Can we talk about how I came around on breaking down hogs without a band saw?

I always believed you needed a band saw for hog breakdowns to be fast and clean. My old shop had one, and I thought it was the only right way. Last year, I helped out at a place that only used hand tools for everything. Breaking down two whole hogs with just a cleaver and boning knife took longer, but I noticed the cuts were neater with less waste. The control let me feel the bones and seams better, leading to nicer portions. Now I see that skill with hand tools can beat speed with a machine sometimes. I still use a band saw for big days, but I don't look down on the old methods anymore. Has anyone else had a similar switch in thinking about tools?

3 comments

3 Comments

skylerg171mo ago

Wait, you did two whole hogs with just a cleaver? My arms are tired just thinking about it, that sounds like a serious workout. I can't even imagine the effort that took compared to just running it through a saw.

danieltaylor1mo ago

That serious cleaver workout, @skylerg17, I read it's next level.

the_skyler20d ago

Read an article where a butcher said breaking down a whole animal with just a cleaver builds crazy forearm strength. They called it old-school butchery boot camp. Makes sense, you're using force for every single cut instead of letting a saw do the work. Ever try anything like that yourself?