This is impressive. Let me be clear- this is one of the best review videos I've ever seen on TH-cam. This sets the bar for how to review a product or tool. This review was descriptive, it gave a contrast to a comparable product, it provided ample examples and demonstrations, it was objective and fair, it was exhaustive and covered all aspects of the product, it didn't try to sell something unnecessary, it provided clear summary and opinion of the product. If only all YT reviews could be modeled after this... 🤘 OUTSTANDING. 💯
Wow! Thanks for your wonderful comments kingtaj. You have really made my day. I will hold on to your comments and try to continue with the same format for other reviews that I have planned in the coming months. Take care
if you purchase a silky please remember to let the saw do the work. there is absolutely no need to use muscle or force when using a silky. These saws are made with dark magic i believe because they will do the work for you.
You did a great job on this video. I use Silky saws a lot, including my Katanboy 500. I have cut frozen pine, snow blocks for shelters and what not. Still as sharp as ever. Silky sells a special file for sharpening the Katana blades. I'm sure they will be happy to assist you with advice on the sharpening.
Awesome! I'm excited to see a comment from you. I watch many of your videos and I enjoy them very much. There are a bunch of us instructors here in Alberta, who watch your videos often. Good work. Thanks for your comments on the Silky saw. BTW, we are looking to host a Global Bushcraft Symposium in 2019. We would love to have you join us and many other instructors from around the world. We have been planning for over a year now and we are slowly filling the web site with information. Please check it out and be patient with our site as it will improve in the coming months. Here is the link: bushcraftsymposium.com/ Take care and keep up the good work
The use of the Silky saw uses less than half of the energy that the bow saw uses. This allows a person to cut wood much longer before exhaustion which makes the value of the Katana boy saw worth every penny of the money .
@Trey Benicio screw off with your BS ad that I see on EVERY channel and your other comment with a different name that always confirms what you say is true. Get lost.
@@garyminick1050 this aint true. with a good blade for drywood, bowsaws cut different, still very efficient, to say least. they can be handled way more ergonomically than folding saws with a broom handle, someone else can even grab the bowsaw in the front. you will feel the difference after a while using both models.
I am not a professional arborist and not willing to spend the extra money or carry the bulky saw around. The bow saw suits my needs just fine and it does it at a reasonable price. Thank you for the comparison.
The best presentation and comparison of saws I have ever seen. Also, both the tips and the sawing lesson you generously give are amazing! Congratulations and thank you.
This was so informative! A lot of times people are testing a saw, who clearly aren't very experienced with a particular type of saw, but you really seem to know what you're doing with both of them. Very helpfull!
who cares i got my bow saw free and you can get them for a few $ at walmart you would not even talk about or make a review if you did not get that silky saw free who is stupid and willing to spend $$$$ on one. unless your a retard and need to buy a shinny new thing thats trending online.
I just bought a Gomboy 240. I'm not even considering buying a Katanaboy or a bow saw, but I watched this entire video all the way through because it's just a great review and very informative. Great video!
@@NatureAliveAdventures the 240 honestly is the best overall size.. I've used a 330, 300, 270, 240, 210, and 180, I prefer using the 240 most of the time and medium teeth.
The most comprehensive review (after watching about 35 videos) I've seen. In addition there are safety tips. Watching the Silky cut is like watching a hot knife slice through butter. There are those who claim the ax is a better tool then the saw for bushcraft. I'd like to see a similarly thorough comparison and review between the ax and the saw. Thanks for this video!
Wow Michael, Thanks so much for your comments. It really makes me feel that the time spent on the videos is worth it. Seeing an ax vs saw comparison would be very interesting. Take care
Dale, that is the most exhaustive comparison between the traditional bow-saw an the Silky Katanaboy... actually, it may be the only comparison I have seen done...The coincidence is that myself and another TH-camr from BC were having this discussion recently... wondering is the investment was worth it...This will help myself and anyone who is considering putting down that kind of money on the Katanaboy...A big thankyou
Awesome Mark. Thanks for that. Time will tell how the Katanaboy 650 lasts through hard use and time. The hinge and locking pin could be an issue as moving parts tend to wear out or break. One interesting thing I have noticed is that I get excited at the chance to use the saw lol. It's true, I can't wait for the next trip or task that requires cutting. Take care.
I totally understand the excitement factor: even after many uses, I still love an excuse to use my BigBoy 2000. They cut so darned easily, and fast! As I mention above: I keep the hinge tight enough, so the blade won't open on its own. Keeping the hinge tight, will reduce hinge wear and saw flex - especially on a big saw like the KatanaBoy. The moving parts on my smaller models are rugged, and really don't get much wearing.
This review should be set as a standard for how they should be done! Informative and well done. Not some hot headed dude yelling and talking way to fast and much with little information. Good job!
Thanks for your comments Jonathan. Great to hear your words. I agree that there is a lot of fluff floating around in the TH-cam world. I will continue to try my best to deliver straight forward information and tips. Take care
I have both a silky and a bow saw. I like both for different reasons. They are both solid choices. The biggest perk the bow saw has over the silky is overall cost weather that's the saw itself or replacement blades. The bow saw is great for leaving at a cabin or in the truck for that reason. The silky blows the bow saw out of the water for cutting speed tho.
Probably the best review i have seen on this Silky saw yet...never tried one myself, though i know many other bushcrafters have and really like them...much appreciated!
Impressive safety tips. Often, safety tips repeat well-understood general practices. But you offered some great, truly pragmatic techniques (like reaching through the frame of the bow saw) that are literally limb saving techniques. That is awesome. It's what we need from good videos like this. It's the kind of thing you learn from a good father. Well done!
I love your comment - "the kind of thing you learn from a good father". My Dad was a significant mentor to me and was important in developing my empathetic and practical love for the outdoors. Thanks so much. Take care
Excellent detailed review! Just ordered the katanaboy 650. Can't wait to use it. Would make an excellent trail maintenance saw, but first off I'm going to limb up my 6 acres.
My electric company came through a few years ago trimming back branches in left me with 2 stumps that were 9 and 10 feet tall. Those stumps were 22 inches across. I borrowed my brothers Katanaboy 650. It is a beast. But you are correct it is not something I need. But I was glad to be able to borrow one when I needed it.
Silky katanaboy: $140 and $100 replacement blades, cuts a bit faster, cuts slightly larger logs. Bow saws: Easily found at flea markets for a buck or two with blades, easily sharpened in the filed, spare blades take up almost no space and weigh almost nothing, much more versatility, etc. Silky saws are cool, i'm not knocking them, but not worth it unless you have the money to burn on them when a bow saw will do more for you than a silky for literally a hundredth of the price if you check out your local flea markets every weekend.
Thanks for your comments Robert. I totally agree with your conclusions. It is a bit of a luxury item and a person can certainly get by without it. Take care.
Canadians & Alaskans, have a whole different world of wood & uses for it. I found this video very informative, & obviously you know your woodcraft. In Central Illinois, we aren’t really into cutting trees, but after storms, we need saws, hand & chain saws, and axes. I’ve got them all, but my proficiency with them aren’t near as good as your skills. I bought the 14” Silky 2000, & the case, & really like it, but still don’t like to have to use it. Hand saws are safer to use, when working by yourself. I never worry about running out of gas, or if it’s stale. We are set up for natural gas & electricity, so we probably won’t wear one out, in our lifetime. I still haven’t outgrown my search for knowledge & appreciate you sharing yours, thanks.
Yeah so by the same logic we don't need a kitchen knife because a tin can lid cuts food too. Also get rid of your car because public transportation will get you everywhere you need to go. Lol.
A most excellent review, thank you! I am very impressed with my Silky BIGBOY 2000, with XL teeth. I also have a Silky GOMBOY 210 Medium teeth. I use the smaller GOMBOY to cut small diameter wood, and the medium teeth still cut amazingly fast. The BIGBOY excels at larger wood, but the XL teeth chatter on small diameter cuts - especially green wood. Silky makes many sizes and shapes of saws, even pocket sized. I have found, that ordering straight from Japan on eBay - saves significant money. As many have pointed out, you do need to use proper technique - to avoid bending the Silky blade on the push stroke. Just practice, and then that's not an issue. I recently used a brand new bow saw, and was surprised how poorly it cut - compared to my Silkys. I hadn't used a bow saw in years, and now I'll be sure to reach for the Silky - every time!
Wow! Great comments! Thanks so much. It's nice to hear your feedback on the silky saws and it really confirms my findings. You have my interest up for exploring more of the silky saws mentioned. Have you ever had issues with the hinge breaking? Great tip on shopping with ebay directly from Japan. Thanks again and take care.
No issues with the very robust hinge, on my BigBoy 2000. I did have to tighten it once, but not since. I keep the hinge just tight enough, so the blade won't open on its own. Keeping the hinge tight, will reduce hinge wear and saw flex - especially on a big saw like the KatanaBoy. I did have the blade release button's hinge rivet start to slide out. I just peened it with a hammer, and it's secure now. It just wasn't peened quite enough at the factory.
Great vid...thx. Just spent the morning here in London, England sawing and spliting Ash logs. The tree had Ash dieback disease. The bowsaw struggled on bigger logs as it blunted and buildup of deposits on the blade made things very sticking. Don't think I can justify cost of the Katana. So, bowsaw, change blade regularly, recognise limitations.
I've watched a lot of videos on these massive saws recently even though I only have interest in compact saws for backpacking, and I have to say, this was by far the best comparison video I've seen. Kudos.
Thanks for your comments Zachary. I really appreciate it. Silky does make other more compact saws that are very good. Take care and have fun backpacking.
I bought the Silky F180 over a month ago for minor trail maintenance and have been loving it. Super easy to whip it out of a water bottle pocket and slice through blowdowns while I'm hiking. It barely weighs anything! I stumbled down a massive rabbit hole watching a lot of survival and bushcraft videos for a lot of things I'll never use and have seen a lot of bad or dishonest comparison videos with saws and other tools. I think you did a great job.
I have the Katanaboy 500 and the Gomboy with XL teeth. Katanaboy is too large and bulky to haul around on foot. It is a basecamp or jeep/quad tool IMO. Gomboy is almost as effective, and works much better in tight spaces.
