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#197157 - 03/04/10 07:49 AM Re: Let's hear it for the Swede saw!!! [Re: Blast]
MostlyHarmless Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 06/03/09
Posts: 982
Loc: Norway
Originally Posted By: Blast
Quote:

I'm a bit uncertain if I like this patent or not. It sure works GREAT for small diameter stuff, but moving up to say 4" the triangular handle will hit the log when you're halfway through. This limits the length of the cut: You cannot use long strokes anymore, just short strokes with the middle part of the blade.


I used it to clear some land a few weeks ago including stuff over 10" in diameter. I just had to change the angle of attack occasionally. It went through willows and Chinese tallow trees like butter.

-Blast


Then I guess your saw is bigger than the triangular saws I've tried. A 10" log would be close to impossible with the ones I've tried because the triangular handle would bump into the log, making long efficient strokes impossible. Any cut deeper than 3-4" quickly became a frustrated exercise.


I still like the triangular patent because it's simple, very strong and packs small. And frankly, with a little forethought you don't _*have to*_ do big saw work unless you're clearing land or something. Being able to do smaller diameter stuff is plenty good enough for camping or survival. So a small, triangular saw is still a good choice for most applications.


The buck saw shown above (quite similar to the "frisport" saw I linked to) has an advantage because the only limitation to saw depth is the distance from the main (lower) horizontal beam to the saw teeth. Down to this depth you can do full length, efficient strokes. This comes at the cost of a more complex construction which either is weaker or heavier (or both!) than the triangular ones. But it doesn't have to be super strong to work: It just has to be strong enough to keep the blade under sufficient tension. So I still prefer the collapsible buck saw construction to the triangular versions.

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#197249 - 03/05/10 12:07 AM Re: Let's hear it for the Swede saw!!! [Re: Mac]
Byrd_Huntr Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 01/28/10
Posts: 1174
Loc: MN, Land O' Lakes & Rivers ...
Originally Posted By: Mac
Originally Posted By: Byrd_Huntr
...I found that the repeated impact on my shoulder from 50 rounds of high-brass slugs had rendered my right arm almost useless....


In addition to a saw, you might want to purchace a membership to your local gym! grin grin grin


Thanks for the great idea. I checked, they don't have a shotgun range.
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The man got the powr but the byrd got the wyng

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#197256 - 03/05/10 12:44 AM Re: Let's hear it for the Swede saw!!! [Re: Byrd_Huntr]
Mac Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 02/24/10
Posts: 77
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Originally Posted By: Byrd_Huntr
Originally Posted By: Mac
Originally Posted By: Byrd_Huntr
...I found that the repeated impact on my shoulder from 50 rounds of high-brass slugs had rendered my right arm almost useless....


In addition to a saw, you might want to purchace a membership to your local gym! grin grin grin


Thanks for the great idea. I checked, they don't have a shotgun range.


You actually checked your local gym for a shotgun range?

Saws are great little bits of gear when an axe can't be used. I usually take a gerber folding saw while hunting. The advantage is being able to cut a limb above your head whilst holding it with the other hand. Never tried a swede saw yet, but I am sure they just as good.
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I'm here to enquire about your spoons - Salad fingers

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#197264 - 03/05/10 02:23 AM Re: Let's hear it for the Swede saw!!! [Re: Mac]
fooman Offline
Journeyman

Registered: 05/15/08
Posts: 80
The Gerber folding saw saved my butt before when I had to saw a portion out of a fallen tree to use as a bridge for the truck.
Just ordered a Sven Saw. smile

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#197285 - 03/05/10 08:29 AM Re: Let's hear it for the Swede saw!!! [Re: Mac]
MostlyHarmless Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 06/03/09
Posts: 982
Loc: Norway
Originally Posted By: Mac
Never tried a swede saw yet, but I am sure they just as good.


The bow saw / swede saw / buck saw or whatever you call it works on the principle that the blade is allways PULLED through the material. Pushing a saw blade you risk that the blade folds and breaks - all it takes is that the blade gets stuck just a tiny bit and you start bending. Pulling a saw blade is much better. Try pushing a rope, you'll see pretty quickly why pulling is a much more mechanical robust way of doing things.

