| Newsgroups |
gmane.culture.backpacking.backpackgeartest |
| Message-ID |
<[email protected]> |
SVEN SAW
BY MATTHEW HEITZENRATER
OR
August 02, 2015
TESTER INFORMATION
NAME: Matthew Heitzenrater
EMAIL: [email protected]
AGE: 28
LOCATION: Erie, Pennsylvania
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 5' 11" (1.80 m)
WEIGHT: 160 lb (72.60 kg)
I used to backpack with my father as a child regularly. We went on multiple weekend trips and a few week-long trips throughout my childhood and teenage years. I was out of the backpacking routine until the past few years. Now most of my trips are in the PA and Ohio region, sometimes in western New York. The terrain I hike and backpack along is usually mountainous. Temperatures can range from in the 90's down to the 30's depending on the time of the outing and sometimes rain or snow.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Sven
Year of Manufacture: 2013
Manufacturer's Website: www.svensaw.com
Blade length: 21in (53cm)
MSRP: 36.95 US$
Replacable Blade: Yes. 13.75 US$
Listed Weight: 17 oz (482 g)
Measured Weight: 16oz oz (454 g)
Other details: The Sven Saw is a lightweight saw made for lightweight campers and backpackers. The blade is made out of steel with an aluminum handle. The saw during use is in a triangular form held together by a screw and wingnut. When not in use the saw blade folds into one section of the handle and then that piece slides into the second section of aluminum handle for protection from cuts.
FIELD USE
This saw was a gift to me two years ago in early summer of 2013. Since then I have used it for multiple outings in the woods. It goes with me each time I am on a camping trip or hike. It has a permanent place at my side in my bag whenever I am anywhere it could come in handy. It has a very safe feel to it when closed since no part of the blade is exposed. It fits very well into any of my packs that I carry because when folded up only 24 inches (61cm) long. If, this would not fit in your pack, or if you feel this is too long of a blade, there is also a 15inch (38cm) blade Sven Saw as well. I have not seen reason to look for the smaller of the blades simply based on length.
I have used the Sven Saw to cut anything from cutting small branches for kindling to cutting down small trees and making logs for firewood. The Sven Saw makes quick work of these chores. It takes anywhere from 1 minute to 5 minutes to set up the saw or take down into it's safe mode, based on how familiar with the saw set-up you are. It is a very quick learning curve, however, so once you have set it up a couple times it will be a nice and quick process. The outer aluminum frame is red in color (but not bright red) which does make ok to see if dropped. The inner frame is silver in color and houses the saw blade while closed. The saw is held together in the open position by a wingnut. The wingnutis also silver in color, but if not careful it would be possible to drop and lose this during setup or takedown, which then the saw would be useless due to not holding together during the back-stroke of the sawblade during cutting. Care must be taked when using the Sven Saw. It can be very easy to cut through a finger if not paying attention to your cut stroke. The blade is quite sharp and if your hand gets in the way can cause injury.
The blade does come very sharp and ready to cut right out of the packaging. It can cut through anything from small branches the size of a finger to full trunks of small trees (10-15 inches in diameter). To use this while cutting it is easy to want to push down hard on the long because of the stability of the saw. This will cause the blades to stick into the wood and sawing will be ineffective and tedious. It is good to remember to use a light and swift smooth stroke with each cut and you will get through the wood with ease. I have not had any occurrence of the blade bending yet, but I am careful to not push too hard to take a chance at causing this to occur. In the two years that I have used the Sven Saw I have not needed to replace the blade. I am happy to say that it is quite inexpensive (13.75 US$) to replace if necessary. I am not sure as to how many limbs and branches of trees I have cut. Counting the cuts needed to make firewood from downed trees and limbs off trees I would estimate at least 200-300 logs made.
SUMMARY
I am very pleased with the Sven Saw that I received as a gift. It has served me very well over the past two years and I am hoping it will continue to work well for me for the next many to come. It is very durable and if needed the blade can be replaced for quite inexpensive cost. I am very pleased with the use of this saw for the initial cost that I see online. I would always recommend caution with using a product such as the Sven Saw due to the risk of injury with misuse or carelessness.
THINGS I LIKE
Lightweight
Durable
Great wood cutting ability
Safe when in compact set.
THINGS I DON'T LIKE
Does need wingnut to maintain ability to be used. If lost is worthless until new one obtained.
Red color but not real bright, could be lost if dark and dropped in wrong area
SIGNATURE
Matthew Heitzenrater, Pennsylvania, [email protected]
This report was created with the BGT Report Generator.
Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.