I've pushed the Harbor Freight saw, because of it's cost, but I didn't realize, that it's performance was so bad, next to the two others. I wonder, if there's a practical way to sharpen or otherwise alter the blade for acceptable performance?
I think the opinel was a little small but maybe not silky for me due to the ability for it to move on you, i would go for the silky if it only had one position
Great video as always Cody! Just a heads up on the firestarter: the black rod on top isn't the magnesium, but rather the ferrocerium rod we all love for starting fires. The silver block is the magnesium, and the way it is intended to be used is by carefully shaving/scraping a pile of magnesium, and then sparking the pile with the ferro rod to have a hot burning fire starter, rain or shine.
@@OverlandOne all of them are good… The 7 inch, the 8 inch, the 10 inch, two different models with different handles. They’re just a great saw they do an excellent job with their blades and teeth.
Bahco Laplander- half the price of the Silky - best folding saw I have ever used. The Mora knife is a no brainer and the small axe is on sale here in the UK under a different brand. I bought one and with a few adjustments it is very good.
I love my Laplander too ... but I did a little test last weekend with my Gamboy and Laplander. Same log ... 110 pulls with the Laplander, 51 with the Silky. For processing wood at camp, Silky. For carrying with on a hike, Laplander. Both are good tools. It’s like the difference between a Mustang and an F150 ... wanna go fast or do work ? 😎
@@stillnocouch Not a real surprise that the Silkie is better but like the Mora knife the Laplander is a good product that doesn't smash a big hole in the wallet.
Wasn't it like 3 weeks ago that you posted a video telling us that the Harbor Freight saw is one of their best-kept secret? Maybe you meant that it is best kept as a secret.
I volunteer a few weeks a year doing trail maintenance and my folding saw broke. Bought one from menards and it didn't last two days before falling apart. Lowes only had a very large saw so I checked Harbor Freight and bought one of these. Didn't have time to order one off the internet. I've used it for 8 or 10 days on the trail and it worked great. It is pretty heavy duty and the blade is stronger than others I have used. Of course the silky is going to cut much faster on bigger stuff but I could go through branches up to 4" with a little work. If you are in a pinch and need a folding saw, I would definitely recommend the Harbor Freight saw.
@@ripvanrevs Thanks! Now I don't feel like such a sucker. Dejected, I just threw it behind the seat in my truck. The saw actually looks pretty nice though. I did all of Wranglerstar's mods and the locking mechanism works very well. The handle is solid plastic, not hollow like I thought it would be. Also, I recently discovered that it's identical to the Fiskars 7" folding saw which is double the price... so perhaps it's not such a bad little saw after all.
Stanley makes an excellent folding saw that uses reciprocating saw blades. I got mine in the late 90's and has gotten a lot of use. Mine is day-glo green, the current ones are black.
I discovered that feature the first time I used a silky and it really came in handy for that particular application. Not something you will often use I think, but when the occasion does come up to use it, you will be very thankful to have a silky. Well, that and the fact that it cuts so well.
The bahco laplander is a popular budget option for folding saws, you can even get one in a set with Mora knife. Dont know if it available in the states
I think you missed an obvious option for the saw in the Bacho Laplander at about $25. It was once the gold standard in bushcraft saws, before Silki got popular. I still carry mine and it's never let me down. I think the Corona saws are good too, and inexpensive, as are the Gerber/ Fiskars saws. Odd that you chose 2 of the most expensive compact saws to test for your budget kit. No surprise that the Harbor Freight saw failed. I suppose it's not too difficult to make a decent budget striking tool like an axe, but there's a lot of engineering in a good saw and that doesn't come cheap.
The right answer for the saw is a corona folding saw. I used one every single day for 4 months straight, could reasonably cut through branches, limbs, and invasive brush, around and slightly bigger than what’s shown in the video with relative ease. Don’t use it everyday anymore but always keep one around and it hasn’t failed on me yet. Love it.
@@panzerabwerkanone Bad form then, posting a video talking up an item before you actual review it. Given that a lot of people value his opinion and use it as basis for purchasing.
Am I crazy or did this guy just do a video a few weeks ago where he not only extolled the value of this tool, but actually took the time to rebuild the blade release trigger because it was such a great value? I wonder what he actually wants his audience to think about this tool - should I heed what he said before or what he's saying now?
I am a member of a bushcraft forum and one of the members wanted to know which saw to use to cut branches to fit inside of his twig stove. One half of the members that answered said that they used their swiss army knife saw. That makes good sense as the knife also does other things, and a twig stove does not need large diameter wood. The saw on the swiss army knives is good.
awww! i went out and bought a HB saw after watching your first video about it. Then i watched as you massaged that limb with it and shed a tear. Maybe these east coast trees wont know any better and it'll work here :-(
The best folding saw in my opinion is the corona. The handle is non-fatiguing, and the teeth on the blade are really aggressive. It's lightweight compact and a joy to use.