Just great instructions for both saws! I learned a lot. Katana is out of consideration $$$. You answered, without me asking, a question I was researching for the last hour on the internet : when I use a bow saw (I have 3, flea market 1$ each) the blade sticks, you use the word '"catches", in the 6-10 inch diameter live poplar tree I am cutting down, after about 10 draws. It is not binding because of pinching with the leaning tree trunk , more like sap or something glueing the blade in the slit. (Because I'm on my hobby farm, that's when I pull out my Ryobi battery powered saws-all with a 10 inch blade. ) I was wondering if it is because the teeth are not angling out enough to make a thick groove? or is there some kinda glue that builds up on the blade? Your answer is that the blade may be bent and I should get a new one. Thank you so much. By the way,anything up to 4 inch diameter, I use my Fiskars-27 inch handled-PowerGear-Bypass-Lopper, rated for just 2 inches, but wow it is great for de-branching felled trees. Anything above 10 inch diameter a rented gas chainsaw is most economical and carefree for me. Thank you so much for this detailed video, it is so helpful.
Thanks a bunch for your comments and insights Fay. A saw binding while cutting can also be attributed to the type of wood (green or dead), the moisture in the wood, and also if the saw blade has rakers or if it is designed to create an open kerf. (kerf describes the width of the saw cut). Some cheaper blades do not allow for the kerf, so the actual cut is too narrow for the blade to cleanly work through the wood. Take care
Nice Video, love the tipps and tricks and the insights! I do agree on the "don't spend 260€ as a total beginner" - Imagine getting the katanaboy blade stuck and breaking it. Something that happens so fast without experience and patience. I do think that something like a pocket boy would have been totally fine for many of the examples, though. I got both of the saws, and I wouldn't pick up the katana for anything thinner than 10cm, simply because it's a flip-open-motion from the pocketboy and "I got things to do". The katanaboy is more for cutting down fallen trees without using a noisy, loud and even more expensive chainsaw. Me: --- always --- - Silky Pocketboy - good knife (Spanish "Joker" currently) -- optionals (none or all depending on nature,job,intention) --- - Small axe (gränsfors forrest or woodmans) - Silky Katanaboy - Machete (Brazilian one) - Chainsaw (size, location, intention, time of year) And all of the above together cost less than that one big 1,20 blade Chainsaw for the Impossible stuff. Maybe do a video for for new "heavy garden saw wielders": - Take your time analysing whatever you want to cut! From weird weight-twists to widowmakers close by to tiny stupid nails from some kids experiment 20 years ago... it can all cause a very bad day. - Wear protection: eyes, ears, limbs - BOOTS Good ones. Ties ones. Firm ones. Save ones. (I've seeen junior firefighters show up in losely tied jogging shoes! To a chainsaw course! ) - carry 1st aid essentials (it might be a couple of miles&minutes to the next road)
Thanks for your comments. I like your tool combination set up for sure. Truthfully, I still take out my collapsible bow saw more often than the katanaboy. It's just too darn big to carry around. Many people have mentioned the PocketBoy and GameBoy saws as smaller alternatives. I haven't tried them though. Thanks and take care
@@NatureAliveAdventures Another really nice option might be something like the Zubat (or one of Silky's other fixed-blade saws). It's bigger than the PocketBoy so you have more capacity, and it also doesn't require unfolding so it's (arguably) even more convenient in some circumstances. For me personally, I think the ultimate lightweight setup would be a Zubat plus a small PocketBoy (possibly with finer teeth) for detail work and/or backup.
What a wonderful review! Probably I watched most of the YT reviews about saws and axes. Among those videos, I think this review is the most complete, comprehensive and fair comparison review. I watched this video 3 times already. You have a great style as an instructor and presenter. By the way, you look like one of the Hall Mark movie actors, Cameron Mathison. This is a complement. I appreciate your reviews and I fully enjoy them.
Wow! Thanks for your inspiring comments Bahk. I really appreciate it. I am planning to do another review of the Agawa Canyon folding buck saw soon. Your comments prompt me to get going on it. Thanks and take care
I purchase the silky katanaboy and have had it for over a year now and have been using it hard throughout the woods and it is a Beast. I haven't had any problems with it I haven't Broken Blade it's much easier to carry because it has that shoulder sling bag then a bow saw and it's been at the top of my pack or at the bottom of my pack in the middle of a bedroll or I've had it strapped along with side next to my axe as well. That thing goes through Frozen logs like butter I'm sold and I bought the spear blade off eBay for $67.
Thanks for your comments Tony. Great to hear that you have put the saw through hard use and found it to perform well. I totally agree with you that it is worth the effort to carry on trips any way possible. Thanks and take care.
Great breakdown Dale on the pros and cons of the large silky and the bow saws. I have used one once, it was good but I couldn't see packing it any where. Cabin or base camp definitely! Nate
Thanks for your comments Nate. It is certainly a bit of a pain to pack around. Not really a survival kit component. But super awesome for many situations. Take care.
Silky saws come in many sizes and shapes. A smaller Silky saw will perform miracles: my BigBoy 2000 easily cuts trees 6" in diameter. Larger trees just take longer.
A very good review. I liked how you made the effort to go in to lots of the small details. Very clear speaking & demonstration. Good clear filming. I would have liked to have seen you cut 'ALL THE WAY THROUGH a living tree in the upright position'. In the absence of seeing that, it is not possible to know if the saw jams in that situation. Maybe you you could make a short vid to demonstrate that aspect. The defect of the blade struggling to fold in to the metal sheaf is not good. Silky make good blades, and at the high price of their saws the quality control needs looking in to. Thank you for sharing this video on YT. I have subscribed to your channel. All the best, Martin in England.
Thanks for your comments Martin. I super appreciate it. In my experience, the katanaboy will quickly cut through standing trees up to 3" diameter without binding. Beyond 3" trees, i have to use proper 3 step techniques to prevent binding. Take care
just subscribed. I like your no bs informative style. and it's refreshing to find a guy reviewing products online who isn't just a fan boy. good job. and cheers from an alberta army guy
Wow!, Thanks a bunch Johny. I really appreciate your comments. Perhaps we will meet up at some point in Alberta. Take care and thanks for serving Canada for us.
Very good review / comparison. Unbiased and informative. I'm having a hard time spending the money for the Katanaboy, If I had enough use to justify it I probably would.
Thanks for your comment Catherine. The katanaboy is certainly more expensive up front, however, I have found that the extra cost has been worth it. On a recent 5 day winter campout at bitter cold temperatures, my wife and I put up all our stove wood by using the Katanaboy. For many years, I have been using a typical bow saw, and on this campout, I easily confirmed why the Katanaboy excels way beyond a bow saw. I am very satisfied with the saw and that alone, makes the hefty price tag worthwhile. Take care.
Thank you for this interesting video. However, I want to make a point. All bow saws are not make equal. I recently purchased two bow saws from different manufacturers with brand new blades and one would saw 4 times faster than the other one. Blade type and sharpness, tooth size, tooth set, right blade tension are all important aspects. Simply oiling the blade can make a bow saw cut twice as fast; for a large log, obviously, you will have to add oil a few times as you go through the cut. Last summer, I was logging white spruce, 6 to 16 inch diameter, with cheap 12 dollar bowsaws. On average, I would need 30 seconds for each inch of log diameter, so, clearly, that is not as fast as a chainsaw, let alone a logging head, but much more fun, a lot less noise and toxic exhaust fumes and smoke. I will look fot these Silky Katanaboys to try them.
Awesome insightful, instructional video. Your teaching instructionsl skills are amongst the best which remind me of some of the best teachers I had in my life. I like how you showed an important point of how to use a Bow or Folding Saw Safely by positioning the users Hand and Arm on the opposite side of the piece of Log being cut to avoiding a terrible accident with "Jump back". I like the Sliky Saws and will buy some. They are a very well thought out very effective design. Way to go. Best Wishes!
Very good point about not putting your hand beside the blade. I did that when I was about twenty and I nearly took my thumb off. I cut the tendon and a good way through the bone with a meat saw. I spent six weeks in plaster and a good few weeks doing physiotherapy and the thumb still does not stand up fully when I give the thumbs up.
Folding or Take-down pack saws are more practical for packing along than either in most situations that would require it. Designs for wooden take down saws are great because the saws are somple enoghvthat you can usual make a replacement part if you need it, even out in the woods.
Good one. One can use the saw to crosscut or rip a slot into a log or stump, and then push the spine of the saw blade into that slot. This leaves the teeth exposed and the blade held pretty fixed. Grab the small piece of wood with both hands and push the branch to saw against the stabilized blade.
Some bow saws come with a blade guard. I forget what brand I have, it's a yellow one from Home Depot, but it came with a plastic blade guard that just snaps on to cover the full length of the blade.
Thanks for your comments Javaman. Yes those plastic guards are often sold with the saw in the stores. Unfortunately, they are brittle and easily broken, especially in temperatures below freezing. Take care
Dale, good video but most people would roll the log a little or, if not possible, do a "rocker back and forth" motion to get that last inch or two with the bow-saw. I do, at least.
Thanks for your comments C. Your right, I could have moved the log. I was trying to demonstrate the position and the pros and cons of the saw as the main point. Under normal working conditions, of course I would have moved that small log. Take care,
Great video Dave! You mentioned nearly every possible aspect of using these saws, very instructing. But when it comes to cutting small branches, I'd prefer a smaller saw with smaller teeth. Personally, I always have a nice Victorinox SAK with a sawblade with me which I would use on that. But if you want to do it with the big Katanaboy I would suggest putting a hole near the end of the blade to feed some paracord through, then attach the handle firmly to a tree and the tip to your belt, put some tension to it by leaning back and start sawing! To prevent accidentially cutting yourself just put your index fingers to the sides of the blade and you should be fine. Another thought of mine: when cutting in tight spaces with the bow saw, you can easily reverse the blade (teeth to the inside!) and have only the blade to fit between the stems - seems a little awkward and certainly needs som practice, but it works out fine. Have a nice christmas time with your loved ones ! Best regards from Germany
Thanks for your comments Manni. Some great suggestions here. I have never considered reversing the blade on a bow saw, and this is something I now want to try for sure. Great idea.Another Idea I have had is to put a hole in the end of the katanaboy blade, and then build a bow saw frame for just the blade. Not sure why I would want this - but experimenting is a lot of fun. Take care and thanks again for the excellent comments. Merry Xmas
Its the best video about saws I have seen. As someone else mentioned about the bucksaw, you got a blade for green wood, but you explained well. But which one would you bring with you under extreme cold and winter conditions? With limited resources, far away from civilazation. I would go with the swedish army bowsaw (10-15 dollars surplus) and spare blades Sandviken or Bahco. The moving parts on the Silky feels not safe during extreme conditions. If it breaks, its useless. But spare blades for the bowsaw could be used to make a bucksaw. Thanks man! You really made a great review!
