silky versus corona handsaws

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Butch the coronas have changed in quality--tempered blades etc-- but not in price. You guys are comparing Red delicious and Macintosh.

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Well, it's true I haven't had a Corona in 5 years or so. Maybe I'll give em another shot.

Maybe. ;)
 
Silky all the way!
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I think Silky wins a majority vote....

Or, do we need a re-count?
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Hey Brian, My new boss has a silky handsaw, i used it for about a week, then had him run out and get me a corona. Guess its just what i'm used too! But in all fairness, it was a used silky, and seemed very used and getting kinda dull. I would give it another shoot but i still like the corona. I'm not the only guy here that uses corona, one of the other guys uses it over the silky. The hook on the end really isn't all that bad. and the curved blade is nice. But to me didn't seem worth the doulbe in price. To each their own!!! Hope to see ya at the farm show. Fri it is!!!
 
You know how some boots are pretty goot boots, but a few boots are exceptionally fine for superb comfort and long durability?

It's a little bit like that.
 
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Thinning a Pin Oak with loads of epicormic growth on stem I once accidently touched a house drop with the blade of my Natanoko, loud bang......inch wide hole created in saw....metal of saw just evaporated, if the Natanoko didn't have the rubber handle, I reckon some of my fingers would have been blown off.

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By your description of the aftermath my money is on your blade directly shorting the neutral to the hot. Rubber or wood handle would probably have behaved in the same way for that situation.
 
if price is a worry,here is what I have done after losing my zubat a couple of years ago. Use any old scabbard. buy the replacement blade, use old bike intertube and athletic tape to wrap up the blade for a comfortable vibrationless handle (depending on your craftmanship with intertube, it takes a little experimentation). Boom, perfectly functional silky blade for 30 bucks. I get a new blade every three or four months of high use. There is nothing like cutting with a sharp silky.
 
Yeah it must be from the recent update glen. About a week ago they added all the new gear to there site and changed the layout some which made it easier to find items. But as you see it has opened up other problems.
 
It's been that way for a few years.

The preferred way to lay out a web site is to provide links which your browser uses to form "GET" requests, through which it asks for specific entities.

Form boxes (like this very one I'm in at the moment) use "PUT" to submit data to a server. Another way to form "PUT" communication with a Web server is via javascript, which is what Sherrills site does (and is yet further "bad" methodology -- using javascript to perform what should be basic tasks already specified in the standards [not all browsers have javascript capability and/or for security reasons a savvy user may have it disabled as a matter of course]). Try turning scripting off in your browser and then visiting their site.

I've suggested to Sean many times over the years that he ask his designer to make a more friendly site. It's always fallen on a deaf ear. I still buy most of my stuff from them via Vermeer showrooms, though.
 
Corona are no longer the same, and are now made in Korea, I believe. Kanzawa was the parent company, which now markets the Samurai. Notice it has the same handle as the old Corona. The ones sold now have a crappy shaped handle and probably are not the same blade quality either. Any of the old style on the shelves are prolly old inventory.

I have an Ichiban and like it, though the blade is a bit flimsy. I've always liked the hooked handle for cutting leverage, though it does catch on objects too easily. The cheaper Kanzawa is the same as the old Coronas, but with a red handle and different graphics.
 
Vermeer's showrooms carry only the basics, but will order the tasty goodies.

If it's not in plain sight, I have a tendency to control my appetite better. Kid in a candystore thing.
 
Yeah, that's usually my take on it, too. But if the Vermeer store in Decatur, AL had had a "basic" prusik loop w/snap instead of the 9' lanyard w/Grillon (note I've taken the spelling from the device itself and not from Sherrills catalog!) recently, I would not have the Grillon with which I've fallen in love!

The store in Fishers (Indy), IN has just about the whole catalog represented :(
 
ok I bought a silky zubat. Recieved it yesterday..and took it up in a Red maple tree to sttructure prune today.

Here are my first impressions. Let me start off by saying I am in no means sold on it yet...unless it does ctually last longer the the coronas.

The blade is slightly shorter, and thinner, which isnt a huge factor. But do to the blades thinness or different kind of metal it is alot more flexible. Therefore I am worried about it getting bent easier. It buckled a couple times on me, when it on pinched etc. I personally think the corona fit it my hand better, and has a sturdier feel to it. Although I do like that the silky has a full metal shank through the handle (corona's tend to break there some it you wack to much with them). The tab on the end of the Zubat blade...has GOT TO GO!! Sorry but I hated it today, and going to cut or grind it off. It is quite sharp...least new. Laid some skin open on my hand when I barely bumped it (on a away cut action). so the question remain will it last almost 3 times as long?

So far I dont see the reason for the double + cost of the silky. Or see the value of spending more for one.
 
Give it a chance, like any new thing there is a learning curve.

I've never broken a Silky blade in a handsaw or polesaw.

If you're used to the radius of the Corona handle the Silky will feel different, no doubt. Doesn't the C have a hook at the base? I've never liked those style handles.

Does the C come with a scabbard or do you use a belting scabbard? When it comes time to replace the blade in the Silky you'll recoup some of the cost difference. The scabbard on mine has gone through several blades and it still works. It might be because I use it on my knee not harness.

Keep an open mind for a while and let us know what you think after a couple of weeks of cutting.
 
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The scabbard on mine has gone through several blades and it still works. It might be because I use it on my knee not harness.

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Tom, you might be on to something here. My scabbards last me a longggg time, and I also keep mine on my leg. Hmmmm

Another topic for another thread.

love
nick
 
the c doesn't come with a scabbard...but you can get one for it (plastic). I used them till they wore out. I prefer the belted scabbard with the side pocket for hand pruners (especially when doing small trees).

I have thought about tryin the whole leg thing...just havent yet. I kinda think it get in way more there, but I will try it someday.

as far as the hook, yeah the C has it. I personally like it. It locks it into the hand well. Plus if you want to ad a few fingers from your other hand for a bigger cut you can. Sure it snags sometimes. but if you know it does it, and you are careful about what it around the saw...it hardly comes out.

I will definately keep using it, and give it a fair shake. Just voicing my first impressions.
 
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