I have been clearing Rhododendron Ponticum on the island of Arran in my retirement for some 14 years and have found the Silky Zubat to be an amazingly wonderful tool. When I started they were very tough and would never break and they stayed sharp for a long time. Prices have really gone up but I am sure that the quality has gone down. I have taken care to buy the expensive blade replacements but in the last 3 weeks I have had two blade breaks and that never used to happened years ago. Just got blades trapped a little bit in the cut but broke far too easily.Anyone else had the same problem? I am also sure they get duller quicker now. Are these all fake or has Zubat production deteriorated? Anyone know of a reputable dealer?
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Silky Zubat failures
- Thread starter zubatlad
- Start date
vltor17
Gold Member
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- Dec 5, 2008
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- 359
While I’m not sure about the zubat, I’ve had excellent results with my silky folding saws. I have never broken a blade, but I watched a friend break one of mine. They really are pull saws only, if you get aggressive they will snap. It’s the price you pay for a thin kerf, fast cutting blade.
Thanks for your reply Vitor…..,I am a complete Numptie when it comes to anything vaguely mechanical and would be last person on earth to be trusted with using a chainsaw or repairing anything or sharpening anything but for the last 13 years in my retirement I have been cutting and removing strangulating rhododendron Ponticum to give other plants and trees life and provide wonderful firewood. I have used Silky zubat saws for 10 years and I really understand them and , trust me, they have definitely changed. Never had breaks in 8 years and now 4 breaks in 2 years and 2 of them in last few weeks despite shelling out about 60 just for replacement blade. They also definitely get fuller quicker.
- Joined
- May 24, 2019
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- 132
Where are you from? Where are you buying the replacement blades?
I have broken quiet a few of the blades, but as a tree climber (not amymore, too old for that shit), we tend to break everything. I personally would only get about a year before the blade went dull.
I have broken quiet a few of the blades, but as a tree climber (not amymore, too old for that shit), we tend to break everything. I personally would only get about a year before the blade went dull.
vltor17
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
- Messages
- 359
Your frustrations are noted, I haven’t bought any new silky blades/saws for about 2 years. I might recommend the Milwaukee hatchet for your uses? The poster above seems to be a professional arborist, getting a year out of a blade seems reasonable.
- Joined
- May 24, 2019
- Messages
- 132
If you said amazon or ebay, then i would say that's your problem, but that is not the case. Im located in the US so i am unfamiliar with those distributors.
When i broke mine, it was usually because the blade got pinched for one reason or another in larger diameter wood and SNAP.
I always bought mine from sherill tree or wesspur. Have you reached out to silky about a warranty?
RayseM
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2010
- Messages
- 8,246
I have the SUBAT and the SUGOI, among others. Been using Silkys hard for 20 + years. I LOVE MY SILKYS ! 
I have never snapped one of these bigger blade. I have snapped a folder - the shorter, narrower blades take a different pace for sawing than their big brothers and I pinched mine with a bit of overzealous action.
My Sugoi blade is pretty new, as after about 4 years of use I just replaced it this summer. So far, I have no sense of the new blade being more fragile.
I buy my Silkys from the company directly or a local brick and mortar store - Shelter Institute. I don't know if buying directly from Silky is an option for you in the UK but I'm guessing it is. YES, you will likely pay more but that is not always the case. The extra 5% or so is negligible though, when you can avoid issues and not need to deal with the Amazon customer “service” run around.
Having said that - I NEVER BUY PRODUCT FROM AMAZON - when I have access to the actual manufacturer. Too many bad experiences with Amazon for all kinds of reasons. Nothing like going to the source. If it's a good product and company you save all kinds of aggravations buying directly from the source in the rare case of a SHTF situation.
I'll report back if I experience any issues with my newer blades - will be out in the woods again tomorrow.
I have never snapped one of these bigger blade. I have snapped a folder - the shorter, narrower blades take a different pace for sawing than their big brothers and I pinched mine with a bit of overzealous action.My Sugoi blade is pretty new, as after about 4 years of use I just replaced it this summer. So far, I have no sense of the new blade being more fragile.
I buy my Silkys from the company directly or a local brick and mortar store - Shelter Institute. I don't know if buying directly from Silky is an option for you in the UK but I'm guessing it is. YES, you will likely pay more but that is not always the case. The extra 5% or so is negligible though, when you can avoid issues and not need to deal with the Amazon customer “service” run around.
Having said that - I NEVER BUY PRODUCT FROM AMAZON - when I have access to the actual manufacturer. Too many bad experiences with Amazon for all kinds of reasons. Nothing like going to the source. If it's a good product and company you save all kinds of aggravations buying directly from the source in the rare case of a SHTF situation.
I'll report back if I experience any issues with my newer blades - will be out in the woods again tomorrow.
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Thanks for this….. thought if bought most expensive on Amazon would get real thing but thanks to you and another reply will ask local arborist which company they source blades from…. was fine from Amazon till about 3 years agoI have the SUBAT and the SUGOI, among others. Been using Silkys hard for 20 + years. I LOVE MY SILKYS !
My Sugoi blade is pretty new, as after about 4 years of use I just replaced it this summer. So far, I have no sense of the new blade being more fragile.
I buy my Silkys from the company directly or a local brick and mortar store - Shelter Institute. I don't know if buying directly from Silky is an option for you in the UK but I'm guessing it is. YES, you will likely pay more but that is not always the case. The extra 5% or so is negligible though, when you can avoid issues and not need to deal with the Amazon customer “service” run around.
Having said that - I NEVER BUY PRODUCT FROM AMAZON - when I have access to the actual manufacturer. Too many bad experiences with Amazon for all kinds of reasons. Nothing like going to the source. If it's a good product and company you save all kinds of aggravations buying directly from the source in the rare case of a SHTF situation.
I'll report back if I experience any issues with my newer blades - will be out in the woods again tomorrow.