You should have added a race call to the 3 way side-by-side sawing contest! 🐴🐴🐴 "And we're off! Silky is off to a quick start, Opinel is just beginning to finding it's groove. Harbor Freight is looking more like a firestarter than a saw!"
Mora makes a knife with fire steel in the handle. It’s called “Light my fire”-they sell them on Amazon. I keep one in my pack all the time for hunting, hiking, etc.
The red & black Corona folding saw is better than all the other folding saws that I've purchased. A concave curved saw blade seems to be the best compared to straight folding saw blades in my experience.
A couple really good budget saws is the corona saw(meant for tree branch pruning) works great and is lite weight and the bahco laplander classic bushcraft saw.
Use the hacksaw blade that is attached to the fire starter as the striker. It puts out a shower of sparks. I wrapped one end of the hacksaw blade with electrical tape to give it a handle. I also sharpened the back end of the hacksaw blade to help it shave the magnesium better.
I’ve got a old gerber folding saw my dad used when he was a kid and it’s still going strong probably 20 years later. I pack the saw, a cold steel spetsnaz shovel and a Mora companion every time I’m up at camp hunting or doing other stuff getting ready for hunting season.
I've pushed the Harbor Freight saw, because of it's cost, but I didn't realize, that it's performance was so bad, next to the two others. I wonder, if there's a practical way to sharpen or otherwise alter the blade for acceptable performance?
Try the Marbles Sheath… I bought a few of them to replace damages sheaths. $12 on Amazon. I too hate the fact that the Silky pops back sometimes. Wish they didn’t have that setting. Great Vid.
When I looked recently the Optinel was $40 and the Harbor Freight one was $7 so the Opinel is not a little bit more. I did not look up the silky.' Also, from what I have read is that Corona saws are 2nd best to the Silkeys and about the cost of the Opinels. Also, the Harbor Freight saw is a pruning saw. OK pruning is also cutting wood but 95 percent of the pruning I have done has been on living parts of the tree. The living part is much easier to saw than the hard dried part. If you are just going to cut an occasional limb off the Harbor Fright one will do the job. If you have a lot of cutting and especially if it is dried the Silky saw is best and other saws like the Opinel will be in between those in price and function. Knives
I use an opinel pocket knife and also own the 8 and 12 inch saws. 8 inch is perfect for pocket carry, 12 inch does everything and is razor sharp. I use it in quite a few of my videos, Its my favorite. Also there products are reasonably priced i find.
I would wrap the tools in a good pair of leather gloves. Always good to wear some. For the money on my farm and for all chores I use Master Rancher rough out gloves from True Value Hardware. They are as tough as they come. Cost there is $9.99 + tax. I’m sure they are available at Amazon too. You won’t be sorry.
Opinel has the form factor. They make nice non-locking folding pocket knives, too...suitable for slicing mold-covered French cured sausage on a soiree in Alsace, don't forget the cheese and Trembach Reisling.
On those little square fire starters, I always thought the block part was the magnesium tinder and the rod a ferro rod, and not a magnesium rod... I learn something every day...
Love the Opinel knives - being from the UK they are quite common to see here - particularly in tackle shops along the coast they seem to be a favourite alongside Victorinox. But in this case it would have to be the Silky. That HF "butter knife" looks like it would be a good way to start a fire considering the friction on the wood while cutting :D
Yeah, I know the silky would be a lot better, but right now I don't get to do much outdoors, so a $10 saw is good enough for me. I'm sure when my daughter's are older, and I can do more camping and bushcraft, I'll end up getting me a silky.
I carry a very similar kit however, they sell an axe sheath on Amazon that has a shoulder strap and fits all these tools plus more. And it is very easy to grab and sling it and go. Pro tip if you carry tools like an axe saw or chainsaw always have a med kit nearby, and on my sling I have a tourniquet strapped and ready to go in case of any major accidents. Or carry a small kit with your chainsaw tool kit. I do both better safe than sorry.
You forgot one Fiskars, I had their little hands soft and I really like it it slides into the handle so you can adjust the link from really small to full a clip to clip on the outside of my pack for easy access.
To improve the spine on the mora basic for sparking fire starter I use my bench grinder and put a nice square edge on it. They don't have a finished spine, to keep the price down is what I've read. The companion and bushcraft come with a nice edge on the spine.
I know that I am a little late to recommend this, but if you have never tried the “EZ Kut Wow Saw”, it has been an absolutely blessing while cutting up trees and brush when camping for our fires. About the same size as the silky and about $35ish. Probably not worth a whole video for you to utilize your time but I thought you might enjoy giving it a try on a personal level. Always enjoy your channel and the clean family content you produce. Thank you for all you do.
