View Full Version : Folding Saw - Ray Mears Bushcraft - Thursday, 28/04/05
Minotaur
30-04-2005, 01:23
In this program Ray uses a wood folding saw.
Any ideas where he got it from?
Looking at it, I really think it might be hand made so does anyone know of a pattern? I see lots of trial and error in my future!
It was a bit weird really, always been a small knife, big knife(Billhook or machette - want to try a heavy/old Kurki), and saw person, but was really impressed with how he carved that paddle.
Might have to do an axe course.
Regards,
Ps I miss Tracks, of all the programs so far this one actual had bushcraft in it and more importantly you got to see it.
Bagheera
30-04-2005, 07:55
Minotaur,
Every carpenter can make them, I remember my father made lots of them often using as a saw blade a piece of a broken band saw in which he drilled 2 holes at the end to stick normal cut down nails through to hold the blade.
If you ever get one and put it on tension by turning the "paddle" to "shorten" the rope don't let go of it because when if it is hold somewhat in an angle it can unwind fast and like a propellor turning really hurt.
Don't ask me why I know :o , I just do, just as I would liked to have known how to keep a saw from jumping out of a fresh cut, I almost sawed off my left thumb when I was a teenager and still can't bend it as the right hand one ;)
Best Scouting wishes,
Bagheera
In this program Ray uses a wood folding saw.
Any ideas where he got it from?
Looking at it, I really think it might be hand made so does anyone know of a pattern? I see lots of trial and error in my future!
It was a bit weird really, always been a small knife, big knife(Billhook or machette - want to try a heavy/old Kurki), and saw person, but was really impressed with how he carved that paddle.
Might have to do an axe course.
Regards,
Ps I miss Tracks, of all the programs so far this one actual had bushcraft in it and more importantly you got to see it.
Folding saw? Do you mean the green laplander folding saw or the wooden swede saw?
Lapplanders are quite common - swede saw you can make yourself all you need to do is buy the blade (why waste money else where) and a set of nuts and bolts to thread through the ends of said blade when attaching to swede saw set up before tensioning. Easy peasy! Plus if it breaks you know how to repair it - a indespensible skill in the wilds!
This sort of one? Wooden Bow saw, they're what we used before metal frame saws http://www.antiquetools.co.uk/tools/0412.jpg these are about £50 but they're not the same as Rays, his was more basic, which I would say in the wilds meant, more reliable ;)
Moonraker
30-04-2005, 13:27
What he was using is called buck saw, popular in the USA and Canada. Similar to the bow saw Tony posted. Old Jimbo has a great article on outdoor saws that includes these on his web site here:
Old Jimbo - Saws for the Outdoors (http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/saw.html)
Check out this antique primitive wooden buck saw on sale on the net which looks totally do-able in the field with a blade and some cordage:
http://www.mjdtools.com/auction/graphics/182778_lg.jpg
or buy it! :D
Lot 803. A primitive wooden buck saw. made from sticks. uncommon type. (GOOD+).(20.00 - 40.00) Length: 27.50 Inches. (http://www.mjdtools.com/auction/graphics/a182778.htm)
I like the way the cross bar is slotted into the stick handles.
I believe Gary has made one out of beech wood? Maybe he could post some simple instructions..[hint] :)
Moonraker
30-04-2005, 13:49
Some other examples and also ones for sale (USA).
Buck Saw/ Backpacking Saw ( http://www.survivalschool.com/products/knives_sharpeners/Buck_Saw.htm)
Most of the new "camp saws" and "back packer saws" simply have too short of a blade to be able to cut wood efficiently and easily. That's not the issue with our Buck Saw. Made of oak for durability but only weights 15 oz. the saw come with a a racked tooth hard point design to prevent binding when sawing wood. Uses standard 21" Bow Saw replacement blades. Each saw is hand-made so please allow 4-6 weeks delivery time,
Buck Saw
Price- $49.95
http://www.survivalschool.com/products/knives_sharpeners/Buck_Saw_LARGE.jpg
This ebay site has some photo details of another type
Buck Bow Saw Vintage/Antique, Wood, Primitive ([http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6174202302&category=13875)
Trail Blazer - Canada (http://www.trailblazerproducts.com/Takedownsaw/takedownsaw.asp) do a modern lightweight metal version. Not sure you can get these in Europe though.