Great comments Bowdrillaz. I agree with everything you have mentioned. The katanaboy definitely is a green wood saw but it does a bang up job on dry wood as well. I also totally agree with your comments about moving parts, and this an area of concern with any folding saw. It sets us up for failure when the moving parts break. Under extreme situations, yes I would go with a standard buck saw blade and I know how to make up a saw with ease. Great comments. Thanks and take care.
If a part of my silky broke you could lash the blade to a thick branch and keep using it. Or you could mount it inside a piece of wood to make a non folding saw with wooden nails. Either way you're only as limited as your mind allows you to be.
Thanks for your comments girafmad. I have the same question as you. Another question I have is how long the silky saw will hold up as far as moving parts go? The hinge an the locking pin could pose a problem with long term use. Time will tell. Take care.
Yes sir. Looking back, I will go with 10 bow saws almost every time. I would lean toward a SK 650 if I was heading out in winter with a long stay in mind where I would need to put up a lot of wood. Otherwise, it's bow saws for sure. Take care
Makes sens to think adding a drilled (possible?) hole (or 3 for removable handle) toward the tip of the blade to enable inserting pulling options (for when second person help is available) ?
Dale. Pleas check out the Silky Genki Temagari 500. Compared to any Katanaboy it's much more maneuverable in tight places, no folding issues, lighter and easier to pack ! I love mine !
I am wondering if you need to use the tamagari with a two handed operation when cutting larger wood or troublesome wood. I know that sometimes it takes an extra hand to pull through tough stuff.
This is an excellent review and thank you for it. I thought of a possible solution for the tight spot issue with the bow saw although I haven't tried it yet so I'm not sure. If the saw were taken apart and put back together with the tree inside the door of the bow with the teeth of the blade also on the inside the d. I know it would be an entirely different dynamic when operating the saw like this, but I believe it would work in a lot of cases. Either that or just (very carefully) use just the blade. Another thing I thought. Most saws cut on both the push and the pull and some only cut on the push. I've found that, because our saws are thinner the can tend to bow when the saw binds on a push stroke. The Katanaboy is thicker and only cuts on the draw thus eliminating bowed (and therefore weakened) and bent saw blades. There was some excellent thought put into that design. Thank you for your efforts.
Thanks so much Bruce. Great comments and observations. One question that come up for me is the efficiency of the silky katanaboy versus other push/pull saws. How much energy is used up on the push stroke that unfortunately isn't doing an cutting? I'm not sure how a person could measure this and compare with other saws, and truthfully, I'm not overly concerned about the outcome. Just using the Katanaboy has me convinced that it is the superior saw for many reasons. Thanks again and take care.
A smaller (tool box style) handsaw can be pushed and pulled through the wood at least twice as fast as the Silky 650 since the strokes are smaller and the saws are lighter weight and you're able to put you own weight and strength into those smaller saws whereas you're weight and strength are at a distance from the log with the Silky saw. So, I had a few handsaws that beat the Silky 650 in cutting comparisons time wise through a 6 1/2 inch diameter hardwood log. A little buyers remorse here... since I don't typically cut green wood or softwood trees.
@@gonetoheck Your saw stroke has to be equal to, or exceed the diameter of the log, or the teeth won't clear the chips, and slow you down considerably, therefore the saw has to be a minimum of twice as long as the wood diameter, ideally longer, otherwise you'll be banging the handle/your fingers on the wood with every stroke, to use it most efficiently. Only the TINIEST of saws, for small jobs, would require any weight or strength applied to it. The weight of the saw should do the work, leaving the large arm/shoulder/back muscles to run the saw, otherwise you're engaging smaller (hand/wrist/forearm) muscles that will accelerate fatigue, and decrease efficiency.
@@ve3yjt You and I do not saw the same way. I will always use muscles to power through wood if I'm using a typical 20" carpenter saw with large teeth. The more flimsy blade on the Katanaboy does not allow for much downward pressure to be used since it is so long. The carpenter saw weighs next to nothing...it's weight by itself isn't going to put much pressure on the cutting surface. I don't have all day to make that perfect slice through the wood that using less muscle might achieve.
For packing there are a number of break down style bow saws, that are easily packable, and not all bowsaw blades are created equal. I do wonder how a one man crosscut saw would compare to either of these. thanks for the excellent review
Thanks for your comments Bill. I have been asking myself the same question. I have a two person crosscut saw in my shop but it's not very practical. I also would love to get my hands on a good crosscut saw to try. Many foresters packed the crosscut saw daily for work but it may be to cumbersome for bushcrafting and camping. Thanks and take care.
I have been toying the idea of buying a katanaboy sawblade and attaching a "T" or "D" style handle on it, so it would be similar to a narrow crosscut saw
Silky saw, despite the high price, has numerous advantages. This is especially important to saw from below. Often, the logs experience tension leading to jamming of the saw. In these cases, it is necessary to saw from below. The long handle of the saw of the Katanaboy is sometimes useful, sometimes, on the contrary, it creates inconvenience. This saw has only one position of fixation of the blade, unlike the Bigboy saw, for example. This is not very convenient when sawing logs lying on the ground. A bowsaw with a long blade (76-90 cm) has high performance, not much inferior to the Silky saws , but is much less universal. The great advantage of such a saw is the weight of the blade. For a blade 76 cm long, the weight is 80 g. The frame for this saw can be easily made in the forest from available materials.
I always used to hands on the bow saw one on the top to add weight downforce weight and obviously the strongest arm pushing and pulling they kind of work together
Very good review and comparison video. I have had the katanaboy 500 for a few years now and I love it, although for day trips with a 35l backpack it is cumbersome to have on the outside of the pack so I am considering the big boy as an inside pack carry, I don't know if I will make the switch or not because like you I am rather fond of the cutting power of a bigger saw. There is a way to lock the saw in place though, but it's awkward as hell to set up and a regular bushcrafter probably doesn't carry any drill bits. If you want to have a play with the idea yourself though, I will describe it to you. I use a leatherman plus a spade bit and ratchet extension to drill holes. So if you find a nice solid or heavy ground log or waist height or what ever, Drill a hole down with at least a one inch spade bit. You need three holes but I don't recommend the full length of the saw, two thirds the length apart at most to avoid the flex. Cut three or four inch and an eight pegs about 4-6 inches long. When you lightly hammer this peg in, make a cut down the middle of each just like you would with an axe handle then remove it. You want to cut almost all the way through, so if it's a 6 inch peg you cut about 4.5 inches down the centre, and if you feel you need to, reinforce the end with a cordage binding. If you cut three pegs the middle one supports the spine but the cut down the middle only has to be about a quarter inch above the surface of your support log. Just hammer this peg in the middle hole as far as it will go, then cut down the middle of it, then trim the length exposed. So to set up this cutting bench. put your pack or coat on the log to support the handle with the teeth upwards, place your long pegs over the blade then lightly hammer these pegs into the holes in until the spine rests on your middle peg. Your coat should support the handle well enough, and the pegs keep the blade from wobbling side to side and keep it locked in an upright position. Does all that make sense to you? There are obvious dangers if there are more than one person in camp, if it's just you it's unlikely you will forget how sharp those teeth are and that they are exposed. If the pegs jam you can still cut your way through them, they can be tricky to remove especially if it's raining. But it does make a very easy way of trimming up the trimmings though, You can just place all your scraps on one side, take a seat and lift them up one at a time. And before you ask no, I haven't taken the step to put ideas like this on video yet. If you like the system and make a video though, just credit me with the design.
Thanks for your comments 8th Sinner. There always is some kind of trade off with gear selection. In winter adventures, I prefer the katanaboy to process more wood with less effort. In summer months, the smaller and compact bow saw does the trick. Take care
Thanks for your comments J. I have heard from other viewers that silky does sell a special file to work with their saws and perhaps the Katanaboy as well. However I have not found clear information on the sharpening procedure that is required. This riddle will hopefully be solved soon. Take care.
Hi, enjoyed your comparison, but at the 5:00 mark, you counted 20 strokes for the Katana Boy, but 10 r those did not count as it only cuts on the pull. So, in fact, the KB went much deeper in 10 cutting strokes, than the bowsaw in 20!
What position do you mean? The Katanaboy does have two locking stages. Is that what you are suggesting? I am interested to discover any options for using the saw. Take care.
Thanks for the in depth review Nature Alive and just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about Bow saws... My Katanaboy 650 is on it's way and you my friend reassured me I have made a great choice in saws ... btw, I'll also need to pick up a bright green whistle that matches the handle of the my new saw as well ;) Thanks again NA!
Thanks for your comments Grinder. You just made my day. Sorry it took so long for me to reply. I hope you have a lot of fun with your Katanaboy. Take care.
Bow saw has one other advantage: it can be used to great effect with 2 people. Power in both directions on a double cutting saw makes for lighter work.
Good commentary Sir. I realize that no one has told you the correct pronunciation, however some of us have a difficult time staying tuned it because the incorrect pronunciation is like SCRATCHING FINGER NAIL on the blackboard. If I may, with all due respect, offer: Nihon-go or the Japanese spoken language does not utilize accented syllables as we do in English. In the West we say tan as if getting a tan. We borrow the n from the last syllable. Nihon-go would say also use three syllables but with monotone cadence. We say KaTAN nah.. Japanese say Ka Ta Na, pronounces Kah-Tah-Nah. Sakiyama, T., Oberloh, D., (2005) . Hakujiten no Bugei, Densho Publications. Honolulu.
Thanks for your comments. In the world of bushcraft and survival, there are many times when a person is forced to cut wood close to, or laying upon, the ground. It's just part of bush living and cutting close to the ground is just another way to skillfully gather wood. Take care
Doing this dulls the blade, yet, I use my Katanaboy 650 to cut the roots of stumps, when I'm pulling stumps. I dig around the stump to expose the roots, cut the roots with the saw, then using a wide, nylon tow strap I pull the stump, like an old tooth, out of the ground.
