Switched from hand saws to a Silky Zubat last spring and it cut my limbing time in half on an oak I was cleaning up

I used to fight with a folding saw for years until a buddy let me try his on a big dead branch and I bought one that same week, has anyone else found a specific tool that totally changed how you work in the tree?

3 comments

3 Comments

kais6723d ago

Man I feel you on that. That twisting thing is such a common mistake too, people just don't realize how much leverage you lose. Once you focus on keeping that pull straight and square, the blade just glides through like butter. The teeth on these saws are designed to cut in a straight line, so when you twist you're basically forcing them sideways and that's what chips them out or dulls them fast. It's not even about a specific angle, it's more about keeping your body aligned with the cut so your arm pulls in a straight line. I've found that if I step my feet a little wider and lock my elbow, it forces me to pull straight without even thinking about it. That one little tweak saved me a ton of money on replacement blades and honestly made the saw feel twice as sharp.

michael_craig2mo ago

Oh man, @veramiller that tip about not twisting the blade is exactly what I needed to hear. I've been wondering why my edge life seems short on the Zubat - do you think there's a specific angle you aim for on the pull to keep it square, or is it more about just being deliberate with the cut?

veramiller2mo ago

Ngl, that Zubat is a game changer for sure, but if you're really trying to cut limbing time in half, you gotta make sure you're pulling it straight through the cut and not twisting the blade. I've seen guys snap teeth off that way.