What he was using is called buck saw, popular in the USA and Canada. Similar to the bow saw Tony posted. Old Jimbo has a great article on outdoor saws that includes these on his web site here:
Old Jimbo - Saws for the Outdoors (http://www.oldjimbo.com/survival/saw.html)
Check out this antique primitive wooden buck saw on sale on the net which looks totally do-able in the field with a blade and some cordage:
http://www.mjdtools.com/auction/graphics/182778_lg.jpg
or buy it! :D
Lot 803. A primitive wooden buck saw. made from sticks. uncommon type. (GOOD+).(20.00 - 40.00) Length: 27.50 Inches. (http://www.mjdtools.com/auction/graphics/a182778.htm)
I like the way the cross bar is slotted into the stick handles.
I believe Gary has made one out of beech wood? Maybe he could post some simple instructions..[hint] :)
I have Simon they are very easy to make, I dont have and pictures of it however - I think Mors Kochanski has a fully tutorial in his book.
Moonraker
30-04-2005, 14:14
I have Simon they are very easy to make, I dont have and pictures of it however - I think Mors Kochanski has a fully tutorial in his book.OK, thanks Gary :)
For reference, 'Bushcraft' Mors Kochanski. Lone Pine Publishing.paperback version.page 142 The improvised frame saw.
This is one I made about a year ago out of poplar. Very sturdy, and packs down pretty easily. Cuts like mad.
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images5/bucksaw2b.jpg
Moonraker
30-04-2005, 15:05
very nice Hoodoo:) where does the blade go when it is packed down?
apologies but I couldn't resist... here is the saw I made a couple of weeks ago - copied from memory off a friends. Made with knife and folding saw in about 1and a half hours from a single ash pole, some cord and a blade.
http://img1.yoxio.com/img/161287.jpg
I made a canvas sheath for the whole thing. The edge of the blade is covered with a piece of rubber tubing split along it's length. I made a small leather pouch to store the nuts and bolts. I keep a piece of paraffin in the sheath as well to coat the blade.
Very nice fluxus, I persume it works well?
Moonraker
30-04-2005, 15:20
Nice work also Fluxus :) Very much in the same vein as the Mors Kochanski one. I see you have been testing the apple tree?! :)
Moonraker
30-04-2005, 15:22
I made a canvas sheath for the whole thing. The edge of the blade is covered with a piece of rubber tubing split along it's length. I made a small leather pouch to store the nuts and bolts. I keep a piece of paraffin in the sheath as well to coat the blade.Ah! OK. neat idea.
yes it works well but the pressure / tension joints need some tweaking to make it easier to reassemble quickly. The apple tree was done in January and is now largely spoons and kindling.
yes it works well but the pressure / tension joints need some tweaking to make it easier to reassemble quickly. The apple tree was done in January and is now largely spoons and kindling.
Flexus thats similar to mine - one thing I found was that for several months after I made it it needed retensioning as the wood and the cordage stretched - now mine is very rustic looking as the wooden stiles are quite warped - that said it works well and I use it regularly on courses!
This is one I made about a year ago out of poplar. Very sturdy, and packs down pretty easily. Cuts like mad.
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images5/bucksaw2b.jpg
One of the nice things about this design compared to the ones tensioned by twisting a string with a peg is that you can reach through the upper part of the saw frame to hold the unsupported end of the wood being cut. These saws can be made pretty long (30 inches or more) if you wish.
Alick
The missus and myself were just looking at the folding saw pictured above, if a groove was cut in one upright of the H, the blade could be detatched at one end and pivoted around on the other bolt and slotted into the groove, thus masking the blade. The groove wouldn't need to be that deep, just enough to cover the teeth. Is this feasible?
