holding on to your handsaw

T

Treebeard

Location
Charleston, SC
just wondering what different methods y'all use to keep your handsaw from falling while working aloft. this weekend i dropped my 2nd handsaw in 2yrs in competition. first time i shrugged it off as a freak of nature, my scabbord w/saw unclipped from my saddle when i came back to the center of the tree from a little swing. this year i decided to use a leg scabbord and had it attached to my right calf. well after working the entire tree, on my way down from my final station, my tail end wrapped around the handle of the handsaw and yanked the darn thing out of the scabbord. since then i have been approached w/some interesting ideas. like taping small but powerful magnets to the backside of the scabbord. or using some sort of retractable string device. i have tried placing the leg scabbord on my upper thigh it seems to be a little more out of the way, but i have noticed that it tends to go completely upside-down quite often. i have one week to fix this problem as my southern chapter tcc is this sunday. open to all suggestions . thanks
 
Competition issued? What's that about? Do they always do that?

I use the Zubat and if it's reasonably new, it has a little knob that helps keep the saw from spilling out. I too keep it on my right leg, on the calf.

I like the idea of the magnets because once you pull the saw out, you don't even notice it any more. I have, on occasion (when working over water or in HUUUUUGE trees) tied a small lanyard on my handsaw and it's a major inconvenience. I wouldn't want to compete like that unless I did it daily. I know it'd get in my way.

love
nick
 
I use a silky myself. Never had it fall out. I tape straps to it's scabbard, and put it on the rt. calf. (tape the blade befor the comp.) Another little trick, is to tape the handle of the saw, where it enters the scabbard, to make a tighter fit. If you want to try the magnets try here. They are very strong, ship quick, Good service, and cheap.http://www.wondermagnet.com/
 
I've talked with MANY climbers who have NEVER had a saw drop until the day they're in competition. That is really weird...

For comp climbing a trick that I learned from reading Brion Toss' book is to use a coiled cord from a phone. You'd be surprised how much cord is coiled up in one of them.
 
what about rigging up a snap strap, sorta like the old 45 revolver holster thingie? goes over the arm of the hammer to hold the gun in the holster until it is deftly snapped off and the weapon is drawn?
 
Just saw the Sthil hand saws. They have a nice clip to hold the saw in. The saw is easily released with the thumb of the saw hand. looks nice.
 
i stole dan kraus' fabulous idea - $10 and i'll never drop a saw in competition. it's a retractable key chain w/ cable. clipped it right on my standard (worn out old work) scabbard via a slit at the top, drilled a hole in the tip of the handle on my corona pony (worn out old work). small screw link to hold the whole thing to my saddle. puppy slipped out of my hands at the handsaw station in 2004 pnw work climb and the crowd ooohed... and it dangled right where i could reach it. sweet. thanks dan!
 
Magnets work well but make sure you leave your wallet in the truck or your credit cards magnetic strips will get messed up.
I bought a new yellow Silky scabbard at TCI but haven't used it yet.
 
thank you guys/gals for all you help. i am going to savannah in the morning with friend/climber/contestant. i have decided to go with the retractable cord device with leg scabbard attached to rt calf, i also have been using the gun strap that comes with the scabbard. it really doesn't seem to bother me once i got used to it.
 
the only time my handsaw(fanno) falls out of its scabbard(weaver)is when the scabbard gets a bunch of sawdust/moss/etc. packed into the tip. there are slots in the scabbard tip so you can shove the compost back up out of it- neat feature. a small round file works very well for that. whan i run into problems dropping the saw is when it's drawn/while in use. i climb about 50/50 gloves/no gloves. it seems to make no difference. it's not a common occurance, but it has happened at some of the most inoppotune moments possible. into blackberries or ivy or my favorite-onto the roof. murphy's law? i normally have hands like a sugeon or a lynn swann. but once in a while... first post. thanks kc. whats up yall
 
I mostly remember dropping my handsaw while switching the way I hold it. Sometimes when cutting below a branch (to make the undercut) I like to hold the saw upside down. So I'll pull the saw from the scabbard, toss it in the air, grab it upside down, toss it again, grab it right side up, and cut the top. I am not really throwing my saw, just letting it go for a split second so I can switch how I hold on to it.

I started doing this my first year doing trees. I remember some of the guys would make fun of me about it, but I went a few months flawlessly! Then one day in a little honey locust it dropped to the ground. I just about got laughed outta the tree!

Anyway, I still do it, but now only when no one is looking and where I can get down and up before anyone sees. Look out if you're walking below me! /forum/images/graemlins/ahhhhh.gif

love
nick
 
well there was a lot of handsaw action this past weekend. from almost dropped saw, to complete saw and scabbard coming detached, to teeth biting handsaw work(litterally). we saw lots of different attachment ideas, retractable telephone cord, simple bungee cord(which saved a dq), and high power magnets. of course because i was prepared i didn't even come close to dropping my handsaw. the guy who dropped his saw/scabbard did not tape his saw clip closed and murphy found him.
 
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