I have the Harbor Freight pruning saw you're testing. Compared with two saws that are meant for field work, it's not a surprise that it doesn't keep up.
I'm sure I should watch the videos all the way through, but I caught part, the first couple of minutes, of the video where you spoke well of that harbor freight saw. You were going making modifications to it. Did you consider that the blade should be sharpened or adjusted?
For your information Opinel makes a bigger foldable saw which would be more in line in size with the Silky. I own both Opinel saws (the small one in the video and the large one) and I reckon the large one should be equally as fast and efficient as the Silky. In this test, I think the length of the blade is clearly putting it as a disadvantage hence the longer time it took to cut compared to the Silky. Of course there's also the blade geometry and teeth arrangement but no doubt the blade length plays a bit part in the performance compared to the Silky. Another benefit of the large Opinel saw is it has a larger wooden handle that makes it more comfortable for large hands.
That style of fire starter is a combination of a ferro rod and a magnesium block. The magnesium is not just a handle or base for the ferro rod but is a source of extra hot tinder. You make fine shavings of the magnesium on a less volatile tinder and then you spark it with the ferro/ferrocerium rod to ignite it. So, although the ferro rod usually does have some magnesium in it it is not the magnesium block that you strike.
Bahco Laplander for 20% slower but half the price of the Silky. For the Knife, how about a knife making project using a Lauri Leuku 210 and make your own custom handle similar to the Helle Odel with some curly birch, antler, leather etc.
Love the gear reviews. Great stuff. Always loved the Opinel's. SAK, Opinel and Mora are some great European tools. Would love to see you review the Leatherman Signal. It has an included firesteel and whistle. Saw pliers and screwdriver. For outdoor adventures that might need some repairs.
The Harbor Freight sounds like you're sawing with a butter knife. I know this because it makes a distinct sound and I was a horrible brat when I was a kid and a lot of our old furniture carried the marks of that.
The Harbor Freight one looks almost identical to an ACE store one I bought on the fly for a survival course in Sitka, AK years ago. Didn’t think it would last much past the course but 9 years later and it’s still in my kit. Definitely cuts better than the one in this demo though.
Hello Cody. I am looking to pick up an angle grinder and remembered your Fein video. Tried to find it but it looks like it's gone. Did you have a problem with the Fein's? Thanks. Sam
Nicely done as always, thank you for sharing, much appreciated. Believe one option that would have been nice too, was a Bahco Laplander set of knife and saw for about $29. Silks are really great, top of the line, but on a test cutting a very sticky Fatwood the Bahco saw really impressed with the results. Again thank you for sharing, may God Bless you and your family always.
I bet you could make the HF saw function better by setting the teeth wider "with a saw set." Used to be common practice years past, part of regular saw maintenance, and differed by job. Good luck finding a saw set now.
I know this isn't about the video but I bought the Grändfors Bruk small forest axe , I love it with one problem, the handle is too small and I can't grip it well and it hurts my hands if used too much. so is there any alternatives or should I try making a new handle?
Those mag fire starters will last a long time, scrape a bunch of magnesium off and it only takes one good spark to light. I haven't had one from the freight but I still have the one from my scouting days.
_i would go for the Silky because I like pull saws. Oh my how Sweet loaf has grown! What a clever girl remembering all of that. I must admit that made my day_
I bought my opinel in college 20 years ago and it's still going strong. It is limited on the size of wood but it's great for crafting. Also you need to test the magnesium fire starter. There were significant quality control issues fir several years with the harbor freight versions.
You should do another build series like you did the poor man’s tool chest with all the carpenter tools and then do a giveaway, maybe something like a fire control kit or forestry kit that you could put together for an entry-level price but still keep it serviceable
I literally bought a harbor freight axe and saw based on your review of it earlier on. The axe is solid, but havent had the chance to cut with the saw. Oh well! It was cheap enough.
I like the Diablo pruning or demolition blades, a piece of electrical conduit with notches in each end, a loop of Paracord and a flat washer for tensioning. Not quite so quick to deploy but inexpensive, light, small and it races up there with the Silkie. That said, the Opinel was news to me. I'll have to get one.
For $15 at lowes you can puck up the kobalt 3-in-1 folding saw and it is actually quite a nice tool for the price I keep one in the truck and another in my camping pack
Mora knives usually perforn very poor with fire steels in my experience. Part of the spine of the Morakniv needs to be ground flat! Simple hack that tends to help.
I use hand saws daily as a professional arborist. All those saws are so small I can't imagine trying to work with them. My smallest saw for fine pruning has a 330mm blade. I also have a 360 and a 390.
