Small test for saws...

[tanker]

I did these small tests some days ago on a pole made out of MDF or chipwood, those poles used for hanging curtains. Probably the saws on our multis are too much for this kind of material but what I was more interested to try in was the gripping, ease of use, etc.

Interestingly...the GAK was the more comfortable to use and a long saw is definitively an advantage. Close in second place I liked the Spirit, then the old Wave.
The least compatible saw with the MDF was the PowerLock. I think beacause the teeth are oriented backwards the MT jammed a lot (is that the correct word?)
At the end all of them cut through the pole like nothing, only the first two were faster and more comfy for me.
The next day I received the Surge and used the saw to cut the same pole and a chill run along my spine when for less than a second it got stuck and bend in a way that I tought the worse, all that in a nanosecond that seemed much more . Fortunately nothing bad happened and finally cut the pole.
By the way I prefer the teeth of the saw outwards the MT like the Spirit and the Wave in this case.
 

[gafftapegreenia]

The leatherman saws are meant as pull saws. Don't try to cut with them on the push or they will jam. I think they designed them as pull saws to reduce the chance of them being pent from push-pull use. You just got to remember to variate your pressure on the cut for the pull/push and they power through anything like a champ. Becomes second nature in no time.

[scrappy]

I bought some hard wood from jantz and did a similar test. the sak was best with a leatherman wave close behind. gerber was ok but the sog saw was horrible.

[Leatherman123]

I always find LM's the best for starting the cut.. Oh, and the SOG saw works best on wet wood. I am not a big fan of the Gerber saws at all though!

[Tinnie]

Good rest mate

Mid last year I remember I had to cut up at least a few cubic of ice out of a few old freezers only with my Ti saw....it SUCKED

[Poncho65]

I also like the saw on the Bear Jaw tools  very aggressive teeth around half the teeth as a LM or Vic but just as sharp To me most of these saws cut very much the same I don't really notice enough of a difference to matter

Of course only saws I have to judge between are Vics (SwissTool and SAKs) , LM, and Bear and Son tools

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Fine post mate

[J-sews]

Yes indeed, thanks for the test report.


For some reason the wood saw is something I almost never have a use for.

[Benner]

Yes indeed, thanks for the test report.


For some reason the wood saw is something I almost never have a use for.

Same here, yet it seems a high priority for quite a lot of people.  I'd be interested to know just how many get used.

[Craig]

Same here, yet it seems a high priority for quite a lot of people.  I'd be interested to know just how many get used.
[/quote]

For a long time I tried to avoid using the saw on my multis unless I really needed to, reasoning that I wouldn't be able to resharpen them and then when I really needed them they would be blunt. As a result they were just deadweight!

Deciding that this was daft  I've started using them more and I'm very impressed with the one on my Charge.

[Benner]

Can you give mean example of when you used it?  In an urban environment I see very little need to EDC a saw.  Saying that, I seem to anyway.    Have never needed it though.

[Leatherman123]

I like having a saw because I use the back for striking firesteels!

[Benner]

I like having a saw because I use the back for striking firesteels!

But surely you could use pretty much anything else to do that as well?

[Craig]

I used mine to cut away a section of floorboard when doing some plumbing work - really needed it then, a normal saw wouldn't fit into the gap under the bath. I also cut a Christmas tree in half to make it easier to take to the tip. I see your point, I don't need them that often but when I do the're very useful

[Leatherman123]

Ben, the saw works incredibly well for striking!!

[Benner]

I used mine to cut away a section of floorboard when doing some plumbing work - really needed it then, a normal saw wouldn't fit into the gap under the bath. I also cut a Christmas tree in half to make it easier to take to the tip. I see your point, I don't need them that often but when I do the're very useful

Perhaps I need to cut more stuff up.  

I guess I just see saws (he he) as a tool that you use, wear out, then throw away.  I don't see it as an "investment" if you get me, unlike a decent screwdriver for example.  I also think that if I needed a saw I'd just go and fetch a full sized one and do the task in a fraction of the time, the little saws on MT's seem like so much more hard work than a "proper" saw.  But I guess it does depend on the task at hand as you have just shown above.  

One situation where I do like to carry a saw is in the car, as I drive down narrow country lanes where branches are often in the road. That is why I have a Glock entrenchment tool in my car at all times as I not only have a saw, but I also have a decent shovel as well.  

[Benner]

Ben, the saw works incredibly well for striking!!

It probably does, but having a saw just for striking a ferro rod when lets face it you could get a similar result with an awl for example ( I have a video somewhere of me and Mike doing that  ) seems a bit of a waste.  But like I say I have one on me at all times as well, I just don't necessarily know why (Mike makes me  ).

[Anthony]

Can you give mean example of when you used it?  In an urban environment I see very little need to EDC a saw.  Saying that, I seem to anyway.    Have never needed it though.

True, it's probably one of the least used impliments in an urban setting..but when you need a SAW, nothing else will really do.

And even in urban enviroments you're surrounded by wood and plastic that might need to be sawed.

In general I've noticed the saws on multis really shine when you need to saw something in tight spaces.

[cliosguy]

Oh, and the SOG saw works best on wet wood.

so true

[tanker]

The leatherman saws are meant as pull saws. Don't try to cut with them on the push or they will jam. I think they designed them as pull saws to reduce the chance of them being pent from push-pull use. You just got to remember to variate your pressure on the cut for the pull/push and they power through anything like a champ. Becomes second nature in no time.

Yes indeed, thanks for the test report.


For some reason the wood saw is something I almost never have a use for.

Same here, yet it seems a high priority for quite a lot of people.  I'd be interested to know just how many get used.

As EDC (city) I have only used once the saw in all the years I have a MT so you´re probably right, it´s not the most used tool in most cases. Lately the saw along with the bottle opener are probably the least used tools of my MT but I prefer to have them anyway.

[appletree_man]

Good test.
I keep an old Vic Camper in my tool bag to use as a pad saw. I also used it to saw up last year's xmas tree