As you know, there's not much in the world that I crave but I admit to having lusted after this beautiful Japanese pruning saw for a few years. I'd go into the little Stihl store in Thames and look at it, discuss its merits, its beauty of design and the high price.
A few weeks ago I succumbed and now wish I had much earlier.
This Silky Zubat is without doubt one of the most superb tools I've ever used.
It cuts wood with incredible speed and very little effort and you know too that I have a fetish for firewood. Lots of it.
The agresssively curved blade rips through wood faster than any other saw. Like all Japanese saws, it's pull not push which gives more control and power while cutting a thinner kerf and using less energy.
There is a range of Silky Saws available online so simply google them.
The name Zubat or Zubatto in Japanese is the sound a Samurai sword makes when it strikes it's target.
I believe I was a Samurai in a previous incarnation but that's another story.
Just don't come near me when I'm wielding this. I'm a lethal machine...
So you think it's good then?
ReplyDeleteHi Bill.
DeleteDid I use the word 'fantastic'?
I should have.
There's a video on YouTube of a professional arborist trimming a huge tree with one exactly the same as mine...
Can you resharpen it or do you through it away after it gets blunt and get another one ?
DeleteIt looks like you'd need a dammed special file to sharpen it.
I hope it is resharpen able for the sake of your nomadic saw sharpener mate. We need these old tinkers.
If it is hardened steel and not resharpen able you might try leaving it in old battery acid. I believe that puts the edge back on old files. worth a try anyway ??
Alternatively look on the bright side, as it gets blunter you get stronger.
Well if you see my friend and nomadic saw sharpener, you might tell him that I don't think it can be resharpened... but I have another that can and will need his services...
DeleteIt's a shame we are loosing these old skills like saw sharpening to the throw away society.
DeleteI'm a builder and would be looked at as some kind'a weirdo If went to work with my old resharpen able Distan saw.
Yes the throw away ones are good and sharp, but the sheer mediation and satisfaction of getting a good saw good and sharp again is immense.
Sadly I think it's an almost a lost art like all these things.
Oh for the life of a tinker !
The best fire wood saw I ever had was a wooden bow saw I made using an old (unsharpen able) broken band saw blade. man it wood cut like butter.
I used that in pull saw fasion. It seemed more natural some how,I had more controle.
Yes I agree with you.
DeleteI have an old Disston that I bought at an Antique shop but that's another story, one that I'll share with you sometime soon...
I have had a simalar saw for years and it still cuts great.
ReplyDeleteSorry Mr Rat.
ReplyDeleteI deleted your comment in error...
I have a set of 5 japanese pull saws, I have used them for years and they are the bees knees! You can buy re-sharpenable japanese pull saws, but they cost an absolute fortune, and they have to go back to Japan to a specialist who knows how to resharpen then, the teeth being quite different to ours. I'd love to be able to afford one, as they are hand made and absolute beauties. The modern ones have teeth with hardened tips, are very good and they last quite a long time.
ReplyDelete