Not only is that tiny saw not practical for this kit, but it's a bit on the expensive side. There are a number of great $20 options out there. Other than that, it's a great bit of kit.
I was thinking a good cheap and available kit would be a wallmart ozark trail Hatchett $14 -15 , Ozark trail folding saw $10 and Camillus knife $10.i know walmart is the devil but if you don't have a bunch of money this works. Great video keep up the great work.
What about a utility saw handle, the kind that takes both recip and hacksaw blades? One of those and two or three different types of blades (wood, demo/multi-purpose, and hacksaw)? Maybe a small utility pouch to fit them in. Overall weight and portability would be about the same but it would set you up for more than just wood.
OPINEL SAW - amzn.to/3wBIaqy
VOILE STRAP - amzn.to/3yQ1jG
(amazon affiliate links)
Just a heads-up, the Voile strap link goes to the Amazon homepage, not the product page
I've pushed the Harbor Freight saw, because of it's cost, but I didn't realize, that it's performance was so bad, next to the two others.
I wonder, if there's a practical way to sharpen or otherwise alter the blade for acceptable performance?
Hello
Thanks for the story
The Opinel is available in a longer size - you can get the #12 or the #18.
I would go with the silky for sure, if there is anything in your kit you don’t want to skimp on it’s you knife and your saw
saws and axes require a lot of energy to use . I agree , dont go too cheap or you'll regret it when you need it.
I think the opinel was a little small but maybe not silky for me due to the ability for it to move on you, i would go for the silky if it only had one position
Anyone know how the quality of a Bahco folding saw is?
@@onionhead5780 I’ve had one for a couple years and it’s great, still sharp and the handle is outstanding
Probably a Samurai Kisi would be good enough.
That ending makes a guy wish time could stand still.
Is that not the same HF saw you were saying was great in a video a few weeks back and spent a while modifying it because you rated it so highly? 🤔
Great video as always Cody! Just a heads up on the firestarter: the black rod on top isn't the magnesium, but rather the ferrocerium rod we all love for starting fires. The silver block is the magnesium, and the way it is intended to be used is by carefully shaving/scraping a pile of magnesium, and then sparking the pile with the ferro rod to have a hot burning fire starter, rain or shine.
I've had good results with the $20 Corona folding pruning saw.
I've got a couple of the Coronas. An 8 inch and a 10 inch. Had real nice results! Even keep one in the car!
Which model corona do you have? I see many different models of corona saws in the $20 range on Amazon. Thanks.
Well, it's a bit of an unfortunate time to be branded Corona 😅
I just picked up a corona from the bargain bin at tractor supply. Dont remember the price but id say go take a look at them
@@OverlandOne all of them are good… The 7 inch, the 8 inch, the 10 inch, two different models with different handles. They’re just a great saw they do an excellent job with their blades and teeth.
Bahco Laplander- half the price of the Silky - best folding saw I have ever used. The Mora knife is a no brainer and the small axe is on sale here in the UK under a different brand. I bought one and with a few adjustments it is very good.
Out of intrest, what brand is it under for the uk. Thanks
I love my Laplander too ... but I did a little test last weekend with my Gamboy and Laplander.
Same log ... 110 pulls with the Laplander, 51 with the Silky.
For processing wood at camp, Silky. For carrying with on a hike, Laplander.
Both are good tools. It’s like the difference between a Mustang and an F150 ... wanna go fast or do work ?
😎
@@stillnocouch Not a real surprise that the Silkie is better but like the Mora knife the Laplander is a good product that doesn't smash a big hole in the wallet.
Hello michael what is the brand in the uk ? I’ll pick one up my self if I can find one, thank you
I bet it would've taken fewer keystrokes to type the actual brand name than "under a different brand".
Wasn't it like 3 weeks ago that you posted a video telling us that the Harbor Freight saw is one of their best-kept secret? Maybe you meant that it is best kept as a secret.
Yes! ...And I went out and bought one of those based on Wranglerstar's recommendation. Doh!
I was thinking the same thing. 😔
I volunteer a few weeks a year doing trail maintenance and my folding saw broke. Bought one from menards and it didn't last two days before falling apart. Lowes only had a very large saw so I checked Harbor Freight and bought one of these. Didn't have time to order one off the internet. I've used it for 8 or 10 days on the trail and it worked great. It is pretty heavy duty and the blade is stronger than others I have used. Of course the silky is going to cut much faster on bigger stuff but I could go through branches up to 4" with a little work. If you are in a pinch and need a folding saw, I would definitely recommend the Harbor Freight saw.