Thanks for your comments Jack Pine. That's cool. I agree that its important to dig around the stumps to prevent pre-mature dulling of the saw teeth. Thanks and take care.
Great demonstration of the Katanaboy 650 Dale! I think I may have saw envy now, as my (recently like 26:52 ago) once impressive Silky Big Boy seems to pale in comparison. Are you able to add your web address in the video descriptions? I think that would help get more traffic to your web page. Take care.
Thanks Ratchety. Always great to see your comments. I have added a couple links at the end of the video. Hope you are doing well and looking for a bunch of fun this summer. Take care.
Great demo ! The Silky is a relative pleasure to use . Really an incomparable experience to other saws . A fair alternative to an expensive Silky is something like a Corona from Lowes,Home Depot Ir wherever . I've all three but the Silky just makes you smile and has a fitting name as well ; ) Thanks ! Love the channel .......subscribed .
Great Comments Geoffrey, thanks. I'm going to have to look into the Corona from Lowes and check it out. I really appreciate when viewers offer up great suggestions and ideas. Thanks and take care.
For cutting efficiency you should calculate how many cutting teeth are on the pull and the push stroke. I see a lot of cleaning teeth on the bow saw and none on the folding saw.
Thanks for your comments Leland. After a year of using my katanaboy, I have determined that it really works best on green wood. and unfortunately, the blade isn't all that great for processing a lot of dead wood. But I do still love the saw for everything that I mentioned in my video. Take care
I have the regular katanaboy and love it (big enough to get it done but small enough to take on a hike)! IMO if you are just camping or whatever just a few times a year then go cheap but if you need a saw often or have volume then they are worth it.
Thanks for your comments Tau, I totally agree with you. There are certainly cheaper alternatives and it is important to consider what your goals are when purchasing this expensive saw. Take care
Thanks for your question. I do not know if you can find a silky that cuts in both directions. The katanaboy does cut a tiny but on the push, but not significantly. Perhaps one of their other saws has different teeth configurations, and cuts on push and pull. Take care
Unfortunately your bow saw blade is for green wood, so it's already at a major disadvantage. And what quality is it? And what of its age? A fair comparison would be to get a Bahco or Sandvik blade for dry wood. It should cut through that log in the ten strokes, or at least come very close.
Thanks for your comments Scotia. You are correct regarding the silky and green wood. Wow, it cuts through green wood like crazy, and it's true that the silky is not quite as impressive when used on dry wood. However, I have found that it still out performs a typical bow saw with dry wood for many of the reasons I mentioned in the video. Unfortunately I am not familiar with the Bahco or Sandvik blades but I have noticed that many people are using these blades. There is always room to expand one's knowledge and experience with the many tools that are available. Do you know of a good video that demonstrates the Bahco or Sandvik blades in use, and do they work well with all the mixed variety of cutting operations encountered in hard bush use? Take care.
I got my Silky 650 last week... and finally used it today for topping off my sprawling lilac bush / tree. It did wonders with reaching and lopping those green limbs off with just one or two strokes for branches that were 3 inches diameter. Then I put the saw to task by comparing it nose to nose on a log 6 1/2 inches diameter of dried hardwood (ash or oak)...with 9 other smaller handsaws I have. The Silky did NOT win. The saws that did better were "tool box" style saws. The Irwin "marathon" handsaw with 20 inch blade completed the cut in 47 seconds. The Silky took an additional 21 seconds to complete it. The Irwin saw only cost about 25 bucks at a local Ace Hardware store... something like 8 teeth per inch (aggressive cut). So, for my purposes... and mostly cutting dead wood thats dry while out camping... the Silky's only advantage would be to reach higher branches. The Irwin saw would fit much better into my backpack... and is lighter weight. The Silky is more of an arborist's saw...specially made for reaching high up green branches. I doubt I'll be doing much tree trimming like that... so won't be using the Silky as much as I'd hoped.
Great video . at 6:50 you can cut those with the bow saw detach the blade maneuver the handle in thene re-atach the blade and saw away. I really like the katana boy because of the efficiency and precision of the cuts and the blade does bind up . I agree the blade depth help but also you are pull cutting so less likely to bind up plus you are pulling the dust out . keeping the groove cleaner. I would like to have both but the silky is cost prohibitive if I used it everyday I could justify it . I 'll stick with the bow saw.
Thanks for your great comments Hunter. Totally agree with what your have written, thank you. I like your comments about the dust pulled out and less emphasis on the push stroke - thus less binding. Take care
Any news on learning to sharpen that saw? I know that sharpening Japanese saw teeth isn't for beginners, and if they have hardened teeth you'll need some kind of diamond file.
@BakerVS one viewer mentioned that sharpening the silky saws is possible with a small learning curve. And he said that silky can recommend the file for the job. I haven't tried to sharpen that saw yet. I think it's possible and I have considered going not Lee Valley Store to ask the experts their opinion. Thanks for your question. Take care
Thanks for your comments Jerrold. Sorry for the late reply. I do still use my katanaboy fairly often. But truthfully, I do move back and forth between the katanaboy and my folding Agawa Boreal 21 compact bow saw. I comes down to the size of the job that I have planned for the day or trip. For light use I usually take my Agawa Boreal 21 because of the smaller size. And for big jobs like winter camping when there is a LOT of wood to put up, then I take the katanaboy. I enjoy using both saws anytime. Take care
Say Heah Dale. I still might get the Silky Katana 550. The next size smaller. But I have a Bigboy2000 and so far so good that's why I got the Agawa Canyon 21 Boreal Saw For me it's just the right size and much lighter than the Katana. My Agawa Canyon 21 Boreal Saw fold's down similar to the Bob Drustrude Bow Saw but better. I also have the Crazy Horse Scabbard with a extra Aggressive Saw Blade in the back. To exchange the blades is very easy. So far we built a perm shelter with it. Most of the work was with my Agawa. I used other Saws at different times. I could very easy attach my Agawa to even my Kodiak Gearsling or shoulder carry it with the Sling. Like I said, I might get the Katana 550, but do far so good. Oh, I also got the EZ KUT WoW Folding Saw its a fast cutter for its size. 1, 2, 3 and that's it on a reasonable size piece of wood it's that fast, I also can carry it in the open position in the Scabbard you buy ectra, But it's great when building.,,. p
Wow! Great information Paulie. I'm going to have to spend some time looking at all your suggestions. Very helpful - thank you. I figure I will really be putting the Katana 650 to work this fall and winter on our canoe trips and snowshoe trips into the hills where we put up a lot of wood for the wood stoves. Take care and have fun out there.
Nature Alive Thanx You Dale. Yeah The WoW Folding Saw l@@ks similar to a Corona 10" Curved Blade, But it's the way they arranged the teeth on the WoW Saw. The Agawa Canyon 21 Boreal Saw is simply made better and it also doesn't have any nuts and bolts to loose. It unfolds into shape and the tension is clamped down with the handle. I love mine.,,. p
This is impressive. Let me be clear- this is one of the best review videos I've ever seen on TH-cam. This sets the bar for how to review a product or tool. This review was descriptive, it gave a contrast to a comparable product, it provided ample examples and demonstrations, it was objective and fair, it was exhaustive and covered all aspects of the product, it didn't try to sell something unnecessary, it provided clear summary and opinion of the product.
If only all YT reviews could be modeled after this... 🤘
OUTSTANDING. 💯
Agreed 👍
Wow! Thanks for your wonderful comments kingtaj. You have really made my day. I will hold on to your comments and try to continue with the same format for other reviews that I have planned in the coming months. Take care
if you purchase a silky please remember to let the saw do the work. there is absolutely no need to use muscle or force when using a silky. These saws are made with dark magic i believe because they will do the work for you.
Please tell that to Wranglestar on his "Why I Stopped Using Silky Saws" video. I think he didn't get the Silky memo.
@@missingMBR someone crossed someone else "palm" it would seem to me .
@@garyminick1050 I don't know what you mean, sorry
Someone got paid for there comments to be biased.
bow saws are more efficient, calorie-wise and they take less effort on larger logs. They also can't break
this is the best comparison / review I've ever seen on youtube
Thanks for your comment Danny. Take care
You did a great job on this video. I use Silky saws a lot, including my Katanboy 500. I have cut frozen pine, snow blocks for shelters and what not. Still as sharp as ever. Silky sells a special file for sharpening the Katana blades. I'm sure they will be happy to assist you with advice on the sharpening.
Awesome! I'm excited to see a comment from you. I watch many of your videos and I enjoy them very much. There are a bunch of us instructors here in Alberta, who watch your videos often. Good work. Thanks for your comments on the Silky saw. BTW, we are looking to host a Global Bushcraft Symposium in 2019. We would love to have you join us and many other instructors from around the world. We have been planning for over a year now and we are slowly filling the web site with information. Please check it out and be patient with our site as it will improve in the coming months. Here is the link: bushcraftsymposium.com/
Take care and keep up the good work
The use of the Silky saw uses less than half of the energy that the bow saw uses. This allows a person to cut wood much longer before exhaustion which makes the value of the Katana boy saw worth every penny of the money .
Thank you for this comment. I found the file on Amazon.
@Trey Benicio screw off with your BS ad that I see on EVERY channel and your other comment with a different name that always confirms what you say is true. Get lost.
@@garyminick1050 this aint true. with a good blade for drywood, bowsaws cut different, still very efficient, to say least. they can be handled way more ergonomically than folding saws with a broom handle, someone else can even grab the bowsaw in the front. you will feel the difference after a while using both models.
I am not a professional arborist and not willing to spend the extra money or carry the bulky saw around. The bow saw suits my needs just fine and it does it at a reasonable price. Thank you for the comparison.
The best presentation and comparison of saws I have ever seen. Also, both the tips and the sawing lesson you generously give are amazing! Congratulations and thank you.
Thanks for your comments. Very cool. Take care
This was so informative! A lot of times people are testing a saw, who clearly aren't very experienced with a particular type of saw, but you really seem to know what you're doing with both of them. Very helpfull!
Thanks so much for your comments Stau. Really appreciate your observations. Take care
who cares i got my bow saw free and you can get them for a few $ at walmart you would not even talk about or make a review if you did not get that silky saw free who is stupid and willing to spend $$$$ on one. unless your a retard and need to buy a shinny new thing thats trending online.
I just bought a Gomboy 240. I'm not even considering buying a Katanaboy or a bow saw, but I watched this entire video all the way through because it's just a great review and very informative. Great video!
