How to Pick the Right Silky Saw.

How to Pick the Right Silky Saw.

How to Choose the Right Silky Saw for Camping, Bushcraft & 4WD

If you’ve ever been out bush and needed to clear a fallen tree, cut firewood, or tidy up a track, you’ll know the value of a good saw. We’ve used a heap of gear over the years, but when it comes to folding saws that actually work hard Silky is in a league of its own.

Their saws are razor sharp, cut on the pull stroke, and are trusted by arborists, farmers, trail crews, and adventurers worldwide.

But with so many models, how do you pick the right one? Here's the full breakdown.

1. Start With Your Main Use

Silky saws are designed for different tasks. First, think about what you actually need it for:

Use Case Best Model Why
Camping / Firewood Bigboy 2000 XL Long blade, folds up, chews through thick logs.
Bushcraft / Hiking Gomboy 240 or 270 Large Lightweight and tough, fits in a pack.
Backyard Pruning Zubat or Gomboy Curved Great reach, smooth cuts on green wood.
Heavy-Duty Trail Work Katanaboy 500 / 650 Two-handed beast, basically a manual chainsaw.
Carving / Light Trimming Pocketboy 130 Fine Small, precise, easy to carry.

 2. Understand Silky's Tooth Sizes

Silky doesn’t just make one blade type. Each saw has a version with different teeth depending on what you're cutting:

  • XL Teeth (5 TPI): Big, aggressive teeth. Best for green wood and quick firewood cuts.

  • Large Teeth (6.5 TPI): Good all-rounder for most outdoor tasks.

  • Medium Teeth (8.5 TPI): Slower cut, smoother finish.

  • Fine Teeth (11 TPI): Best for dry wood, carving, and precision work.

📝 Tip: If in doubt, go with Large teeth for general-purpose use.

 3. Folding vs Fixed Blade

There are two main types:

  • Folding Saws
    (e.g. Bigboy, Gomboy, Pocketboy)
    ✅ Portable
    ✅ Safe to carry
    ✅ Great for 4WD, packs, and travel kits

  • Fixed Blade Saws
    (e.g. Zubat, Sugoi)
    ✅ Stronger and faster cutting
    ✅ Better for regular use, arbor work, or home pruning

If you’re packing a saw in your 4WD drawer or backpack, the folding range is the way to go.

🔁 4. Curved Blade vs Straight Blade

  • Curved Blades (Zubat, Bigboy Curved, Gomboy Curve):
    Ideal for overhead or fast cuts. The blade bites in hard, less effort, more power.

  • Straight Blades (Gomboy, Pocketboy, Katanaboy):
    Easier to control and better for precision or ground-level cutting.

 5. Handle Size & Grip

All Silky saws use a GOM rubber grip comfy, grippy, and shock-absorbing.

  • Shorter saws (Pocketboy, Gomboy) = one-handed

  • Long saws (Bigboy, Katanaboy) = two-handed for more power

If you're cutting anything thicker than your arm, get a two-handed saw.

 Not Sure? Here’s Our Top Picks

Here’s what we’d recommend if you just want to get the job done:

  • Best All-Rounder: Silky Bigboy 2000 XL Teeth
    A camping and 4WD staple. Long enough for serious work but folds up neatly.

  • Best for Packs: Silky Gomboy 240 Large Teeth
    Perfect bush saw. Lightweight, reliable, cuts clean.

  • Best for Serious Cutting: Silky Katanaboy 500 or 650
    If you’re clearing trails, cutting big limbs, or want a manual alternative to a chainsaw.

🔥 Ember Team Tip

We’ve used these in everything from remote WA tracks to clearing backyard trees. You’ll be amazed how fast they cut. Just go slow and let the blade do the work, they’re sharp enough, to literally cut anything and hard wearing enough to do it for a long time.

SHOP SILKY HERE

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