Fellow axe-enthusiasts: The Silky Katanaboy makes for a great felling companion to the axe. The large blade rips through wood quickly and makes it possible to drop larger trees, particularly those with a bit of back lean. Dropping trees in the right location is challenging and dangerous. There are times in which axe-only felling is not practical or safe. For any tree with a bit of back lean, I suggest cutting a back cut with a saw and pounding in plastic wedges to direct the fall. The size of the tree you intend to fall is important. Choosing too small of a saw makes for tedious work. Too large of a saw is not often a problem, though it can be difficult to use in densely wooded areas. For trees up to 8 inches diameter, I would recommend looking into a Silky Bigboy 360, particularly one with a straight blade. The red handle model would be my personal choice, as it has the most aggressive teeth for fast cutting. For trees between 8 and 14 inches diameter, I would recommend the Silky Katanaboy 650. Trees larger than 14 inches I do not recommend falling with this saw, nor do I recommend using an axe for such a task unless you have experience doing so. Felling large trees can be unpredictable and dangerous. It is important to be able “chase your cut,” with whatever saw you use. Leaving too much hinge-wood before the fall increases the likelihood of a barber-chair. A small saw doesn’t allow you to cut up to the hinge wood as quickly, increasing the chances of this happening. Therefore, for safety reasons, I feel more comfortable using the katanaboy for felling over the bigboy model. Recognizing the steep price on this saw, I would not recommend it to just anyone. For bucking up wood, this saw is neither comfortable nor ergonomic. I would much rather use a bow saw for such tasks. However, as a felling tool, this saw really stands out. I hope you found this helpful, enjoy!
Excellent review Mr. Codi, I wonder if you could file a second detent into the blade the same as the saw you compared it to...an alternative to the crosscut saw I also found interesting...great job sir...
Thank you Mr. Brian! Perhaps once the blade wears out I will have to try that out. Would be nice if they offered a replacement blade with finer teeth for cutting hardwoods. Given the little maintenance and portability, I would recommend this saw over an American crosscut saw unless you find one for cheap. They are a lot of work! Thanks for the shoutout, very nice of you sir!
Wow Codi excellent video !! Really loved how cinematic it was, also as always I appreciate the honesty 👍 that’s saw looks wicked man but yeah seeing it’s flaws after you pointed them out I can see that becoming annoying after some extended use. How are the other silky saws I notice a lot of people recommend them and use them. I just wasn’t sure if they just have a colt following in bushcraft similar to gransfors, I suppose what I’m asking is the juice worth the squeeze. Right now the only saw i own for the woods, obviously I have shop saws for work and stuff but I mean just like a “bushcrafting” saw is the bacho laplander. The sawyer shop across the street from my house has both silky and they had the bacho Laplander and I grabbed the bacho simply based off price I didn’t know anything about either saw. So far it seems to be doing pretty well for smaller stuff up to maybe 6” or so
Thanks Joey! Glad you enjoyed it😁. The first silky saw I ever purchased was on Amazon for 40 bucks. It was a gomboy 270 I think. I’ve never used a bacho Laplander, but I know there are a ton of reviews comparing them to silky and there is no comparison in performance. Unfortunately inflation is crazy right now. Probably can’t get one for less than $50. I don’t think silky is part of the bushcraft cult following. A lot of bushcrafters like the silky bigboy 2000 xl and the pocket boy series. That’s about it. Silky is expensive because all Japanese products are expensive, but tend to be very refined, especially in steel quality. Look at Japanese technology and vehicles. Stuff lasts forever. It’s just a different culture over there, always demanding quality and perfection. If I were to recommend you a silky it would be the F180 with large teeth. This saw cuts green wood amazing for its size and is very portable. Probably similar size to the Laplander but I’d wager it would cut wood in half the time with a quarter of the effort. About $35 on Amazon. It’s the cheapest model you’re gonna get if you ever wanted to try one out. Good luck 👍👍
Awesome! Yeah, I originally got it for doing trail work and forest management around my college campus. Worked great and didn’t draw any unwanted attention.