Thanks for your comments. I really do appreciate it. Now I have to check out the G240. Take care.
@@NatureAliveAdventures the 240 honestly is the best overall size.. I've used a 330, 300, 270, 240, 210, and 180, I prefer using the 240 most of the time and medium teeth.
The most comprehensive review (after watching about 35 videos) I've seen. In addition there are safety tips. Watching the Silky cut is like watching a hot knife slice through butter. There are those who claim the ax is a better tool then the saw for bushcraft. I'd like to see a similarly thorough comparison and review between the ax and the saw. Thanks for this video!
Wow Michael, Thanks so much for your comments. It really makes me feel that the time spent on the videos is worth it. Seeing an ax vs saw comparison would be very interesting. Take care
Dale, that is the most exhaustive comparison between the traditional bow-saw an the Silky Katanaboy... actually, it may be the only comparison I have seen done...The coincidence is that myself and another TH-camr from BC were having this discussion recently... wondering is the investment was worth it...This will help myself and anyone who is considering putting down that kind of money on the Katanaboy...A big thankyou
Awesome Mark. Thanks for that. Time will tell how the Katanaboy 650 lasts through hard use and time. The hinge and locking pin could be an issue as moving parts tend to wear out or break. One interesting thing I have noticed is that I get excited at the chance to use the saw lol. It's true, I can't wait for the next trip or task that requires cutting. Take care.
I totally understand the excitement factor: even after many uses, I still love an excuse to use my BigBoy 2000. They cut so darned easily, and fast!
As I mention above: I keep the hinge tight enough, so the blade won't open on its own. Keeping the hinge tight, will reduce hinge wear and saw flex - especially on a big saw like the KatanaBoy. The moving parts on my smaller models are rugged, and really don't get much wearing.
This review should be set as a standard for how they should be done! Informative and well done. Not some hot headed dude yelling and talking way to fast and much with little information. Good job!
Thanks for your comments Jonathan. Great to hear your words. I agree that there is a lot of fluff floating around in the TH-cam world. I will continue to try my best to deliver straight forward information and tips. Take care
I have both a silky and a bow saw. I like both for different reasons. They are both solid choices. The biggest perk the bow saw has over the silky is overall cost weather that's the saw itself or replacement blades. The bow saw is great for leaving at a cabin or in the truck for that reason. The silky blows the bow saw out of the water for cutting speed tho.
Totally agree with you. Thanks for your comments
Probably the best review i have seen on this Silky saw yet...never tried one myself, though i know many other bushcrafters have and really like them...much appreciated!
Thanks for your great comments woodsrunner. I appreciate your kind words. Take care.
Best review and comparison I have seen by far. Thanks
Thanks for your comments Patriot. Take care.
Impressive safety tips. Often, safety tips repeat well-understood general practices. But you offered some great, truly pragmatic techniques (like reaching through the frame of the bow saw) that are literally limb saving techniques.
That is awesome. It's what we need from good videos like this. It's the kind of thing you learn from a good father. Well done!
I love your comment - "the kind of thing you learn from a good father". My Dad was a significant mentor to me and was important in developing my empathetic and practical love for the outdoors. Thanks so much. Take care
Excellent detailed review! Just ordered the katanaboy 650. Can't wait to use it. Would make an excellent trail maintenance saw, but first off I'm going to limb up my 6 acres.
Thanks for your comments RDK. It sure works well for limbing and trail maintenance. Enjoy and take care.
My electric company came through a few years ago trimming back branches in left me with 2 stumps that were 9 and 10 feet tall. Those stumps were 22 inches across. I borrowed my brothers Katanaboy 650. It is a beast. But you are correct it is not something I need. But I was glad to be able to borrow one when I needed it.
Thanks for your comments Richard. The Katanaboy is a beast but out of reach of most people due to its high cost. Take care
Silky katanaboy: $140 and $100 replacement blades, cuts a bit faster, cuts slightly larger logs.
Bow saws: Easily found at flea markets for a buck or two with blades, easily sharpened in the filed, spare blades take up almost no space and weigh almost nothing, much more versatility, etc.
Silky saws are cool, i'm not knocking them, but not worth it unless you have the money to burn on them when a bow saw will do more for you than a silky for literally a hundredth of the price if you check out your local flea markets every weekend.
Thanks for your comments Robert. I totally agree with your conclusions. It is a bit of a luxury item and a person can certainly get by without it. Take care.
Canadians & Alaskans, have a whole different world of wood & uses for it. I found this video very informative, & obviously you know your woodcraft. In Central Illinois, we aren’t really into cutting trees, but after storms, we need saws, hand & chain saws, and axes. I’ve got them all, but my proficiency with them aren’t near as good as your skills. I bought the 14” Silky 2000, & the case, & really like it, but still don’t like to have to use it. Hand saws are safer to use, when working by yourself. I never worry about running out of gas, or if it’s stale. We are set up for natural gas & electricity, so we probably won’t wear one out, in our lifetime. I still haven’t outgrown my search for knowledge & appreciate you sharing yours, thanks.
this
Cuts slightly larger logs weighs about the same and is way faster, I was sold on the silky already, but now!!
Yeah so by the same logic we don't need a kitchen knife because a tin can lid cuts food too. Also get rid of your car because public transportation will get you everywhere you need to go. Lol.
I like this comparison because it is unbiased and you are not trying to convince me to buy either one
That's great feedback Used Tissue. Thankyou. Take care
Your conclusions in the end were correct about not letting others use it, and keeping it for personal use only.
Very instructive and well-produce video. Learned a lot. I've got the Silky 650. Expensive, but it performs very well.
outside of pruning a bow saw is better in every way
the katanaboy is still neat, though
Veery informative, thank you!
A follow up on how to sharpen the silky 650 would be very much appreciated :)
A most excellent review, thank you!
I am very impressed with my Silky BIGBOY 2000, with XL teeth. I also have a Silky GOMBOY 210 Medium teeth. I use the smaller GOMBOY to cut small diameter wood, and the medium teeth still cut amazingly fast. The BIGBOY excels at larger wood, but the XL teeth chatter on small diameter cuts - especially green wood. Silky makes many sizes and shapes of saws, even pocket sized. I have found, that ordering straight from Japan on eBay - saves significant money.
As many have pointed out, you do need to use proper technique - to avoid bending the Silky blade on the push stroke. Just practice, and then that's not an issue.
I recently used a brand new bow saw, and was surprised how poorly it cut - compared to my Silkys. I hadn't used a bow saw in years, and now I'll be sure to reach for the Silky - every time!
Wow! Great comments! Thanks so much. It's nice to hear your feedback on the silky saws and it really confirms my findings. You have my interest up for exploring more of the silky saws mentioned. Have you ever had issues with the hinge breaking? Great tip on shopping with ebay directly from Japan. Thanks again and take care.
No issues with the very robust hinge, on my BigBoy 2000. I did have to tighten it once, but not since. I keep the hinge just tight enough, so the blade won't open on its own. Keeping the hinge tight, will reduce hinge wear and saw flex - especially on a big saw like the KatanaBoy.
I did have the blade release button's hinge rivet start to slide out. I just peened it with a hammer, and it's secure now. It just wasn't peened quite enough at the factory.
One of the best comparative video. Thanks a lot.
Great vid...thx. Just spent the morning here in London, England sawing and spliting Ash logs. The tree had Ash dieback disease. The bowsaw struggled on bigger logs as it blunted and buildup of deposits on the blade made things very sticking. Don't think I can justify cost of the Katana. So, bowsaw, change blade regularly, recognise limitations.
Thx for your comments. Take care
Great video. I have the Silky Tsurugi 375 Curved Hand Saw. Your video will help me to use it more effectively.Thank you!
Well done. Thanks for giving an honest review of both saws.
I've watched a lot of videos on these massive saws recently even though I only have interest in compact saws for backpacking, and I have to say, this was by far the best comparison video I've seen. Kudos.
Thanks for your comments Zachary. I really appreciate it. Silky does make other more compact saws that are very good. Take care and have fun backpacking.
I bought the Silky F180 over a month ago for minor trail maintenance and have been loving it. Super easy to whip it out of a water bottle pocket and slice through blowdowns while I'm hiking. It barely weighs anything! I stumbled down a massive rabbit hole watching a lot of survival and bushcraft videos for a lot of things I'll never use and have seen a lot of bad or dishonest comparison videos with saws and other tools. I think you did a great job.
Great review. I'm thinking the Katanaboy 500 would be perfect for my northern forests. Making shelters, fires and trail work. Thanks for sharing!
I have the Katanaboy 500 and the Gomboy with XL teeth. Katanaboy is too large and bulky to haul around on foot. It is a basecamp or jeep/quad tool IMO. Gomboy is almost as effective, and works much better in tight spaces.
sharpuslf that's good to know. Most of our trees are skinny anyways, but they have big hearts! LOL. Take care.
Bushcraft North of 60 in my opinion if you want a smaller silky saw I would but something like the zubat the blade size is similar but more durable
Anyone who wants a katana boy but get told “buy the gomboy240” should skip the fucking around and buy a big boy XLteeth 14.5” blade
Just great instructions for both saws! I learned a lot. Katana is out of consideration $$$. You answered, without me asking, a question I was researching for the last hour on the internet : when I use a bow saw (I have 3, flea market 1$ each) the blade sticks, you use the word '"catches", in the 6-10 inch diameter live poplar tree I am cutting down, after about 10 draws. It is not binding because of pinching with the leaning tree trunk , more like sap or something glueing the blade in the slit. (Because I'm on my hobby farm, that's when I pull out my Ryobi battery powered saws-all with a 10 inch blade. ) I was wondering if it is because the teeth are not angling out enough to make a thick groove? or is there some kinda glue that builds up on the blade? Your answer is that the blade may be bent and I should get a new one. Thank you so much. By the way,anything up to 4 inch diameter, I use my Fiskars-27 inch handled-PowerGear-Bypass-Lopper, rated for just 2 inches, but wow it is great for de-branching felled trees. Anything above 10 inch diameter a rented gas chainsaw is most economical and carefree for me. Thank you so much for this detailed video, it is so helpful.