@@ripvanrevs Thanks! Now I don't feel like such a sucker. Dejected, I just threw it behind the seat in my truck. The saw actually looks pretty nice though. I did all of Wranglerstar's mods and the locking mechanism works very well. The handle is solid plastic, not hollow like I thought it would be. Also, I recently discovered that it's identical to the Fiskars 7" folding saw which is double the price... so perhaps it's not such a bad little saw after all.
Stanley makes an excellent folding saw that uses reciprocating saw blades. I got mine in the late 90's and has gotten a lot of use. Mine is day-glo green, the current ones are black.
The silky has a second open position so you can saw on a flat surface without dragging your knuckles.
Ahhh, there we go
To keep those knuckles silky smooth. Gives a whole new meaning to knuckle duster. Dont be a knucklehead, amirite? .....
I discovered that feature the first time I used a silky and it really came in handy for that particular application. Not something you will often use I think, but when the occasion does come up to use it, you will be very thankful to have a silky. Well, that and the fact that it cuts so well.
What if people want to be knuckle dragging neanderthals?
@@reaperhunter7297 oh my god, they’re evolving! Backwards..
The bahco laplander is a popular budget option for folding saws, you can even get one in a set with Mora knife. Dont know if it available in the states
I'm in the USA. We have them.
I completely forgot about the bacho laplander.
I think REI sells the bahco laplander
I think you missed an obvious option for the saw in the Bacho Laplander at about $25. It was once the gold standard in bushcraft saws, before Silki got popular. I still carry mine and it's never let me down. I think the Corona saws are good too, and inexpensive, as are the Gerber/ Fiskars saws. Odd that you chose 2 of the most expensive compact saws to test for your budget kit. No surprise that the Harbor Freight saw failed. I suppose it's not too difficult to make a decent budget striking tool like an axe, but there's a lot of engineering in a good saw and that doesn't come cheap.
Other than the color of the plastic, this Harbor Freight saw is identical to the Fiskars 7" folding saw.
China usually outsources their engineering and design to the company they've ripped off
Did anyone’s heart skip a beat thinking that hemlock cone was a spider
You scared of spiders?
Arachnophobia kills , Man .
Nope, I'm a manly man. 😆
Totally
No, I'm not scared of harmless things.
You should add a sharping stone
The sharpal diamond steel is good
I was just going to say that he should add a sharpening system, I have a lansky blade medic in my kit, works wonders on beater knives.
I use diamond files for carrying it's light quick and you don't have to resurface them.
Small file...
Can get Mora with sharpener and fire stick now. Not the greatest sharpener but it's integrated so u can't lose it
id give the Corona folding saw a try, not bad for just $20
I have this, Great saw for the money, cuts VERY well!
I have a corona saw got it from lowes for around $22 i have only used it a few times but i love it so far
I carry one of those in my pack when I’m out on the dirt bike. It hasn’t disappointed yet.
Yeah agreed!
I too just purchased this saw and it’s great. Much cheaper, and would fit in nicely with this budget kit.
Beautiful, I have my first grandchild, and a granddaughter. Absolutely heavenly, spending time with pa! (Pa Time) starts every sentence 😊
The right answer for the saw is a corona folding saw. I used one every single day for 4 months straight, could reasonably cut through branches, limbs, and invasive brush, around and slightly bigger than what’s shown in the video with relative ease. Don’t use it everyday anymore but always keep one around and it hasn’t failed on me yet. Love it.
Best kept secret to terrible in what, 3 weeks? What a fast turn around on an opinion.....
I was thinking, "Didn't he just do a positive video on this recently?" Good catch!
This was before he did an actual cutting test. Not exactly a full review the first time.
@@panzerabwerkanone Good point, Form vs. Function.
@@panzerabwerkanone Bad form then, posting a video talking up an item before you actual review it. Given that a lot of people value his opinion and use it as basis for purchasing.
I hope nobody needed it as a survival tool for the last 3 weeks
Your voile strap link just goes to Amazon home page, FYI
Am I crazy or did this guy just do a video a few weeks ago where he not only extolled the value of this tool, but actually took the time to rebuild the blade release trigger because it was such a great value? I wonder what he actually wants his audience to think about this tool - should I heed what he said before or what he's saying now?
He did redo the lock on the saw. It all depends on how much pressure you put on a saw as to how fast it cuts.
Although Silky is the best, the Corona razor tooth is a good saw and affordable.
I am a member of a bushcraft forum and one of the members wanted to know which saw to use to cut branches to fit inside of his twig stove. One half of the members that answered said that they used their swiss army knife saw. That makes good sense as the knife also does other things, and a twig stove does not need large diameter wood. The saw on the swiss army knives is good.
My fav folding saw is the 10" Corona saw.
awww! i went out and bought a HB saw after watching your first video about it. Then i watched as you massaged that limb with it and shed a tear. Maybe these east coast trees wont know any better and it'll work here :-(
Harbor Freight kit with mostly stuff you can’t buy from HF.