I once processed a silver maple with a ton of big limbs and I had to use this on some of the 14 inch diameter parts and it was brutal! I agree with you 100%. Silver maple is supposed to be very soft and I was struggling. Be accustomed to taking a lot of breaks if you're using this saw!
Agreed, it definitely wears you down. I think a bow saw is more comfortable just because I can get into a rhythm by rocking back and forth. With the katanaboy, I feel like I’m using way too much arms and have to push down with a good bit of pressure to get those teeth to cut. They are very aggressive, so much so that they don’t seem to cut dense or dry wood very well. Would be nice if they offered some other teeth patterns like they do with the bigboy saw.
Thanks Kurt! Yeah, it’s a beast for sure. Feels like I’m using a lot more energy than using an axe, oddly enough. Blade is thick and the teeth are quite mean. Takes some effort to make it rip, that’s for sure! But it’s pretty cool, they tapered it so that the top of the spine is thinner than the width of the teeth. It helps the saw from getting pinched. Yeah, that was the 261, just got it this summer. I think it’s a fantastic saw. Great for someone getting into cutting firewood. Really punches above its weight class.
That’s the way it goes! Haha. Yeah it honestly is stupid big for a lot of things. Other than dropping trees, I find it useful for cutting under big shrubs where I don’t want to get stabbed by thorns. Keeps my hands away. Otherwise it doesn’t get much use. Thanks for watching😁
Hi JV! So I was recommending the silky bigboy 360 with large teeth because it has a straight blade that would be good for cutting felling notches. I think it is the best value saw if you want a companion to an axe. However, if I’m not backpacking and just want to cut larger wood on the ground, I would much rather use a 30” bow saw for comfort. These saws are great, but I don’t think you can beat a traditional style saw for cutting big wood. Thanks for watching👍
If I could only have one saw, the silky bigboy would be it. It’s more affordable, and can handle plenty of wood as an axe companion/ trail saw. However, I would recommend the red handle version with “large teeth.” It’s harder to find but has a straight blade opposed to the curved blade of the orange model with “XL teeth.” Would be better for making back cuts with the straight blade. I think the orange model is more so intended for cutting small rounds of wood and pruning. Thanks for watching!👍
I also bought a katanaboy 650 saw and cut a dry birch tree several times with 15 centimeters and the entire saw blade got scratched and it shouldn't be like that and I was very disappointed.🙄🙄
Dang man! Yeah fortunately I haven’t had any issues like that. Maybe there was something in the bark? I guess they only have the teeth super hard, so maybe the rest of the blade is more vulnerable to scuffs. Thanks for sharing, Codi
@@Codi_ClapperThere was nothing in the ground because it was thin and the wood was thick and dry and hard. I cut a lot and the cuts are not terrible! I think it depends on the cut and the wood.
Hello friend, No, I do not need a harvest permit where I live. In the Northeast United States, most forestland is owned by private individuals. The land owners typically own the rights to the standing timber and can harvest as they please. On state forest (public ownership), however, cutting live trees is illegal without permission and may be subject to getting fined. The state does sell firewood permits during certain months of the year for collecting dead standing wood. Each $20 permit allots the person the ability to collect approximately 128 cubic feet of firewood. Thanks for watching. Hope I was able to help. Codi
Have the 500 and will never use a bow saw again. You’re technique is obviously not good if you find the saw “tiresome and uncomfortable”. It’s the complete opposite
It's tiring you out because you're using it wrong, you're standing too close and trying to use it like a bowsaw. Your back hand needs to be at the swell, and your front foot under the front hip if the saw is at the edge of the log and your right hand is also at the hip. The way you're using it up close like that, you've lost nearly two foot of leverage. Which is why you're also trying far far too hard. Study the way canadian prepper holds his
I politely disagree. I used it the way you describe when I first got the saw. While you can get more power that way, it is hard to put any body movement into the cut. This means that it is all arms, and will wear you out faster. The way I was cutting is not as fatiguing and I can use more of my body to move the saw. Look up historic Japanese saws. They have long blades and very short handles. The only reason this saw has such a long handle is because it’s trying to be everything: a Japanese crosscut saw, folding saw, and a pole saw. For cross-cutting, a close grip works fine.
