'Meat' saw advice

[jlirot]

I've been thinking about adding an electric saw to my hunting kit. Yes, I can break down an animal without one. But, for expediency sometimes there's nothing like sawing along the spine or cutting the ribs down.

I have the Milwaukee M12 kit and love it. I have used the 'hacksall' to cut some ribs down to useful size - but I'm not a fan.

I was going to buy the mini-chainsaw. It's 6" long and called the 'hatchet'. https://www.homedepot.ca/product/milwaukee-tool-m12-fuel-12v-lithium-ion-brushless-cordless-6-inch-hatchet-pruning-chainsaw-tool-only-/1001560522?eid=PS_GOOGLE_D28%20-%20E-Comm_GGL_DSA_NB_EN_Outdoor%20Power_Chainsaw__DYNAM IC%20SEARCH%20ADS_dsa-807614757593&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2qKmBhCfARIsAFy8buJLMY81UY60ZYl9ioN7 EuegVwtTftDK0x-t2s1bA6gI1YT-NFnA30oaAnXJEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

But, I recently saw the 3" cut off saw. I hadn't see that before. https://www.homedepot.ca/product/milwaukee-tool-m12-fuel-12-volt-3-in-lithium-ion-brushless-cordless-cut-off-saw-kit-w-40-ah-battery-and-charger/1001232344?eid=PS_GOOGLE_D25%20-%20E-Comm_GGL_Shopping_PLA_EN_Power%20Tools_Power%20Too ls__PRODUCT_GROUP_pla-327236419169&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2qKmBhCfARIsAFy8buKjHicsfrKFHyYd5EkK 3b3pmT5PAgPGxhz4H3_XI42FdkoR21Qt7lkaArPnEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I'm kind of leaning towards the cut off saw. Seems like it would be cleaner and no need for oil.

Anybody have any thoughts on the matter?

[goatdancer]

The cut off saw will not have a lot of depth for the cut and will be very hard to clean.

[digger dogger]

I have a meat saw from a knife shop in Chilliwack. (I use at home)
I also have a Wyoming saw that’s breaks down into a Fanny pack type belt. (I take it on fly in hunts)
I’ve used a saws all on moose too.(to heavy for fly ins) (It works like dream to go down the spine) and wash it out with a pressure washer. Obviously a pressure washer is to heavy to pack around too! :-)

[jlirot]

I have a meat saw from a knife shop in Chilliwack. (I use at home)
I also have a Wyoming saw that’s breaks down into a Fanny pack type belt. (I take it on fly in hunts)
I’ve used a saws all on moose too.(to heavy for fly ins) (It works like dream to go down the spine) and wash it out with a pressure washer. Obviously a pressure washer is to heavy to pack around too! :-)

Yeah, I thought about buying a nice meat handsaw. But, a good one is almost as expensive as buying an M12 tool.

[srupp]

hmmm used a Miluaki...or Dewalt...2 batteries..

BLADE is 12 inch BI METAL 3 TPI deconstruction blade ie nails/timber etc...

can take head off..4 legs...split the briskett and pelvis..and down the complete spine split it 10 minutes with one person stabalizing the carcass.
once in the butcher room..no saws only knives = boneless cuts..

cheers
Steven
ps did try a mini chainsaw once..messed up meat and tore the cuts horribly IMO

[smeegle]

second what srupp said get a battery powered sawzall with a meat blade, works like a charm!

[cmac]

There are stainless steel sawzall blades made for meat cutting. They don't leave paint behind when you cut.

[Arctic Lake]

Wonder what Amp battery you would need ?
Arctic Lake

[Jmazu]

The bigger the battery the better. You will notice a huge difference between a 5ah battery and an 8 or 12ah. The bigger battery lasts longer and really let's you power through things without the saw slowing down.

[Night Hawk 3]

This was discussed on another site recently.

The only really good option is to use a Sawzall of whatever brand of battery operated tools you prefer.

I use 18V and 36V Makita tools, but Milwaukee would probably be my choice if I was going to start over again with battery operated tools.

There are lots of blade options but they need coarse teeth and to be relatively long. I used a stiff demolition blade last year, but may opt for an actual meat cutting blade now that I see they are available.

A disc type saw like that cut-off saw would be awful.

Chainsaws are fast, but super messy to clean up and sanitize.

NH3

[justachip]

I have the Milwaukee m8 hatchet chain saw It works great. You do not need bar oil when cutting bone as there is enough natural lube. You could also use vegetable oil if you wanted.

[dodge456]

Wonder what Amp battery you would need ?
Arctic Lake

I have a Milwaukee Hackzall ( mini sawzall ) and 4ah and 2ah batteries. My brother and i broke down a moose 2 seasons ago with it including cutting the antlers off later on just the 4ah. It was pretty much done by the end but it made it thru

[spreerider]

my dewalt sawsall cuts up 3 deer or 1 elk with 1 2.5ah battery and fresh blades, also split and delegged 4 pigs with 2 batteries.

[SaintSix]

Sawzall gets my vote aswell. Chain saw will make bone chips vs the sawzall makes a bone paste/dust. and decently easy to clean a sawzall, any type of circular saw is asking for injury if something like hide gets caught in and wrapped up.

[Banker]

DEWALT 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Reciprocating Saw, a couple of 5Ah Batteries and an aggressive 12" blade. Bonus, can help out to clear out smaller trees that block your road.

[Archive]

PA has a "Meat Blade" for 10bux.

Chainsaw is only good for a horror show.

[guntech]

PA has a "Meat Blade" for 10bux.

Chainsaw is only good for a horror show.

We always used a dedicated clean saw, no oil... worked just fine. Cleaned it well after the years hunt and good to go next year. Never had success with a reciprocating saw. We gave it a go one year and went back to the chain. The jays loved cleaning up the saw dust the tarp didn't catch...

https://i.postimg.cc/TYPZfvbd/Moose-being-cut.jpg

[HappyJack]

The biggest downfall of using a chainsaw is the time spent cleaning it out after using it, you spend more time cleaning than you did cutting. A battery powered sawsall is the ticket to avoid the clean up

[guntech]

The biggest downfall of using a chainsaw is the time spent cleaning it out after using it, you spend more time cleaning than you did cutting. A battery powered sawsall is the ticket to avoid the clean up

About 20 minutes to clean out saw... at home after the hunt.

Can you get a 16 inch Saws All blade?

[jlirot]

I bought some stainless blades for my m12 hacksall. Better blades should help I'm thinking. We'll give er a rip.

[moosinaround]

About 20 minutes to clean out saw... at home after the hunt.

Can you get a 16 inch Saws All blade?
Dennis, I like a chainsaw as well. No oil. and when ya get home, pressure wash it! I also like a chainsaw, as I don't always get them in a tree like you did in your photo. Easy to quarter with a chainsaw! Moosin

[Downwindtracker2]

I tried cooking oil, but it gummed up over winter. I was a pain to clean the chain. Now I use mineral oil. You can get it at the drug store.

[Citori54]

We always used a dedicated clean saw, no oil... worked just fine. Cleaned it well after the years hunt and good to go next year. Never had success with a reciprocating saw. We gave it a go one year and went back to the chain. The jays loved cleaning up the saw dust the tarp didn't catch...

https://i.postimg.cc/TYPZfvbd/Moose-being-cut.jpg

We have done exactly the same for 35+ years. A dedicated saw with cooking oil and clean after you get home. If you don't clean it and leave the chain on the bar, good luck next season. I find it way easier to keep a straight line down the spine with a chain saw versus a reciprocating saw. The only difference Dennis is I always wear a pair of disposable coveralls.