Got it 👍
Says multiple times he just trying to make an affordable kit.
A rule with Harbor Freight tools: the more pieces, the more likelihood its trash.
That’s a pretty good rule of thumb.
It’s really really hard to screwup an axe. But, by thunder, some people do!
Edit: Loved the way you tested and compared the saws simultaneously on screen with times at the bottom!
The best folding saw in my opinion is the corona. The handle is non-fatiguing, and the teeth on the blade are really aggressive. It's lightweight compact and a joy to use.
$27 saw option - Corona RS7041 w/7" blade
Watching him try to cut that limb with the harbor freight got funnier the longer it took.
I was ready to take a nap waiting for him to finish.
I was joking that it might cut faster if he flipped it and try to saw with the blunt side of the blade. LOL
You should have added a race call to the 3 way side-by-side sawing contest! 🐴🐴🐴 "And we're off! Silky is off to a quick start, Opinel is just beginning to finding it's groove. Harbor Freight is looking more like a firestarter than a saw!"
Mora makes a knife with fire steel in the handle. It’s called “Light my fire”-they sell them on Amazon. I keep one in my pack all the time for hunting, hiking, etc.
The red & black Corona folding saw is better than all the other folding saws that I've purchased. A concave curved saw blade seems to be the best compared to straight folding saw blades in my experience.
Fiskers folding saw for $13.99 on Amazon
Got one in my carpack, good call.
Fiskers 7 inch? That one is complete trash the 10inch is good but not $14
@@VenomTheCat fair enough
@@VenomTheCat I think the 10" is like $20 if I recall, that's what I have
That Harbour Freight saw works a whole lot better if you hold it back by the palm swell rather than choking up on it.
A couple really good budget saws is the corona saw(meant for tree branch pruning) works great and is lite weight and the bahco laplander classic bushcraft saw.
Use the hacksaw blade that is attached to the fire starter as the striker. It puts out a shower of sparks. I wrapped one end of the hacksaw blade with electrical tape to give it a handle. I also sharpened the back end of the hacksaw blade to help it shave the magnesium better.
I’ve got a old gerber folding saw my dad used when he was a kid and it’s still going strong probably 20 years later. I pack the saw, a cold steel spetsnaz shovel and a Mora companion every time I’m up at camp hunting or doing other stuff getting ready for hunting season.
Corona Razortooth 8 in. Folding Saw, RS 7255 i couldn’t see me putting anything els with this kit. Would like to see this in the mix.
I've pushed the Harbor Freight saw, because of it's cost, but I didn't realize, that it's performance was so bad, next to the two others.
I wonder, if there's a practical way to sharpen or otherwise alter the blade for acceptable performance?
Try the Marbles Sheath… I bought a few of them to replace damages sheaths. $12 on Amazon. I too hate the fact that the Silky pops back sometimes. Wish they didn’t have that setting. Great Vid.
Best part about this video is the auto generated Closed Captions when the harbor freight saw keeps going! 🤣
When I looked recently the Optinel was $40 and the Harbor Freight one was $7 so the Opinel is not a little bit more. I did not look up the silky.' Also, from what I have read is that Corona saws are 2nd best to the Silkeys and about the cost of the Opinels.
Also, the Harbor Freight saw is a pruning saw. OK pruning is also cutting wood but 95 percent of the pruning I have done has been on living parts of the tree. The living part is much easier to saw than the hard dried part.
If you are just going to cut an occasional limb off the Harbor Fright one will do the job. If you have a lot of cutting and especially if it is dried the Silky saw is best and other saws like the Opinel will be in between those in price and function.
Knives
Fiskars folding saw should've been included
I think Cody is an anti-Fiskar but I mentioned too regardless
About the same terrible performance of the Harbour Freight saw, in my experience.
I use an opinel pocket knife and also own the 8 and 12 inch saws. 8 inch is perfect for pocket carry, 12 inch does everything and is razor sharp. I use it in quite a few of my videos, Its my favorite. Also there products are reasonably priced i find.
Thank you for the knowledge of the land and native Americans 🙏
Why not the bigger Opinel saw? They also make replacement blades for that model.
I would wrap the tools in a good pair of leather gloves. Always good to wear some. For the money on my farm and for all chores I use Master Rancher rough out gloves from True Value Hardware. They are as tough as they come. Cost there is $9.99 + tax. I’m sure they are available at Amazon too. You won’t be sorry.
Gloves have more uses than just protecting your hands. Bandaging, water filter, leather strop, fire tinder
The Harbor Freight fire starter is a FERRO rod mounted on a block of MAGNESIUM which can be shaved prior to striking the ferro rod.