@@Codi_Clapper Maybe cause it was new you were too stiff with it or something. I'm using my legs, hips, core, shoulders, arms and wrists with mine and it's fine even on the low stuff.
It’s also a pull saw and he too is trying to use it like a regular saw, pushing and pulling. The second he said it was “tiresome” I knew he doing it wrong
I agree, a chainsaw is going to be the thing most people need. However, I can’t say that chainsaw is only a bit more. I only paid $200 for katanaboy, yet I’ve spent much more towards my chainsaw. Most 50cc chainsaws today you’re looking at $500-650 after tax. Then add files and stump vise, bar oil and fuel, safety gear like chaps, etc. Some people might find the katanaboy useful for trail work. Chainsaws are heavy and much more dangerous. But yes, a chainsaw is the right choice if you don’t want to die of exhaustion lol.
You can add any setting with an angle grinder to the katana whats good about doing that is it becomes an advanced sythe and you can clear brush efficiently and process felled trees after your chainsaw bois have dun the heavy lifting you should have tree guys
Fellow axe-enthusiasts:
The Silky Katanaboy makes for a great felling companion to the axe. The large blade rips through wood quickly and makes it possible to drop larger trees, particularly those with a bit of back lean.
Dropping trees in the right location is challenging and dangerous. There are times in which axe-only felling is not practical or safe. For any tree with a bit of back lean, I suggest cutting a back cut with a saw and pounding in plastic wedges to direct the fall.
The size of the tree you intend to fall is important. Choosing too small of a saw makes for tedious work. Too large of a saw is not often a problem, though it can be difficult to use in densely wooded areas.
For trees up to 8 inches diameter, I would recommend looking into a Silky Bigboy 360, particularly one with a straight blade. The red handle model would be my personal choice, as it has the most aggressive teeth for fast cutting.
For trees between 8 and 14 inches diameter, I would recommend the Silky Katanaboy 650. Trees larger than 14 inches I do not recommend falling with this saw, nor do I recommend using an axe for such a task unless you have experience doing so. Felling large trees can be unpredictable and dangerous.
It is important to be able “chase your cut,” with whatever saw you use.
Leaving too much hinge-wood before the fall increases the likelihood of a barber-chair. A small saw doesn’t allow you to cut up to the hinge wood as quickly, increasing the chances of this happening. Therefore, for safety reasons, I feel more comfortable using the katanaboy for felling over the bigboy model.
Recognizing the steep price on this saw, I would not recommend it to just anyone. For bucking up wood, this saw is neither comfortable nor ergonomic. I would much rather use a bow saw for such tasks. However, as a felling tool, this saw really stands out.
I hope you found this helpful, enjoy!
Awesome cutting! That saw is a beast
Thanks man! Appreciate the comment👍
Thorough review. Thanks.
Thanks Brett! Appreciate you tuning in👍
Excellent review Mr. Codi, I wonder if you could file a second detent into the blade the same as the saw you compared it to...an alternative to the crosscut saw I also found interesting...great job sir...
Thank you Mr. Brian! Perhaps once the blade wears out I will have to try that out. Would be nice if they offered a replacement blade with finer teeth for cutting hardwoods. Given the little maintenance and portability, I would recommend this saw over an American crosscut saw unless you find one for cheap. They are a lot of work!
Thanks for the shoutout, very nice of you sir!