Spamel
The missus and myself were just looking at the folding saw pictured above, if a groove was cut in one upright of the H, the blade could be detatched at one end and pivoted around on the other bolt and slotted into the groove, thus masking the blade. The groove wouldn't need to be that deep, just enough to cover the teeth. Is this feasible?
Spamel
Thats a good idea Spam but remember the idea of this saw is that all you need carry is the blade - carry less by knowing more! Your supposed to make the rest in the field!
innocent bystander
01-05-2005, 09:35
Thats a good idea Spam but remember the idea of this saw is that all you need carry is the blade - carry less by knowing more! Your supposed to make the rest in the field!
Has anyone thrown theirs away after they have finished sawing with it, or have they kept it ?
Spamel, the original saw Ray Mears had, had grooves in the two uprights that swung round and masked the blade, being half the length of the blade each. :cool:
The missus and myself were just looking at the folding saw pictured above, if a groove was cut in one upright of the H, the blade could be detatched at one end and pivoted around on the other bolt and slotted into the groove, thus masking the blade. The groove wouldn't need to be that deep, just enough to cover the teeth. Is this feasible?
Yup. It's been done. :)
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images10/packsaw1b.jpg
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images10/packsaw2b.jpg
This particular saw I don't recommend very highly. IMO, the blade is too long for the narrow frame, making it too wobbly to use with any great effectiveness. One of my projects for this summer is to make a shorter version but I don't know if I will slot it for the blade.
Minotaur
02-05-2005, 22:37
From what I have read it would be possible to make a saw from a 17" bowsaw blade. Which would mean I could still carry a full sized bowsaw, interesting.
Do the angles on the handles serve a purpose?
Has anyone thrown theirs away after they have finished sawing with it, or have they kept it ?
I've turned several into fire wood - last one only survives as I made it in the garden and not on the ground!
But that said if I was going to make one for a fixed camp (as the old timers used too) I'd keep it only for the duration and then in all likely hood burn it before leaving - way to awkward to hike out.
Minotaur - the one I made has a 21" blade - not sure what you mean about the angles
Gary - that makes sense - as I understood it , if you were hiking in somewhere to stay for ages and maybe even build a cabin it made more sense weight wise to carry 10 new blades and make a saw frame than carry the frame ready made and only a couple of blades. I will take pleasure in burning the one in the pic when I need toand making the next one a bit better!
Minotaur
04-05-2005, 12:11
Some of the saws handles angle inwards and some go striaght up and down.
Wondering if this is cosmetic or serves a purpose.
I have been looking at making one of these for a while now but I have been unable to find any plans on the internet. Does anyone know is if there are any?
What is the advantage over this method and a single piece of wood shaped like a bow? Is it just the tension of the blade?
Also, when using a single piece of wood, what sort of wood is necessary? Mears used a piece of hazel if I remember correctly, can any others be used?
Sorry about all the questions!!
Spamel
Minotaur
05-05-2005, 13:29
It a tension thing, I think, but also if you look at the design, it is easy to make and assemble than the bow, because the wood would be easy to find.
katesdad
13-05-2005, 20:13
In this program Ray uses a wood folding saw.
Any ideas where he got it from?
Looking at it, I really think it might be hand made so does anyone know of a pattern? I see lots of trial and error in my future!
It was a bit weird really, always been a small knife, big knife(Billhook or machette - want to try a heavy/old Kurki), and saw person, but was really impressed with how he carved that paddle.
Might have to do an axe course.
Regards,
Ps I miss Tracks, of all the programs so far this one actual had bushcraft in it and more importantly you got to see it.
It's a Bahco Laplander ... see his website http://www.raymears.com/ follow the online shop through cutting tools, you'll find it. Though £30 is a little steep for a tool that you can get at any garden / DIY centre for £15.
Depends on what you want to spend. There are cheaper axes than a Garnsfors as well, but I wouldn't trade my £40 Small Forest Axe for anything cheaper or more expensive.
Larry
Minotaur
14-05-2005, 00:06
Doh!
Larry :rolleyes:
Mate :)
Re-read the post. :o
This is in no way sacastic, I have done it too many times myself.
I want the longest bow saw blade I can get in the smallest folded down package.