Opinel has the form factor. They make nice non-locking folding pocket knives, too...suitable for slicing mold-covered French cured sausage on a soiree in Alsace, don't forget the cheese and Trembach Reisling.
Opinel folding knifes lock rotating the ring at the base of the blade.
cool! I've never owned one, but I saw them around when I lived near France in Rhineland Pfalz Deutschland
Harbor Freight Saw, gives you great exercise and no trees will be harmed in the process!
I have one of the HF saws for small limbs in the yard. Mine cuts like a champ. Luck of the draw for cheap I guess 🤷♂️
Great story about the tree great video about the tools thanks for sharing
On those little square fire starters, I always thought the block part was the magnesium tinder and the rod a ferro rod, and not a magnesium rod... I learn something every day...
Corona makes a great folding saw as well
A bahco laplander saw would be perfekt for this Kit . The handle of it is great , and it hast a great bite .
GREAT HEMLOCK STORY...with a moral to boot !!! THANK YOU !!!
Love the Opinel knives - being from the UK they are quite common to see here - particularly in tackle shops along the coast they seem to be a favourite alongside Victorinox. But in this case it would have to be the Silky. That HF "butter knife" looks like it would be a good way to start a fire considering the friction on the wood while cutting :D
I bought a folding saw from Wal-Mart for $10 that actually works pretty well.
Me too!
The silky would change your life
Yeah, I know the silky would be a lot better, but right now I don't get to do much outdoors, so a $10 saw is good enough for me. I'm sure when my daughter's are older, and I can do more camping and bushcraft, I'll end up getting me a silky.
What would be the ideal blade length for a foldable saw? Not for working in a forest just for a bushcrafters.
I suppose that red strap could double up as a way to bundle small twigs for the fire or even a way to stop a bleed if you can get it toight enough
I carry a very similar kit however, they sell an axe sheath on Amazon that has a shoulder strap and fits all these tools plus more. And it is very easy to grab and sling it and go. Pro tip if you carry tools like an axe saw or chainsaw always have a med kit nearby, and on my sling I have a tourniquet strapped and ready to go in case of any major accidents. Or carry a small kit with your chainsaw tool kit. I do both better safe than sorry.
You forgot one Fiskars, I had their little hands soft and I really like it it slides into the handle so you can adjust the link from really small to full a clip to clip on the outside of my pack for easy access.
To improve the spine on the mora basic for sparking fire starter I use my bench grinder and put a nice square edge on it. They don't have a finished spine, to keep the price down is what I've read. The companion and bushcraft come with a nice edge on the spine.
I know that I am a little late to recommend this, but if you have never tried the “EZ Kut Wow Saw”, it has been an absolutely blessing while cutting up trees and brush when camping for our fires. About the same size as the silky and about $35ish. Probably not worth a whole video for you to utilize your time but I thought you might enjoy giving it a try on a personal level. Always enjoy your channel and the clean family content you produce. Thank you for all you do.
Tractor supply carries the Corona folding saw that only cost 15 dollars when I bought mine. Super sharp
I have the Harbor Freight pruning saw you're testing. Compared with two saws that are meant for field work, it's not a surprise that it doesn't keep up.
With a little modification, you can put a number 12 opinel saw blade onto the number 12 knife (or vice versa) and have the knife and saw in one piece.
I'm sure I should watch the videos all the way through, but I caught part, the first couple of minutes, of the video where you spoke well of that harbor freight saw. You were going making modifications to it. Did you consider that the blade should be sharpened or adjusted?
SWAP the separate firesteel and carry a Mora "light my fire" version instead which has a firesteel built into the handle.
Junk you can buy a companion and a proper long firesteel for less
For your information Opinel makes a bigger foldable saw which would be more in line in size with the Silky. I own both Opinel saws (the small one in the video and the large one) and I reckon the large one should be equally as fast and efficient as the Silky.
In this test, I think the length of the blade is clearly putting it as a disadvantage hence the longer time it took to cut compared to the Silky. Of course there's also the blade geometry and teeth arrangement but no doubt the blade length plays a bit part in the performance compared to the Silky.
Another benefit of the large Opinel saw is it has a larger wooden handle that makes it more comfortable for large hands.
That style of fire starter is a combination of a ferro rod and a magnesium block. The magnesium is not just a handle or base for the ferro rod but is a source of extra hot tinder. You make fine shavings of the magnesium on a less volatile tinder and then you spark it with the ferro/ferrocerium rod to ignite it. So, although the ferro rod usually does have some magnesium in it it is not the magnesium block that you strike.
I wonder if you could set the pitch of the teeth of the harbor freight saw? You did improve the pivot point , so why not make the thing cut better.
Bahco Laplander for 20% slower but half the price of the Silky.