Wow Codi excellent video !! Really loved how cinematic it was, also as always I appreciate the honesty 👍 that’s saw looks wicked man but yeah seeing it’s flaws after you pointed them out I can see that becoming annoying after some extended use. How are the other silky saws I notice a lot of people recommend them and use them. I just wasn’t sure if they just have a colt following in bushcraft similar to gransfors, I suppose what I’m asking is the juice worth the squeeze. Right now the only saw i own for the woods, obviously I have shop saws for work and stuff but I mean just like a “bushcrafting” saw is the bacho laplander. The sawyer shop across the street from my house has both silky and they had the bacho Laplander and I grabbed the bacho simply based off price I didn’t know anything about either saw. So far it seems to be doing pretty well for smaller stuff up to maybe 6” or so
Thanks Joey! Glad you enjoyed it😁. The first silky saw I ever purchased was on Amazon for 40 bucks. It was a gomboy 270 I think. I’ve never used a bacho Laplander, but I know there are a ton of reviews comparing them to silky and there is no comparison in performance. Unfortunately inflation is crazy right now. Probably can’t get one for less than $50.
I don’t think silky is part of the bushcraft cult following. A lot of bushcrafters like the silky bigboy 2000 xl and the pocket boy series. That’s about it. Silky is expensive because all Japanese products are expensive, but tend to be very refined, especially in steel quality. Look at Japanese technology and vehicles. Stuff lasts forever. It’s just a different culture over there, always demanding quality and perfection.
If I were to recommend you a silky it would be the F180 with large teeth. This saw cuts green wood amazing for its size and is very portable. Probably similar size to the Laplander but I’d wager it would cut wood in half the time with a quarter of the effort. About $35 on Amazon. It’s the cheapest model you’re gonna get if you ever wanted to try one out. Good luck 👍👍
I use this saw since some years. It cuts unbelievably. Mostly I cut 25cm oak trees. It's a job from a few minutes and it makes no noise.
Awesome! Yeah, I originally got it for doing trail work and forest management around my college campus. Worked great and didn’t draw any unwanted attention.
I once processed a silver maple with a ton of big limbs and I had to use this on some of the 14 inch diameter parts and it was brutal! I agree with you 100%. Silver maple is supposed to be very soft and I was struggling. Be accustomed to taking a lot of breaks if you're using this saw!
Agreed, it definitely wears you down. I think a bow saw is more comfortable just because I can get into a rhythm by rocking back and forth. With the katanaboy, I feel like I’m using way too much arms and have to push down with a good bit of pressure to get those teeth to cut. They are very aggressive, so much so that they don’t seem to cut dense or dry wood very well. Would be nice if they offered some other teeth patterns like they do with the bigboy saw.
Cool vid! Looks like a bit of a beast to use, that's a thick blade. Was that a 261 that stihl?
Thanks Kurt! Yeah, it’s a beast for sure. Feels like I’m using a lot more energy than using an axe, oddly enough. Blade is thick and the teeth are quite mean. Takes some effort to make it rip, that’s for sure! But it’s pretty cool, they tapered it so that the top of the spine is thinner than the width of the teeth. It helps the saw from getting pinched.
Yeah, that was the 261, just got it this summer. I think it’s a fantastic saw. Great for someone getting into cutting firewood. Really punches above its weight class.
I avoided this for years bc I thought it was stupid big. Started with the pocket boy and kept working my way up lol
That’s the way it goes! Haha. Yeah it honestly is stupid big for a lot of things. Other than dropping trees, I find it useful for cutting under big shrubs where I don’t want to get stabbed by thorns. Keeps my hands away. Otherwise it doesn’t get much use. Thanks for watching😁
Hello,
So I was reading your comments below. So you recommend the silky bigboy 360 (red handle) for cutting fire wood.?
Hi JV!
So I was recommending the silky bigboy 360 with large teeth because it has a straight blade that would be good for cutting felling notches. I think it is the best value saw if you want a companion to an axe. However, if I’m not backpacking and just want to cut larger wood on the ground, I would much rather use a 30” bow saw for comfort. These saws are great, but I don’t think you can beat a traditional style saw for cutting big wood.
Thanks for watching👍
👍👍👍👍👍🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Would you recommend the silkyboy instead ?
If I could only have one saw, the silky bigboy would be it. It’s more affordable, and can handle plenty of wood as an axe companion/ trail saw. However, I would recommend the red handle version with “large teeth.” It’s harder to find but has a straight blade opposed to the curved blade of the orange model with “XL teeth.” Would be better for making back cuts with the straight blade. I think the orange model is more so intended for cutting small rounds of wood and pruning.