Thanks a bunch for your comments and insights Fay. A saw binding while cutting can also be attributed to the type of wood (green or dead), the moisture in the wood, and also if the saw blade has rakers or if it is designed to create an open kerf. (kerf describes the width of the saw cut). Some cheaper blades do not allow for the kerf, so the actual cut is too narrow for the blade to cleanly work through the wood. Take care
Nice Video, love the tipps and tricks and the insights!
I do agree on the "don't spend 260€ as a total beginner" - Imagine getting the katanaboy blade stuck and breaking it. Something that happens so fast without experience and patience.
I do think that something like a pocket boy would have been totally fine for many of the examples, though.
I got both of the saws, and I wouldn't pick up the katana for anything thinner than 10cm, simply because it's a flip-open-motion from the pocketboy and "I got things to do". The katanaboy is more for cutting down fallen trees without using a noisy, loud and even more expensive chainsaw.
Me:
--- always ---
- Silky Pocketboy
- good knife (Spanish "Joker" currently)
-- optionals (none or all depending on nature,job,intention) ---
- Small axe (gränsfors forrest or woodmans)
- Silky Katanaboy
- Machete (Brazilian one)
- Chainsaw (size, location, intention, time of year)
And all of the above together cost less than that one big 1,20 blade Chainsaw for the Impossible stuff.
Maybe do a video for for new "heavy garden saw wielders":
- Take your time analysing whatever you want to cut! From weird weight-twists to widowmakers close by to tiny stupid nails from some kids experiment 20 years ago... it can all cause a very bad day.
- Wear protection: eyes, ears, limbs
- BOOTS Good ones. Ties ones. Firm ones. Save ones. (I've seeen junior firefighters show up in losely tied jogging shoes! To a chainsaw course! )
- carry 1st aid essentials (it might be a couple of miles&minutes to the next road)
Thanks for your comments. I like your tool combination set up for sure. Truthfully, I still take out my collapsible bow saw more often than the katanaboy. It's just too darn big to carry around. Many people have mentioned the PocketBoy and GameBoy saws as smaller alternatives. I haven't tried them though. Thanks and take care
@@NatureAliveAdventures Another really nice option might be something like the Zubat (or one of Silky's other fixed-blade saws). It's bigger than the PocketBoy so you have more capacity, and it also doesn't require unfolding so it's (arguably) even more convenient in some circumstances.
For me personally, I think the ultimate lightweight setup would be a Zubat plus a small PocketBoy (possibly with finer teeth) for detail work and/or backup.
What a wonderful review! Probably I watched most of the YT reviews about saws and axes. Among those videos, I think this review is the most complete, comprehensive and fair comparison review. I watched this video 3 times already. You have a great style as an instructor and presenter. By the way, you look like one of the Hall Mark movie actors, Cameron Mathison. This is a complement. I appreciate your reviews and I fully enjoy them.
Wow! Thanks for your inspiring comments Bahk. I really appreciate it. I am planning to do another review of the Agawa Canyon folding buck saw soon. Your comments prompt me to get going on it. Thanks and take care
Best comparaison ever made on a product 👌👍🏻 great job mate, keep up the great job
Thanks, will do! Glad you liked it and thanks for the feedback. Take care
Excellent video!! You did a beautiful job of explaining all the differences between these two very different saws!!
Thanks for your comments Bushcraft Bros. Gonna check out your channel. Take care.
I purchase the silky katanaboy and have had it for over a year now and have been using it hard throughout the woods and it is a Beast. I haven't had any problems with it I haven't Broken Blade it's much easier to carry because it has that shoulder sling bag then a bow saw and it's been at the top of my pack or at the bottom of my pack in the middle of a bedroll or I've had it strapped along with side next to my axe as well. That thing goes through Frozen logs like butter I'm sold and I bought the spear blade off eBay for $67.
Thanks for your comments Tony. Great to hear that you have put the saw through hard use and found it to perform well. I totally agree with you that it is worth the effort to carry on trips any way possible. Thanks and take care.
Thanks and I still carry other tools but I use it in the same manners that you were describing. Salutes and respect...keep on bushcrafting Brother!😉
Great breakdown Dale on the pros and cons of the large silky and the bow saws. I have used one once, it was good but I couldn't see packing it any where. Cabin or base camp definitely!
Nate
Thanks for your comments Nate. It is certainly a bit of a pain to pack around. Not really a survival kit component. But super awesome for many situations. Take care.
Silky saws come in many sizes and shapes. A smaller Silky saw will perform miracles: my BigBoy 2000 easily cuts trees 6" in diameter. Larger trees just take longer.
A very good review. I liked how you made the effort to go in to lots of the small details. Very clear speaking & demonstration. Good clear filming.
I would have liked to have seen you cut 'ALL THE WAY THROUGH a living tree in the upright position'. In the absence of seeing that, it is not possible to know if the saw jams in that situation. Maybe you you could make a short vid to demonstrate that aspect.
The defect of the blade struggling to fold in to the metal sheaf is not good. Silky make good blades, and at the high price of their saws the quality control needs looking in to.
Thank you for sharing this video on YT. I have subscribed to your channel.
All the best, Martin in England.
Thanks for your comments Martin. I super appreciate it. In my experience, the katanaboy will quickly cut through standing trees up to 3" diameter without binding. Beyond 3" trees, i have to use proper 3 step techniques to prevent binding. Take care
just subscribed. I like your no bs informative style. and it's refreshing to find a guy reviewing products online who isn't just a fan boy. good job. and cheers from an alberta army guy
Wow!, Thanks a bunch Johny. I really appreciate your comments. Perhaps we will meet up at some point in Alberta. Take care and thanks for serving Canada for us.
Very good review / comparison. Unbiased and informative. I'm having a hard time spending the money for the Katanaboy, If I had enough use to justify it I probably would.
Thanks for your comment Catherine. The katanaboy is certainly more expensive up front, however, I have found that the extra cost has been worth it. On a recent 5 day winter campout at bitter cold temperatures, my wife and I put up all our stove wood by using the Katanaboy. For many years, I have been using a typical bow saw, and on this campout, I easily confirmed why the Katanaboy excels way beyond a bow saw. I am very satisfied with the saw and that alone, makes the hefty price tag worthwhile. Take care.
Thank you for this interesting video. However, I want to make a point. All bow saws are not make equal. I recently purchased two bow saws from different manufacturers with brand new blades and one would saw 4 times faster than the other one. Blade type and sharpness, tooth size, tooth set, right blade tension are all important aspects. Simply oiling the blade can make a bow saw cut twice as fast; for a large log, obviously, you will have to add oil a few times as you go through the cut. Last summer, I was logging white spruce, 6 to 16 inch diameter, with cheap 12 dollar bowsaws. On average, I would need 30 seconds for each inch of log diameter, so, clearly, that is not as fast as a chainsaw, let alone a logging head, but much more fun, a lot less noise and toxic exhaust fumes and smoke. I will look fot these Silky Katanaboys to try them.
or your comments Yosef. I am in total agreement with you. I to prefer to use the hand saws instead of the noisy, stinky, smoky chainsaws. Take care
Awesome insightful, instructional video.
Your teaching instructionsl skills are amongst the best which remind me of some of the best teachers I had in my life.
I like how you showed an important point of how to use a Bow or Folding Saw Safely by positioning the users Hand and Arm on the opposite side of the piece of Log being cut to avoiding a terrible accident with
"Jump back".
I like the Sliky Saws and will buy some. They are a very well thought out very effective design.
Way to go. Best Wishes!
Thanks for your comments Kaido. Really appreciate it. Take care
Very good point about not putting your hand beside the blade. I did that when I was about twenty and I nearly took my thumb off. I cut the tendon and a good way through the bone with a meat saw. I spent six weeks in plaster and a good few weeks doing physiotherapy and the thumb still does not stand up fully when I give the thumbs up.
Yikes! I have also had a few close calls with saw cuts across the back of my hand. As with everything, hindsight is 20/20. Take care
Folding or Take-down pack saws are more practical for packing along than either in most situations that would require it. Designs for wooden take down saws are great because the saws are somple enoghvthat you can usual make a replacement part if you need it, even out in the woods.
.
Excellent demonstration
Thank you for sharing
Do like your enthusiasm
on the Katanaboy
Well Done
...
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your comments and take care
If you held it in the secondary safety locking position could you then cut smaller material like the bow saw or is it just too aggressive.
Great video! I just bought a 650 myself and I think i can really use some of your tips :)
Good one. One can use the saw to crosscut or rip a slot into a log or stump, and then push the spine of the saw blade into that slot. This leaves the teeth exposed and the blade held pretty fixed. Grab the small piece of wood with both hands and push the branch to saw against the stabilized blade.
Some bow saws come with a blade guard. I forget what brand I have, it's a yellow one from Home Depot, but it came with a plastic blade guard that just snaps on to cover the full length of the blade.
Thanks for your comments Javaman. Yes those plastic guards are often sold with the saw in the stores. Unfortunately, they are brittle and easily broken, especially in temperatures below freezing. Take care
Dale, good video but most people would roll the log a little or, if not possible, do a "rocker back and forth" motion to get that last inch or two with the bow-saw. I do, at least.
Thanks for your comments C. Your right, I could have moved the log. I was trying to demonstrate the position and the pros and cons of the saw as the main point. Under normal working conditions, of course I would have moved that small log. Take care,
Great video Dave! You mentioned nearly every possible aspect of using these saws, very instructing.
But when it comes to cutting small branches, I'd prefer a smaller saw with smaller teeth.
Personally, I always have a nice Victorinox SAK with a sawblade with me which I would use on that. But if you want to do it with the big Katanaboy I would suggest putting a hole near the end of the blade to feed some paracord through, then attach the handle firmly to a tree and the tip to your belt, put some tension to it by leaning back and start sawing! To prevent accidentially cutting yourself just put your index fingers to the sides of the blade and you should be fine.
Another thought of mine: when cutting in tight spaces with the bow saw, you can easily reverse the blade (teeth to the inside!) and have only the blade to fit between the stems - seems a little awkward and certainly needs som practice, but it works out fine.
Have a nice christmas time with your loved ones !
Best regards from Germany
Thanks for your comments Manni. Some great suggestions here. I have never considered reversing the blade on a bow saw, and this is something I now want to try for sure. Great idea.Another Idea I have had is to put a hole in the end of the katanaboy blade, and then build a bow saw frame for just the blade. Not sure why I would want this - but experimenting is a lot of fun. Take care and thanks again for the excellent comments. Merry Xmas
I was wondering if you could partially close the Katanaboy to that first click and brace it with your foot for cutting small branches.