For the Knife, how about a knife making project using a Lauri Leuku 210 and make your own custom handle similar to the Helle Odel with some curly birch, antler, leather etc.
Love the gear reviews. Great stuff. Always loved the Opinel's. SAK, Opinel and Mora are some great European tools.
Would love to see you review the Leatherman Signal. It has an included firesteel and whistle. Saw pliers and screwdriver. For outdoor adventures that might need some repairs.
The Harbor Freight sounds like you're sawing with a butter knife.
I know this because it makes a distinct sound and I was a horrible brat when I was a kid and a lot of our old furniture carried the marks of that.
The Harbor Freight one looks almost identical to an ACE store one I bought on the fly for a survival course in Sitka, AK years ago. Didn’t think it would last much past the course but 9 years later and it’s still in my kit. Definitely cuts better than the one in this demo though.
Hello Cody. I am looking to pick up an angle grinder and remembered your Fein video. Tried to find it but it looks like it's gone. Did you have a problem with the Fein's? Thanks. Sam
Nicely done as always, thank you for sharing, much appreciated.
Believe one option that would have been nice too, was a Bahco Laplander set of knife and saw for about $29.
Silks are really great, top of the line, but on a test cutting a very sticky Fatwood the Bahco saw really impressed with the results.
Again thank you for sharing, may God Bless you and your family always.
I bet you could make the HF saw function better by setting the teeth wider "with a saw set." Used to be common practice years past, part of regular saw maintenance, and differed by job. Good luck finding a saw set now.
I know this isn't about the video but I bought the Grändfors Bruk small forest axe , I love it with one problem, the handle is too small and I can't grip it well and it hurts my hands if used too much.
so is there any alternatives or should I try making a new handle?
Those mag fire starters will last a long time, scrape a bunch of magnesium off and it only takes one good spark to light. I haven't had one from the freight but I still have the one from my scouting days.
Try Bahco foldable saw, best saw for the price
The Hemlock is a mighty elder tree that leaves very little trace behind.
_i would go for the Silky because I like pull saws. Oh my how Sweet loaf has grown! What a clever girl remembering all of that. I must admit that made my day_
I bought my opinel in college 20 years ago and it's still going strong. It is limited on the size of wood but it's great for crafting.
Also you need to test the magnesium fire starter. There were significant quality control issues fir several years with the harbor freight versions.
That was awesome! Especially the end. Praying for you, and yours brother.
You should do another build series like you did the poor man’s tool chest with all the carpenter tools and then do a giveaway, maybe something like a fire control kit or forestry kit that you could put together for an entry-level price but still keep it serviceable
I literally bought a harbor freight axe and saw based on your review of it earlier on. The axe is solid, but havent had the chance to cut with the saw. Oh well! It was cheap enough.
I like the Diablo pruning or demolition blades, a piece of electrical conduit with notches in each end, a loop of Paracord and a flat washer for tensioning.
Not quite so quick to deploy but inexpensive, light, small and it races up there with the Silkie.
That said, the Opinel was news to me. I'll have to get one.
For $15 at lowes you can puck up the kobalt 3-in-1 folding saw and it is actually quite a nice tool for the price I keep one in the truck and another in my camping pack
Mora knives usually perforn very poor with fire steels in my experience. Part of the spine of the Morakniv needs to be ground flat! Simple hack that tends to help.
I got one from HF and it works better than the one you used!🥱🥱🥱
I use hand saws daily as a professional arborist. All those saws are so small I can't imagine trying to work with them. My smallest saw for fine pruning has a 330mm blade. I also have a 360 and a 390.
The Silky adjusts rearward to use to cut below your position when you are unable to move.
Cool video and by the way opinel also has a bigger saw Nr. 18 it's +-7,5 inche and it has a different lock BUT it's more expensive
Not only is that tiny saw not practical for this kit, but it's a bit on the expensive side. There are a number of great $20 options out there. Other than that, it's a great bit of kit.
Excellent comparison. Thank you. Voile link doesn't work right, btw.
I was thinking a good cheap and available kit would be a wallmart ozark trail Hatchett $14 -15 , Ozark trail folding saw $10 and Camillus knife $10.i know walmart is the devil but if you don't have a bunch of money this works. Great video keep up the great work.
Totally off topic, but my wife has started saying that things "give her the fizz"... The power of repetition!
It's called parroting, at least that's what everyone else is calling it..
@@rabie4x4 hahaha
lol i got my mom saying it. Its a good accurate saying!
What about a utility saw handle, the kind that takes both recip and hacksaw blades? One of those and two or three different types of blades (wood, demo/multi-purpose, and hacksaw)? Maybe a small utility pouch to fit them in. Overall weight and portability would be about the same but it would set you up for more than just wood.