My prototype folding camp saw.

This my version of a folding camp saw, used to cut fire wood or whatever, just don't cut yourself. See the saw used in a test cut video cutting a 3 1/2" walnut log. This is very hard wood and the saw worked very well.

Also see the video showing how to unfold and fold the saw. It took just over 2 minutes to unfold and refold the saw.

I'm not going to claim this idea for my self. I saw different versions of this on Youtube and on this site, this is just the way I did mine.

This saw weighed less than 12.5 oz. and about 20" long. That's small enough to easily fit into any pack. It weighs less than the garden saw that I started with, and it folds.


Again, this is a prototype. It's made of pine scraps that I had in the scrap bin. I plan to make a more durable one out of some walnut or cherry the I have on hand.

The only thing that I had to buy was the garden saw. It was cheaper to buy the whole saw than to buy just the blade online with shipping and everything.

Step 1: Tolls and material.

I try to list everything that goes into, and every tool used.

It should be noted that even though I used a lot of different tools, it is by no means necessary to use all of these. A saw can be made with minimal tools and material.

Material:

1. Blade from store bought saw.
2. 1 1/2" pine scraps. 2 @ 10". 1@ 20"
3. 2 bolts sized to fit through holes in blade, with nuts.
4. 1 piece of paracord about 40" long. (Not pictured.)
5. Small toggle stick for torsion cord.

Tools:

1. Table saw.
2. Drill.
3. Router table.
4. Measuring tape.
5. 1/8" Roundover router bit.

Safety:

1. Eye protection.
2. Hearing protection.
3. Push sticks and feather boards to keep fingers away from spinning saw blades. They really hurt.
4. Dust collection.

I can't say enough about safety. There is no such thing as too much. I've been doing this for a long, long time. I do things that I would never let anyone else in my shop. I learned to do a lot of things long before anyone seemed to have any safety concerns. I have gained a healthy fear and respect for all of these tools, having seen what they can do to the human body, Yuck.


It's pretty simple. if you're not comfortable doing something, Don't do it!

OK, enough of the lecture, let's get to work.

Comments

[bcavaciuti]

nice saw i like the way it all packs away into a small bundle and the simple design means i would be able to build it from memory if i was lost somewhere with a broken saw and needed to survive :)...maybe the handle would be more comfy if you rounded it off :) then you don't get sore hands after prolonged use...though it could reduce the strength a bit

[str8shter]

Thanks for checking out my saw, glad you liked it. The corners of the handles are rounded off (see step 6). I tend to wear gloves so the handles are fine for me. as for the prolonged use thing, any prolonged use of a hand saw would be uncomfortable.

[poppamies]

Very, VERY old desing, but glad you took it up again!

[str8shter]

I never claimed this for my own DESING, (design). I claimed it as the way I decided to do it.

I'm very glad that someone liked the way I built my saw, and thank you for your comment.

[Lorddrake]

granted that the basic saw design has been around for hundreds of years. Most of the saws of this design are not made to be broken down for travel or storage.

What I liked was how it was made to fold up and store compactly for travel purposes. I especially like the fact that the blade is covered when it is in travel mode.

[str8shter]

I have at least one more mod, then going to make one from, I think walnut or cherry. I wish that I could find just the blades locally, so far, no joy.

[Lorddrake]

not sure where in Ohio you are, but I know that the larger chain hardware stores like Lowes and Home Depot carry bow saw blades for around 5 bucks each.

[str8shter]

Tried The Depot, no joy. Can't remember if I looked at Lowes or not. Kinda think so though.

[grd]

I have quite a few drawstring bags made exactly the same way with the same material source. My oldest is over 20 years old, so they're pretty tough.

[str8shter]

All thanks for the drawstring bag are to be given to Mrs. Str8shter. She did all the work on that part.

[Lorddrake]

brilliant design.

[str8shter]

Thank you, just another way to something that's been done several times.