Excellent review and video fella, fair and unbiased 👍
Glad you enjoyed it
im thinkin the teeth and steel on katana boy are higher quality than the bowsaw blades..
Its the best video about saws I have seen. As someone else mentioned about the bucksaw, you got a blade for green wood, but you explained well. But which one would you bring with you under extreme cold and winter conditions? With limited resources, far away from civilazation. I would go with the swedish army bowsaw (10-15 dollars surplus) and spare blades Sandviken or Bahco. The moving parts on the Silky feels not safe during extreme conditions. If it breaks, its useless. But spare blades for the bowsaw could be used to make a bucksaw. Thanks man! You really made a great review!
Great comments Bowdrillaz. I agree with everything you have mentioned. The katanaboy definitely is a green wood saw but it does a bang up job on dry wood as well. I also totally agree with your comments about moving parts, and this an area of concern with any folding saw. It sets us up for failure when the moving parts break. Under extreme situations, yes I would go with a standard buck saw blade and I know how to make up a saw with ease. Great comments. Thanks and take care.
If a part of my silky broke you could lash the blade to a thick branch and keep using it. Or you could mount it inside a piece of wood to make a non folding saw with wooden nails. Either way you're only as limited as your mind allows you to be.
sehr gut und ruhig erklärt, vielen Dank…..und vorsichtig mit den Finger😊
The question I am left with is durability.
How long will the katana blade last? If the blade lasts long enough it may be long term cheaper.
Thanks for your comments girafmad. I have the same question as you. Another question I have is how long the silky saw will hold up as far as moving parts go? The hinge an the locking pin could pose a problem with long term use. Time will tell. Take care.
Great vid indeed. So here's the thing my friend. No ifs or buts. 10 bow saws or one SK 650?
Yes sir. Looking back, I will go with 10 bow saws almost every time. I would lean toward a SK 650 if I was heading out in winter with a long stay in mind where I would need to put up a lot of wood. Otherwise, it's bow saws for sure. Take care
Makes sens to think adding a drilled (possible?) hole (or 3 for removable handle) toward the tip of the blade to enable inserting pulling options (for when second person help is available) ?
Thanks for your comments. Yes I agree that changing the handle is an option, and I would like to give that a try sometime. Good ideas. Take care
Very good comparison,very Fair!
Thanks for your comments Pascal. Take care
Dale. Pleas check out the Silky Genki Temagari 500. Compared to any Katanaboy it's much more maneuverable in tight places, no folding issues, lighter and easier to pack ! I love mine !
Thanks for the hot tip John. I just looked at the Temagari 500. I can see why you love that saw. Perhaps it will become my next purchase. Take care.
I am wondering if you need to use the tamagari with a two handed operation when cutting larger wood or troublesome wood. I know that sometimes it takes an extra hand to pull through tough stuff.
This is an excellent review and thank you for it.
I thought of a possible solution for the tight spot issue with the bow saw although I haven't tried it yet so I'm not sure. If the saw were taken apart and put back together with the tree inside the door of the bow with the teeth of the blade also on the inside the d. I know it would be an entirely different dynamic when operating the saw like this, but I believe it would work in a lot of cases. Either that or just (very carefully) use just the blade.
Another thing I thought. Most saws cut on both the push and the pull and some only cut on the push. I've found that, because our saws are thinner the can tend to bow when the saw binds on a push stroke. The Katanaboy is thicker and only cuts on the draw thus eliminating bowed (and therefore weakened) and bent saw blades. There was some excellent thought put into that design.
Thank you for your efforts.
Thanks so much Bruce. Great comments and observations. One question that come up for me is the efficiency of the silky katanaboy versus other push/pull saws. How much energy is used up on the push stroke that unfortunately isn't doing an cutting? I'm not sure how a person could measure this and compare with other saws, and truthfully, I'm not overly concerned about the outcome. Just using the Katanaboy has me convinced that it is the superior saw for many reasons. Thanks again and take care.
A smaller (tool box style) handsaw can be pushed and pulled through the wood at least twice as fast as the Silky 650 since the strokes are smaller and the saws are lighter weight and you're able to put you own weight and strength into those smaller saws whereas you're weight and strength are at a distance from the log with the Silky saw. So, I had a few handsaws that beat the Silky 650 in cutting comparisons time wise through a 6 1/2 inch diameter hardwood log. A little buyers remorse here... since I don't typically cut green wood or softwood trees.
@@gonetoheck Your saw stroke has to be equal to, or exceed the diameter of the log, or the teeth won't clear the chips, and slow you down considerably, therefore the saw has to be a minimum of twice as long as the wood diameter, ideally longer, otherwise you'll be banging the handle/your fingers on the wood with every stroke, to use it most efficiently.
Only the TINIEST of saws, for small jobs, would require any weight or strength applied to it. The weight of the saw should do the work, leaving the large arm/shoulder/back muscles to run the saw, otherwise you're engaging smaller (hand/wrist/forearm) muscles that will accelerate fatigue, and decrease efficiency.
@@ve3yjt You and I do not saw the same way. I will always use muscles to power through wood if I'm using a typical 20" carpenter saw with large teeth. The more flimsy blade on the Katanaboy does not allow for much downward pressure to be used since it is so long. The carpenter saw weighs next to nothing...it's weight by itself isn't going to put much pressure on the cutting surface. I don't have all day to make that perfect slice through the wood that using less muscle might achieve.
Great review! BTW, there is a bigger silky called the katanaboy 1000!!! Wow! And @ $650 too!
Thanks for your comments John. Katanaboy 1000 - Yikes. That's getting too big and too pricey. Take care
For packing there are a number of break down style bow saws, that are easily packable, and not all bowsaw blades are created equal. I do wonder how a one man crosscut saw would compare to either of these. thanks for the excellent review
Thanks for your comments Bill. I have been asking myself the same question. I have a two person crosscut saw in my shop but it's not very practical. I also would love to get my hands on a good crosscut saw to try. Many foresters packed the crosscut saw daily for work but it may be to cumbersome for bushcrafting and camping. Thanks and take care.
I have been toying the idea of buying a katanaboy sawblade and attaching a "T" or "D" style handle on it, so it would be similar to a narrow crosscut saw
Silky saw, despite the high price, has numerous advantages. This is especially important to saw from below. Often, the logs experience tension leading to jamming of the saw. In these cases, it is necessary to saw from below. The long handle of the saw of the Katanaboy is sometimes useful, sometimes, on the contrary, it creates inconvenience. This saw has only one position of fixation of the blade, unlike the Bigboy saw, for example. This is not very convenient when sawing logs lying on the ground. A bowsaw with a long blade (76-90 cm) has high performance, not much inferior to the Silky saws , but is much less universal. The great advantage of such a saw is the weight of the blade. For a blade 76 cm long, the weight is 80 g. The frame for this saw can be easily made in the forest from available materials.
I always used to hands on the bow saw one on the top to add weight downforce weight and obviously the strongest arm pushing and pulling they kind of work together
Very good review and comparison video. I have had the katanaboy 500 for a few years now and I love it, although for day trips with a 35l backpack it is cumbersome to have on the outside of the pack so I am considering the big boy as an inside pack carry, I don't know if I will make the switch or not because like you I am rather fond of the cutting power of a bigger saw.
There is a way to lock the saw in place though, but it's awkward as hell to set up and a regular bushcrafter probably doesn't carry any drill bits.
If you want to have a play with the idea yourself though, I will describe it to you.
I use a leatherman plus a spade bit and ratchet extension to drill holes. So if you find a nice solid or heavy ground log or waist height or what ever, Drill a hole down with at least a one inch spade bit. You need three holes but I don't recommend the full length of the saw, two thirds the length apart at most to avoid the flex.
Cut three or four inch and an eight pegs about 4-6 inches long. When you lightly hammer this peg in, make a cut down the middle of each just like you would with an axe handle then remove it. You want to cut almost all the way through, so if it's a 6 inch peg you cut about 4.5 inches down the centre, and if you feel you need to, reinforce the end with a cordage binding.
If you cut three pegs the middle one supports the spine but the cut down the middle only has to be about a quarter inch above the surface of your support log. Just hammer this peg in the middle hole as far as it will go, then cut down the middle of it, then trim the length exposed.
So to set up this cutting bench. put your pack or coat on the log to support the handle with the teeth upwards, place your long pegs over the blade then lightly hammer these pegs into the holes in until the spine rests on your middle peg. Your coat should support the handle well enough, and the pegs keep the blade from wobbling side to side and keep it locked in an upright position.
Does all that make sense to you?
There are obvious dangers if there are more than one person in camp, if it's just you it's unlikely you will forget how sharp those teeth are and that they are exposed. If the pegs jam you can still cut your way through them, they can be tricky to remove especially if it's raining. But it does make a very easy way of trimming up the trimmings though, You can just place all your scraps on one side, take a seat and lift them up one at a time. And before you ask no, I haven't taken the step to put ideas like this on video yet. If you like the system and make a video though, just credit me with the design.
Thanks for your comments 8th Sinner. There always is some kind of trade off with gear selection. In winter adventures, I prefer the katanaboy to process more wood with less effort. In summer months, the smaller and compact bow saw does the trick. Take care
Excellent review and comparison.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great advice, thanks 👍👍👍👍👍
Your welcome George. Take care
Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought Silky Saws were designed to not be sharpened, but rather just replace the blade when dull.
Thanks for your comments J. I have heard from other viewers that silky does sell a special file to work with their saws and perhaps the Katanaboy as well. However I have not found clear information on the sharpening procedure that is required. This riddle will hopefully be solved soon. Take care.
Hi, enjoyed your comparison, but at the 5:00 mark, you counted 20 strokes for the Katana Boy, but 10 r those did not count as it only cuts on the pull. So, in fact, the KB went much deeper in 10 cutting strokes, than the bowsaw in 20!
you are wrong. all strokes count.
half the teeth cut each way on the bowsaw, so each stroke with a bowsaw is a half-count by your logic
Thanks for sharing, some great advice there.
I don't know if it was mentioned but there is position that will make it easier to saw wood on the ground with the silky
Unless the katanaboy doesn't have that feature
What position do you mean? The Katanaboy does have two locking stages. Is that what you are suggesting? I am interested to discover any options for using the saw. Take care.
