there you're going to most likely encounter metal. In the wilds, I might choose the wood saw as I can think of but few areas you'd hit metal. Overall, I'd choose the file/saw.

[WhichDawg]

file for me too. I always have a big chopping knife somewhere near, I can "hack" the wood
but a file is very nice to have, if for nothing else it keeps my finger nails proper!

[AndyTiedye]

Metal file in most circumstances,  though it would be nice if SAKs and multitools had a greater variety of files.
Better still if they were user-replaceable (like the saw blade on the Vic Rescue tool).
I'd like to see a SAK with a backspring populated with files like the long nailfile, but ground on all sides and
hard enough for metal, not just fingernails.   A rat-tail file that fit into the scales would also be nice.
(Currently the only SAKs with rat-tail files are the Wenger Minathor and SG Fixit).

The wood saw really comes into its own on the big SAKs.   The bigger the better when it's a saw.
AFAIK NewRangers have the biggest saws in the multitool world.

If you can't decide between a saw and a file,  grab a Vic Locksmith before they're all gone.

[rp252]

For all around utility it would have to be the metal file/saw.  Its just able to do more than the wood saw.

Outdoors I tend to use a wiresaw on wood as I find them really easy to use and light to carry.  An absolute beast to clean though, and dangerous when poorly maintained.

Rich.

[Poncho65]

  I guess I would have to say file as well I tend to use it more than my wood saw but I do use my wood saw 2 Guess it just boils down to if your out in the woods or otherwise.  The file is more useful in more areas

[Hoghead]

My vote goes to the file too.

[J-sews]

Specifically:  Leatherman diamond file. Ain't none better IMO.

[Hoghead]

Specifically:  Leatherman diamond file. Ain't none better IMO.

I agree, the diamond file is great!

[american lockpicker]

What is so good about the diamond file?

[I'm Still Bison]

I have to go with the file too,I spend very little time out in the woods  anymore,and more time fiddling with mechanical thingies.

[Spoonrobot]

What is so good about the diamond file?

It has a larger utility curve since you can file harder metals than with the regular file. It also works better for field expedient blade sharpening.

[Poncho65]

What is so good about the diamond file?

It has a larger utility curve since you can file harder metals than with the regular file. It also works better for field expedient blade sharpening.

Yeah what Spoon said   you have much more utility with the diamond file  you can cut and file plus sharpen that is a big plus in my book only thing is you can't sharpen the tool that has it (unless you make the file removable or you have a Surge )