Handsaws

[Tom Dunlap]

Budroe,

Has anyone who owns a Zubat ever said that it wasn't the best saw they ever owned? I've never heard a bad thing about the saw. Personally, I think the scabbard is the best on the market some find it a little awkward though.

Have you ever regretted buying "The Best" of anything?

If you're using a folding saw, you moving from the Dark Ages to the Space Age when you buy the Z

Tom

 

[DDM]

Okay seriously Checkout the Silky Ginga Saw and Scabbard are 42.00 And and a new Blade is only 19.00 I use it Daily And it is a fast cut.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I find i can bend and cut with my zubat without damaging it, kinda like those japanese carpenter saws.

The baldes last longer.

I realy like the rubber grip. Do a big green ash with it then come back.

 

[Acer]

Silky Saws: Natanoko vs Zubat

From older posts, the Zubat seems to be a really popular saw. I've a Natanoko (has a straight blade rather than curved), which I'm really pleased with, but I'm wondering whether a curved saw like the Zubat would be better. What do you all think? I can't fault my saw, but I'm always keen to switch to better gear..

 

[Tim Gardner]

I prefer the curved hand saws myself. They seem to cut faster. I can make 6" cuts pretty fast with my 13" Corona ($19.95 @ HD)but I limit my cuts to about three to 4 inches.

 

[treeclimber165]

I can say from my own experience that the Silky blades cut almost twice as fast as a Corona, and it seems like curved blades are a bit faster on larger cuts. For someone that frequently leaves the chainsaw in the truck on medium-large trims, a high quality handsaw would be an excellent investment.

My local Vermeer/Sherrill guy says that the Zubat is more popular around here.

 

[Tim Gardner]

165,

You use one of those little folding Silky saws right? I use the Corona with the tri-cut blade, works great. I did use one of those toy folders but I changed over to a 13" fixed handle. It woks great and I don't have to open and close it all the time. The extra blade length makes the cuts go faster too.

 

[treeclimber165]

Actually, I was comparing size-for-size. The Silky blades all use the same tooth pattern, except for some that have a fine tooth pattern. Yes, a longer blade will cut faster than a shorter blade. I was relating my experience with identical sized Corona vs. Silky 8" blades.

 

[Ghivelder]

Try a Zubat and you'll never change saw again.
And I was already happy with my Fanno...

Sergio

www.tree-climbing.com

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Fanno is better than Corona, ARS is better than Fanno, Zubat kicks ARS's a$$. Now you know what I think of your Corona, Tim.

As far as a straight blade vs. a curved blade, the straight blade works better for cutting notches, and the curved blade works a little better for normal cutting, mostly because it is less likely to pull out of the curf, you can cut more aggresively.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I'm with Sergio. Zubat's Rule!

The scabbard is so nice a light weight too. The curve of the blade and the handle keep your wrist in alignment for more of the cut. A straight blade tends to tweak your wrist a little.

Tom

 

[Nickrosis]

More teeth can be packed onto the same blade length when it's curved. More teeth=faster cut.

Nickrosis

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

More teeth just make a finer cut.
And wouldn't being on the inside of a curve mean less teeth?

 

[Nickrosis]

I can only count teeth, sorry. I don't really know. Would it really be a finer cut? I'm not sure because the teeth are the same size, curved or straight.

Nickrosis

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

I don't know...I just wanted to confuse you. That is how it works on a circular saw and other woodworking tools.

 

[Nickrosis]

You succeeded.

 

[treeclimber165]

On pages 38-39 of The Catalog are the Silky handsaws. Top left shows a detail of the two different teeth designs, regular tooth and fine tooth. The regular is 8 teeth per 30mm. The fine tooth (for fine pruning) is 14 per 30mm. More teeth per inch = smaller teeth for a finer cut. Larger teeth cut faster.

Anyway, the tooth size and count per inch will be identical with either of the two saws being discussed. The Ginga and Prosentei are the only two listed available with the fine tooth blade.

The Ibuki looks like the Billy Bada$$ of the bunch.

 

[rbtree]

I find Corona's will easily outcut a Fanno, and hold an edge a lot longer. Much more power can be applied with the better handle. At $13-14 for a blade, and the acceptable performance, I sure like the Corona's, but the Silkys are way better.

I have 3 Silkys, Natanoko, Zubat, and the Prosenthei.

N is nice, I like the fact that it can fit either way in the scabbard, thus making it easy to slip back in, and use on either side of my belt. Handle is a bit floppy though. Z handle is better, and it cuts faster, being curved. P is just too small, thus the blades break if you're not extra careful. Great for small pruning though!!
There is a 15-16 inch straight bladed Silky that I've seen. It would be great for finishing off wood lowering or dropping logs where you want a straight hinge. And dont want to cut one handed with a chain saw while pushing over the piece.

 

[Acer]

Originally posted by rbtree
.

I have 3 Silkys, Natanoko, Zubat, and the Prosenthei.

N is nice, I like the fact that it can fit either way in the scabbard, thus making it easy to slip back in, and use on either side of my belt. Handle is a bit floppy though. Z handle is better,

Wow. The handle, and how it fits into the scabbard, are important to me. One saw I was supplied with was a b@st@rd for falling out, and slippy. The Nakanoto handle is great. It's so grippy. I've never dropped it, and it's never ever worked out of the scabbard, yet I don't have to undo anything when I need it..just whip it out!! If the Zubat handle's better, and it cuts faster, I want one. Can't wait for the shops to open tomorrow!!

 

[Greg]

I love my zubat, It is a hard working saw. It has to be my most used peice of equipment, and one that I could not work without. I have often wondered if the straight blade would be better, because I use it so much I am frequently cutting notches, and the curved blade makes that very tricky. I think the key is to keep the notch shallow. I used to use the 13" curved Corona, I went from a 13" $20 saw to the Zubat a $60 13"saw, and don't regret it for a minute. I was buying a new Corooa about ever 2 months, but I have had my Z for about 5-6 months and have not replaced it yet. I think it is getting to be about that time however...

I have recently been using a leg scabbard, if you have not tried one, you must, they are great!!! I stole a design from someone here at this site. I took the little connector off the back of my Z scabbard, bought a double nylon dog collar (2 strips of nylon webbing stiched together. I poped the stiching enough to fit the saw in between and then placed it under the silver little fancy plate on the scabbard and then screwed it back on. just the one strap right below my knee holds the saw perfectly. I feel like quick draw mcgraw! the saw is always right there where you need it, easy to pull and easy to place. Try it!!!
Greg