A saw blade made without an external frame (such as the gerber folding saw) must be very rigid and stiff to prevent it from bending when you push it forward. A saw blade made for a frame (buck/swede/bow whatever you call it) can be very thin and still plenty strong enough for the task.

The drawback is that the external frame may get in the way. There are certain tight spots you can't move the frame into, and can't work a good stroke. In those tight spots only a thin, rigid saw blade (your Gerber friend) will work. Also, the thickness of the material you cut is limited not only by the blade length but also by the shape and size of the bow. Also, the bow is somewhat more complicated to pack and assemble than your Gerber saw.

The plus side is that the thin blade offers less resistance than a thick blade. Also, the blade can be made much longer than their frame-less friends. And since you don't have to worry about the blade folding you can work with really long, powerful strokes.

A big swede saw is a true joy to work with - and in my opinion, the most efficient manual saw there is. A carpenters saw will give you more precise cuts. A small folding saw (Gerber) will be better in tight corners. But no other saw will give you more firewood per calorie or time. (Of course, that's assuming you get a good blade with big teeth of the right shape).

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#197298 - 03/05/10 01:07 PM Re: Let's hear it for the Swede saw!!! [Re: MostlyHarmless]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
When weight is critical, the small triangular Sven saw is pretty versatile. It can hook into cramped situations, and is so efficient that even though its stroke is short, it can still cut. I often carried one for SAR.
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#197305 - 03/05/10 03:03 PM Re: Let's hear it for the Swede saw!!! [Re: MostlyHarmless]
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3217
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Originally Posted By: MostlyHarmless

The bow saw / swede saw / buck saw or whatever you call it works on the principle that the blade is allways PULLED through the material.


Maybe that applies to very large swede/bow saws where there is more chance of breaking the blade. Especially if cutting with two people.

But the blades on swede/bow saws have teeth that cut on both the push and pull strokes.

With my shorter ones (24" or less) I usually get best results by putting more power into the push stroke. I've worn out many blades from use but I've never broken a blade. YMMV.


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#197320 - 03/05/10 04:28 PM Re: Let's hear it for the Swede saw!!! [Re: dougwalkabout]
MostlyHarmless Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 06/03/09
Posts: 982
Loc: Norway
Originally Posted By: dougwalkabout
Originally Posted By: MostlyHarmless

The bow saw / swede saw / buck saw or whatever you call it works on the principle that the blade is allways PULLED through the material.


Maybe that applies to very large swede/bow saws where there is more chance of breaking the blade. Especially if cutting with two people.

But the blades on swede/bow saws have teeth that cut on both the push and pull strokes.


You misunderstand. I mean the blade is pulled by the frame on both the push and pull stroke. On a regular carpenters saw or folding saw the push stroke will push the blade. Larger risk of folding and breaking than with a swede saw.

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#197338 - 03/05/10 08:25 PM Re: Let's hear it for the Swede saw!!! [Re: MostlyHarmless]
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3217
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Oh, okay, I get you now. Sounds right to me.

BTW, I have a couple of carpenter's saws that illustrate your point perfectly. Nice and sharp, but too thin to handle the force of a forward cut. Now they have a lovely "Z-shape" configuration. I keep them to remind me that a great price is not always a good deal. Maybe I'll give them to someone I want to annoy ...

[Apologies if this came up as a duplicate post. Either my PC or the server seems to have eaten my first try.]

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#197343 - 03/05/10 10:08 PM Re: Let's hear it for the Swede saw!!! [Re: dougwalkabout]
Teslinhiker Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/14/09
Posts: 1418
Loc: Nothern Ontario
Where I live, this is what we call a swede saw. Don't see many of these nowadays and they command a good price when available.

This saw is a smaller one and there are some that were easily double the length and width. I remember when I was a strapping and strong teenager and having to pull on one of these saws. It was extremely difficult to maintain a good rhythm and did not take long for the arms and shoulders to start aching...

These saws required a lot of cooperation with your partner and history books have stories of friends and spouses arguing that the other was not doing their fair share of the work. Many times, the arguments were long suffering and vehement enough that they eventually led to enough bitterness to permanently end the relationship.


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Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

John Lubbock

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