Thanks for watching!👍
You didn't put on chaps when running the chainsaw. 😢
Are you sure?? 🧐 Prove it😉😁
Where do you get them
I got mine from a website called Canadian preparedness. It’s been a couple years since I got it, but I paid $200 for this model at the time.
where to buy that one
I bought for $200 on Canadian preparedness back in 2020. They are definitely more expensive now but you can still find them for sale.
I also bought a katanaboy 650 saw and cut a dry birch tree several times with 15 centimeters and the entire saw blade got scratched and it shouldn't be like that and I was very disappointed.🙄🙄
Dang man! Yeah fortunately I haven’t had any issues like that. Maybe there was something in the bark? I guess they only have the teeth super hard, so maybe the rest of the blade is more vulnerable to scuffs.
Thanks for sharing, Codi
@@Codi_ClapperThere was nothing in the ground because it was thin and the wood was thick and dry and hard. I cut a lot and the cuts are not terrible! I think it depends on the cut and the wood.
আমার একটা হাত করাত লাগবে দাম কত কিভাবে পাব
Don't you need a harvest permit to cut down live trees?
Hello friend,
No, I do not need a harvest permit where I live. In the Northeast United States, most forestland is owned by private individuals. The land owners typically own the rights to the standing timber and can harvest as they please.
On state forest (public ownership), however, cutting live trees is illegal without permission and may be subject to getting fined. The state does sell firewood permits during certain months of the year for collecting dead standing wood. Each $20 permit allots the person the ability to collect approximately 128 cubic feet of firewood.
Thanks for watching. Hope I was able to help.
Codi
Have the 500 and will never use a bow saw again. You’re technique is obviously not good if you find the saw “tiresome and uncomfortable”. It’s the complete opposite
It's tiring you out because you're using it wrong, you're standing too close and trying to use it like a bowsaw. Your back hand needs to be at the swell, and your front foot under the front hip if the saw is at the edge of the log and your right hand is also at the hip. The way you're using it up close like that, you've lost nearly two foot of leverage. Which is why you're also trying far far too hard. Study the way canadian prepper holds his
I politely disagree. I used it the way you describe when I first got the saw. While you can get more power that way, it is hard to put any body movement into the cut. This means that it is all arms, and will wear you out faster. The way I was cutting is not as fatiguing and I can use more of my body to move the saw. Look up historic Japanese saws. They have long blades and very short handles. The only reason this saw has such a long handle is because it’s trying to be everything: a Japanese crosscut saw, folding saw, and a pole saw. For cross-cutting, a close grip works fine.
@@Codi_Clapper Maybe cause it was new you were too stiff with it or something. I'm using my legs, hips, core, shoulders, arms and wrists with mine and it's fine even on the low stuff.
@@8thsinnerI’ll have to give it another go. Glad you like the saw. Thanks!
@@Codi_Clapper Take it super slow find the distance and then focus on feeling swaying the hips, I think if you do that the rest will fall into place.
It’s also a pull saw and he too is trying to use it like a regular saw, pushing and pulling. The second he said it was “tiresome” I knew he doing it wrong
For a few dollars more, you can buy a decent chainsaw 😉
I agree, a chainsaw is going to be the thing most people need. However, I can’t say that chainsaw is only a bit more. I only paid $200 for katanaboy, yet I’ve spent much more towards my chainsaw. Most 50cc chainsaws today you’re looking at $500-650 after tax. Then add files and stump vise, bar oil and fuel, safety gear like chaps, etc. Some people might find the katanaboy useful for trail work. Chainsaws are heavy and much more dangerous. But yes, a chainsaw is the right choice if you don’t want to die of exhaustion lol.
You can add any setting with an angle grinder to the katana whats good about doing that is it becomes an advanced sythe and you can clear brush efficiently and process felled trees after your chainsaw bois have dun the heavy lifting you should have tree guys
Great idea haha. Unfortunately the mechanism won’t let me extent the blade out any farther. Would like to try it otherwise. Thanks for watching!