Are Wire Saws Any Good? Brutal Truth About This Tool

You pack your bag for a trip. You want to keep things light. You see a tiny wire saw at the store. You wonder, are wire saws any good? I asked that same thing last year. I bought one and took it to the woods. I want to share what I found out. This is my real story about using them.

I read a lot of survival guides online. Most of them said this tool was a must-have item. I paid just a few bucks for mine. It felt very cheap in my hands. I wanted to see if it was a real tool or just a toy. I tested it on many types of wood.

What Is a Pocket Wire Saw?

A wire saw is a very thin cutting tool. It looks like a rough metal string. It has two small rings at the ends. You put your thumbs in the rings to hold it. Then, you pull the wire back and forth across a branch. The friction does the cutting for you. It rolls up small and fits right in your pocket.

Many folks buy them for bug-out bags. They take up almost zero space. But size is not the only thing that matters. We need to know if they can do real work. I wanted to know how strong the parts were. Let us look at what they are made of.

Basic Parts of the Tool

My First Time Trying to Cut Wood

My first test was a dead pine branch. It was about as thick as my arm. I wrapped the saw over the top. I started to pull left and right. At first, it bit into the wood fast. Sawdust flew down to the ground. I felt like a true woodsman.

Then, the saw got stuck fast. It pinched deep in the wood. I had to pull very hard to free it. My thumbs hurt from the metal rings pulling on my skin. It took me ten long minutes to cut the branch. A real hand saw would take two minutes. Here is how long it took me to cut things.

Wood Cutting Results

The Good Things About These Small Saws

So, are wire saws any good at all? Yes, they do have some big wins. The best thing is how small they are. You can put one in a tiny tin box. They weigh almost nothing in your pack. You forget you even have one until you need it.

They also work well in tight spots. You can slide the thin wire behind a pipe. This makes them great for PVC pipes at home. Plumbers use them when regular tools will not fit. They are very handy for those weird odd jobs around the house.

The Bad Things I Found Out Fast

But I must be honest with you. These tools can break very easily. If you bend the wire too much, it snaps. Once it snaps, you can not fix it. You just have to throw it away and get a new one. This is a big letdown in the woods.

The rings can also hurt your fingers. Pulling hard puts a lot of stress on your hands. If the wood is wet, the saw drags. Wet wood makes the job twice as hard. The wire just binds up in the damp sap. Let us look at the main flaws I found.

Common Saw Flaws

The Smart Bow Saw Trick

There is a smart trick you can use in the woods. You can turn your flimsy wire into a bow saw. You just need to find a green, bendy stick. The stick should be about two feet long. It must be fresh so it can bend without breaking.

You bend the green stick like an archer’s bow. Then, you hook the saw rings to the ends of the stick. The stick pulls the thin wire tight. Now you have a real saw frame to hold. You do not have to use your thumbs anymore.

This trick makes cutting wood a lot easier. It stops the wire from getting stuck in the cut. It also keeps your hands far away from the rough bark. I tried this hack, and it worked very well for me. It saved me a lot of time.

How It Compares to a Folding Saw

You might wonder how they compare to folding saws. I own both kinds of saws. A folding saw has a real steel blade with sharp teeth. It cuts through thick branches very fast. It is my favorite tool for long camping trips.

But a folding saw takes up more space in your pack. It is also much heavier to carry. If you hike for many miles, weight matters a lot. You feel every extra pound on your back. Small items help keep you fast and light on the trail.

The wire tool wins on weight and size. The folding tool wins on speed and strength. I think it is wise to own both of them. You use the big one for camp chores. You keep the small one for a fast emergency.

Are Wire Saws Any Good for Survival Kits?

Many guides say you need one in a survival kit. I think they are okay as a backup plan. If you have nothing else, a wire saw is better than your hands. It will help you build a small shelter. It can cut thin sticks for a warm fire.

Just do not make it your main tool. A small folding saw is much better for real trips. But a wire saw is so cheap to buy. You might as well keep one in your car trunk. Just know its limits before you need to use it.

Tips to Make Your Saw Last Longer

I learned a few tricks to help the saw last. First, do not use the finger rings by themselves. Find two strong sticks on the ground. Put the sticks through the rings to make handles. This saves your hands and gives you more power to pull.

Second, try to keep the wire as straight as you can. Do not make a sharp “V” shape when you pull. A wide “U” shape keeps the wire from snapping. Go slow and let the rough wire do the work for you. Do not rush the cut.

Best Uses by Material

Who Should Buy One of These?

Who is this tool really made for? I think hunters and hikers will like them the most. When you hunt, you need to clear small branches from your view. A pocket saw does this quiet and fast. It will not scare the animals away.

Preppers also love them for their grab bags. You can put three or four of them in a small pouch. If one breaks, you have a spare ready to go. They are very cheap to buy in bulk online. You can outfit your whole family for very little cash.

Final Thoughts on My Pocket Saw

At the end of the day, are wire saws any good? My answer is yes, but only for small jobs. They are not magic tools that will cut down big trees. They are cheap, light, and good for basic camp needs.

I still keep one in my bug-out bag. I know how to use it right now. If you buy one, test it out first. Do not wait for a bad day to try it out. Learn how it works in your own backyard.