Yes if you use the second setting it should bring the handle higher off of the ground and make it easier to cut the wood.
Thanks for the in depth review Nature Alive and just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about Bow saws... My Katanaboy 650 is on it's way and you my friend reassured me I have made a great choice in saws ... btw, I'll also need to pick up a bright green whistle that matches the handle of the my new saw as well ;) Thanks again NA!
Thanks for your comments Grinder. You just made my day. Sorry it took so long for me to reply. I hope you have a lot of fun with your Katanaboy. Take care.
Great, all the best from Spain
This is a really good, thoughtfull and informative comparison! Thank you very much :)
Niko Korhonen thanks for your comments Niko. Take care.
Bow saw has one other advantage: it can be used to great effect with 2 people. Power in both directions on a double cutting saw makes for lighter work.
Thanks for your comments. Your absolutely right. In that is one of the reasons I prefer the bow saw in many ways. Take care
Good commentary Sir. I realize that no one has told you the correct pronunciation, however some of us have a difficult time staying tuned it because the incorrect pronunciation is like SCRATCHING FINGER NAIL on the blackboard. If I may, with all due respect, offer: Nihon-go or the Japanese spoken language does not utilize accented syllables as we do in English. In the West we say tan as if getting a tan. We borrow the n from the last syllable. Nihon-go would say also use three syllables but with monotone cadence. We say KaTAN nah.. Japanese say Ka Ta Na, pronounces Kah-Tah-Nah.
Sakiyama, T., Oberloh, D., (2005) . Hakujiten no Bugei, Densho Publications. Honolulu.
Thanks for your comments Donald. I am always happy to learn and correct at any time. Great post. Take care
Who would ever cut a log on the ground, even with a chain saw.
Thanks for your comments. In the world of bushcraft and survival, there are many times when a person is forced to cut wood close to, or laying upon, the ground. It's just part of bush living and cutting close to the ground is just another way to skillfully gather wood. Take care
@@NatureAliveAdventures But in this case, you should only put something under that thin log and thats it.
Doing this dulls the blade, yet, I use my Katanaboy 650 to cut the roots of stumps, when I'm pulling stumps. I dig around the stump to expose the roots, cut the roots with the saw, then using a wide, nylon tow strap I pull the stump, like an old tooth, out of the ground.
Thanks for your comments Jack Pine. That's cool. I agree that its important to dig around the stumps to prevent pre-mature dulling of the saw teeth. Thanks and take care.
Great demonstration of the Katanaboy 650 Dale! I think I may have saw envy now, as my (recently like 26:52 ago) once impressive Silky Big Boy seems to pale in comparison.
Are you able to add your web address in the video descriptions? I think that would help get more traffic to your web page. Take care.
Thanks Ratchety. Always great to see your comments. I have added a couple links at the end of the video. Hope you are doing well and looking for a bunch of fun this summer. Take care.
Great demo ! The Silky is a relative pleasure to use . Really an incomparable experience to other saws . A fair alternative to an expensive Silky is something like a Corona from Lowes,Home Depot Ir wherever . I've all three but the Silky just makes you smile and has a fitting name as well ; ) Thanks ! Love the channel .......subscribed .
Great Comments Geoffrey, thanks. I'm going to have to look into the Corona from Lowes and check it out. I really appreciate when viewers offer up great suggestions and ideas. Thanks and take care.
Yes the Silky is easier to use .
For cutting efficiency you should calculate how many cutting teeth are on the pull and the push stroke. I see a lot of cleaning teeth on the bow saw and none on the folding saw.
That being said I want a bow saw and also a Silky Ultra Accel curved or a Bigboy.
Thanks for your comments Leland. After a year of using my katanaboy, I have determined that it really works best on green wood. and unfortunately, the blade isn't all that great for processing a lot of dead wood. But I do still love the saw for everything that I mentioned in my video. Take care
Amazing review, this is how you compare products.
Thanks for your comments sir. I really appreciate your feedback. Take care
Excellent review in every way.
Thank you for your comment Burt. I appreciate it. Take care.
Good video man!
I have the regular katanaboy and love it (big enough to get it done but small enough to take on a hike)! IMO if you are just camping or whatever just a few times a year then go cheap but if you need a saw often or have volume then they are worth it.
Thanks for your comments Tau, I totally agree with you. There are certainly cheaper alternatives and it is important to consider what your goals are when purchasing this expensive saw. Take care
can you get a silky that cuts in both directions.....(pull and push?)
Thanks for your question. I do not know if you can find a silky that cuts in both directions. The katanaboy does cut a tiny but on the push, but not significantly. Perhaps one of their other saws has different teeth configurations, and cuts on push and pull. Take care
liked and subscribed. I really liked how you objectively compared these products.
Thanks a bunch for your comments. Take care.
Unfortunately your bow saw blade is for green wood, so it's already at a major disadvantage. And what quality is it? And what of its age?
A fair comparison would be to get a Bahco or Sandvik blade for dry wood. It should cut through that log in the ten strokes, or at least come very close.
Thanks for your comments Scotia. You are correct regarding the silky and green wood. Wow, it cuts through green wood like crazy, and it's true that the silky is not quite as impressive when used on dry wood. However, I have found that it still out performs a typical bow saw with dry wood for many of the reasons I mentioned in the video. Unfortunately I am not familiar with the Bahco or Sandvik blades but I have noticed that many people are using these blades. There is always room to expand one's knowledge and experience with the many tools that are available. Do you know of a good video that demonstrates the Bahco or Sandvik blades in use, and do they work well with all the mixed variety of cutting operations encountered in hard bush use? Take care.
I got my Silky 650 last week... and finally used it today for topping off my sprawling lilac bush / tree. It did wonders with reaching and lopping those green limbs off with just one or two strokes for branches that were 3 inches diameter. Then I put the saw to task by comparing it nose to nose on a log 6 1/2 inches diameter of dried hardwood (ash or oak)...with 9 other smaller handsaws I have. The Silky did NOT win. The saws that did better were "tool box" style saws. The Irwin "marathon" handsaw with 20 inch blade completed the cut in 47 seconds. The Silky took an additional 21 seconds to complete it. The Irwin saw only cost about 25 bucks at a local Ace Hardware store... something like 8 teeth per inch (aggressive cut). So, for my purposes... and mostly cutting dead wood thats dry while out camping... the Silky's only advantage would be to reach higher branches. The Irwin saw would fit much better into my backpack... and is lighter weight. The Silky is more of an arborist's saw...specially made for reaching high up green branches. I doubt I'll be doing much tree trimming like that... so won't be using the Silky as much as I'd hoped.
Is this the Buckin' Billy Ray of handsaws?
Great comparison. Subbed.
Thanks for your comment and subscribing. Take care
Very nice detailed comparison, thank you
Thanks for your comment Bushcraft Sweden. Take care
Awesome Review thank you 👍 🇺🇲 👍🇺🇸 The Vermonter
Great video . at 6:50 you can cut those with the bow saw detach the blade maneuver the handle in thene re-atach the blade and saw away. I really like the katana boy because of the efficiency and precision of the cuts and the blade does bind up . I agree the blade depth help but also you are pull cutting so less likely to bind up plus you are pulling the dust out . keeping the groove cleaner. I would like to have both but the silky is cost prohibitive if I used it everyday I could justify it . I 'll stick with the bow saw.
Thanks for your great comments Hunter. Totally agree with what your have written, thank you. I like your comments about the dust pulled out and less emphasis on the push stroke - thus less binding. Take care
Any news on learning to sharpen that saw?
I know that sharpening Japanese saw teeth isn't for beginners, and if they have hardened teeth you'll need some kind of diamond file.
@BakerVS one viewer mentioned that sharpening the silky saws is possible with a small learning curve. And he said that silky can recommend the file for the job. I haven't tried to sharpen that saw yet. I think it's possible and I have considered going not Lee Valley Store to ask the experts their opinion. Thanks for your question. Take care
How has it held up since you got it? I just ordered one...
Thanks for your comments Jerrold. Sorry for the late reply. I do still use my katanaboy fairly often. But truthfully, I do move back and forth between the katanaboy and my folding Agawa Boreal 21 compact bow saw. I comes down to the size of the job that I have planned for the day or trip. For light use I usually take my Agawa Boreal 21 because of the smaller size. And for big jobs like winter camping when there is a LOT of wood to put up, then I take the katanaboy. I enjoy using both saws anytime. Take care
Say Heah Dale. I still might get the Silky Katana 550. The next size smaller. But I have a Bigboy2000 and so far so good that's why I got the Agawa Canyon 21 Boreal Saw For me it's just the right size and much lighter than the Katana. My Agawa Canyon 21 Boreal Saw fold's down similar to the Bob Drustrude Bow Saw but better. I also have the Crazy Horse Scabbard with a extra Aggressive Saw Blade in the back. To exchange the blades is very easy. So far we built a perm shelter with it. Most of the work was with my Agawa. I used other Saws at different times. I could very easy attach my Agawa to even my Kodiak Gearsling or shoulder carry it with the Sling. Like I said, I might get the Katana 550, but do far so good. Oh, I also got the EZ KUT WoW Folding Saw its a fast cutter for its size. 1, 2, 3 and that's it on a reasonable size piece of wood it's that fast, I also can carry it in the open position in the Scabbard you buy ectra, But it's great when building.,,. p
Wow! Great information Paulie. I'm going to have to spend some time looking at all your suggestions. Very helpful - thank you. I figure I will really be putting the Katana 650 to work this fall and winter on our canoe trips and snowshoe trips into the hills where we put up a lot of wood for the wood stoves. Take care and have fun out there.
Nature Alive Thanx You Dale. Yeah The WoW Folding Saw l@@ks similar to a Corona 10" Curved Blade, But it's the way they arranged the teeth on the WoW Saw. The Agawa Canyon 21 Boreal Saw is simply made better and it also doesn't have any nuts and bolts to loose. It unfolds into shape and the tension is clamped down with the handle. I love mine.,,. p
Great video. It'd be nice to have, but it's a little pricey for me! haha
It took me 5 months to decide if I should spend the money. I am super glad that I did. Take care.
Saw, saw, saw, saw...subscribed!
Thanks for the sub mike. And your comments. Take care
helpful review. thanks
Thanks for your comment Jeff. Take Care
Great review/comparison.
Thanks for your comment Glen. Take care.