[Closed] Folding saw came up on my FB feed

i've no experience but just looking, id say its too slow and a faff. an actual folding blade saw might be better.

Na, rubbish bit of kit TBH. A folding saw is an ace tool that weighs next to nothing but is good at clearing light deadfall etc etc.

I like the concept, but I'm not sure that particular one would be much good. It doesn't look like it would stand up to much treatment and I fancy you'd spend a long time swearing when the saw bit turned on it's side for the 50th time.

Lidl have their folding saw in again this week, it's good for what you describe and cheaper than that IIRC.

You can get proper pocket chainsaws that do a good job. That just looks like somewhere halfway between a folding saw and a chainsaw and likely not as good as either

I bought a Bacho Laplander folding saw a few weeks ago ..its awesome

fiskars xtract cuts well, nice and light. Various sizes.

Fiskars Xtract SW75. Weighs next to bugger all, fits even in my small MULE and can wallop through 10" trees with minimal fuss, brilliant bit of kit. I also have the Fiskars brush hook too, which is brilliant for clearing trails through pine/spruce plantations, and great for doing kindling too.

Fiskars is my go too for this kind of stuff now.

This one doesn't need a folding saw. Could use their fingernails

I use this:

https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Landscaping/d130/Garden+Saws/sd3265/Draper+Folding+Pruning+Saw/p50346

I bought it to clear a section of trail near me that was blocked by a few large branches that had blown down. Once that job was done I started using it for pruning in the garden. It really is a lot better than it should be for the money or size.

Silky Fox Gomtaro for the WIN! Replaced my Fiskars, and is hugely better.

Admittedly the Gomtaro isn't a folder but it fits in my pack, and Silky do sell a F180 folder..

Another vote for the Silky F180. Amazing.
If you'll mainly be cutting dead wood for firemaking the Bahco Laplander is marginally better. But the Silky is much faster for live wood. So on balance, I just carry the Silky.

The thing is, hand chainsaws don't do the same job as folding saws. I don't have one just now- lost my last one and didn't bother to replace it- and it's one of those tools that usually isn't the right tool, but when it is, it's really really useful. You can cut really awkward locations (I've used it to take out roots frinstance after digging under and then looping the blade through, that's a hateful job with a brashing saw) and the maximum girth is pretty much the same as the length of the blade- me and a couple of other guys sectioned a humungous fallen beech at glentress that usually I'd not have touched without my 3 foot bahco. And I can't put that in my pocket. (*)

Also, people like them- I spent a chunk of time clearing deadfall off pistachio way in the pentlands one winter and random walkers stopped to help, I couldn't believe it. But it's actually kind of fun to do when you get the rythm and force just right.

But for everyday trail clearing and stuff, they're totally rubbish. Useless for anything under about 4 inches or anything that's not solid (windblow or whippy branches). Quite bad at really wet softwood.

I have an F180 and a Laplander which imo are broadly as good as each other- like alexsimon says the silky's better for pruning or fresh fall, the laplander's better for dead wood, depends what you do. And I've got a randomly fantastic foot long silverline which is what I actually carry in my bag, the handle falls off every 20 minutes but it cuts really well and is just usefully bigger while still fitting in a camelbak. But the hand chainsaw has its place too.

(* Aside- when I got that Stevenmenmuir of this parish, who knows a shitload more about this than me, basically said "why don't you just use a normal saw" I assume he's right and they work really well, I've just never tried it.)

I’ve got a silky big boy 🙂

Another vote for the Bahco Laplander. Great bit of kit, use it loads for tree falls when canoeing, and when volunteering with Wildlife Trusts. Amazing how thick a bough/tree I can take out with it, and the blades are cheaply replaceable.

Silky Big Boy here too.

Have got the Bahco as well, but the silky is just mental. Bit like waving a spiky machete around too

I've got one that's been seeing some action of late thanks to the heavy snowfall breaking the trees in my locality. It's nearly all green oak, so the hand chainsaw is in its element. It is pointless using it on thinner, springy branches as has been already mentioned, dezb's flamenco guitarist's fingernails would do a better job.

Silky for the win. Most small jobs it's not worth cranking up the two stroke.

I have a silky. Its great. However i also have a really cheap one from homebase. The blade is poor metal but it really cuts. Faster than silky or bacho but i reckon it will snap easily.

I was shocked by how well it performs and yes thats right its 3 quid! Plus being orange easy to see at night if camping.

https://www.homebase.co.uk/tactix-folding-saw_p262837

Silky are great if you really want to splash your cash around. The Bahco Laplander is a very competent little folding saw for general duties and  bush-crafty purposes. Retail around £17.

(Edit: apologies, I see that it’s already been mentioned. A lot. 😬. Note to self; read the thread in full before commenting.)

(Edit edit: the Standard Bahco folders are really good for greenwood, and have replaceable blades. They also have the advantage of having orange sections of handle. A lot easier to find amongst leaves if you drop it!)

Wasn't impressed with the silky, snapped blade and poor customer service, I'll stick to my fiskars.