A different spin on the Hatchet vs Chopper debate: Do you also carry a saw?

Noshtero said:
I'm really curious about those who don't carry a splitting device, and still build fires. I don't for sure know if I MUST split the wood first, I just always have.
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I think I am one of those you mentioned that don't carry a splitting oriented device (axe, hachet or big FB) and still builds fires. With a folding saw and a 4" fixed blade I am good to go.

I think that splitting helps you out when making a fire with wet wood... but you can do very well without it. I mean that if you need dry core for kindling... a 3" diameter branch will have a dry enough core for that. There is no real need to split wood thicker than that to get something dry to burn.

In dry conditions you are better off making the fire with pencil sized sticks, then bigger ones and finally, anything over 3" burnt as it is... that way it will last longer. If you split them you will run out of fuel faster.

Mikel
 
I practically never carry a saw, except when I'm going to do a lot of work on large logs - and in that case, it'll quite likely be a chainsaw.

On the issue of splitting, no, it's certainly not necessary to always split wood to make a fire. Out in the woods, I most often don't, unless the wood is very wet and no small, dry branches are around. If I need to split, a big knife or a hatchet will do that easily, and if I happen to only have a smaller knife, then I can always use that to make smaller pieces of wood to light the fire with, and if it's a tough small knife, maybe even split some wood if it seems necessary.
 
I am a big fan of saws. They are much more efficient cutting wood. I got the small silky a few weeks back and it is awesome. I am planning on getting a larger one for the bigger stuff around the house. I have an acre and have let pines grow on one side on my yard along the street. The bed is roughly 50yds by 15yds. I periodically thin and limb them as they grow. I'll carry the small silky in my hunting gear bag. The saw on my OHT is good for its size and it rides in my survival pouch.

Nice thing about saws is they are light and compact compared to the choppers whether a hatchet or a big knife.
 
Even though I think folding saws are great, if I carry everything myself and need to keep the bulk and weight down, I prefer edged tools (hatchet, tomahawk, large chopping knife), in case I get into a survival situation.

Saws are only good for sawing, while an edged tool can be used for multiple purposes and to provide redundancy and back-up for another edged tool. Also, saws are more likely to break and more difficult to sharpen (if they can be sharpened).
 
Mtn Hawk said:
Saws are only good for sawing, while an edged tool can be used for multiple purposes and to provide redundancy and back-up for another edged tool. Also, saws are more likely to break and more difficult to sharpen (if they can be sharpened).
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That pretty much sums up why I don't rely on a saw as a 'primary' tool, too. They're way too fragile, is put into the situation where getting good wood for a fire/shelter was critical. Handy to have, but far from bomb proof.
 
i used a fiskars slide saw as pictured on page one, terrific saw, cut fast but it still cut fine enough for rough construction. it also cut right where i put it, which is more than i can say for some of the slacker bow saws i have use before.

i also used a...i'm just guess but probably ~20-22 inch...wetterlings hatchet that chopped like a dream. i also of course use heavy machetes (the short cold steel kukri machete is great for chopping/battoning) and hatchets around the house.

on my short list of things to buy is one of those fiskars sliding saws and one of those wetterlings hatchets...

but to answer the question at hand, it really depends on my speculative tasks for a given trip. alot of the time i just bring my wood handled mora and my penknife. i have used the mora plenty to baton sticks into smaller wood and into small boards for various camp craft projects...no problem. i sometime whittle a wedge to pound in after the cut is started with the mora on thicker/tougher pieces. saws are great and take up so little space and weight it almost seems stupid not to have one along...
 
I take a saw usually , but I dont use it much at all , the kids do tho . I let them go nuts cutting firewood to length .

Id rather just break the wood or stick the log ends in the fire and just shove them up as they burn off .

I use the saw a bit when Im bored to cut wood neatly for carving tho
 
I have a small wetterlings axe...and I never use it. I take a saw, fixed 4 inch blade, a folder, (and usually a backup fixed too). I have a Tusker from Gossman on order for my chopper. I never seem to be in places where I really need an axe.

Anyone have a link to where I can buy one of those pocket shainsaws? Thank you.
 
well, i used to backpack with a valiantco golok - about 22oz. since i wanted to lighten my load i started carrying a 10oz Vaughan hatchet. then i switched to a 5oz Pocket Chainsaw.

now i've got a Silky Pocketboy on order - hasn't arrived yet so I don't know how much it weighs. it'll probably replace the pocket chainsaw as my firewood collecting tool for backpacking - although the pocket chainsaw has found a home in my PSK.

i agree with most folks - if weight's not a concern I'm probably going to opt for a chopper/golok or hatchet/axe. But for backpacking and hiking, I'm going to go with a saw. It'll build a shelter or feed a fire but it weighs less and is safer and more efficient.
 
Mikel_24 said:
I think I am one of those you mentioned that don't carry a splitting oriented device (axe, hachet or big FB) and still builds fires. With a folding saw and a 4" fixed blade I am good to go.

I think that splitting helps you out when making a fire with wet wood... but you can do very well without it. I mean that if you need dry core for kindling... a 3" diameter branch will have a dry enough core for that. There is no real need to split wood thicker than that to get something dry to burn.

In dry conditions you are better off making the fire with pencil sized sticks, then bigger ones and finally, anything over 3" burnt as it is... that way it will last longer. If you split them you will run out of fuel faster.

Mikel
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Says the guy in Spain! Isn't the rain in Spain mainly on the plain?

On the North Coast of BC I have usually had to go through 4" of wood to get something dry...note that I am not talking about 4" diameter wood...I am talking about finding wood a foot thick and having to split off everything but the inner 4" diameter section.

A single heavy rain here will often "wet out" an 8" diameter log, and in places with constant heavy rains you may well need to find some full-size trees and split them up just to get a dry core.

At Cape Scott I found standing deadwood in exposed spots that was 18" in diameter, and soaked all the way through.

For this reason I take an axe to all places with severe weather patterns.
 
misanthropist said:
Says the guy in Spain! Isn't the rain in Spain mainly on the plain?
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:D :D Ok ok... maybe I was a little too rough on my statement. Here we get a LOT of rain let me tell you... I live in Bilbao (north of Spain) just by the sea. That means that any storm that comes from the sea brings us rain everytime.

So far I have been able to make fire in rainy conditions with a firesteel... but mostly thanks to pine wood and resin. Yes, I know, that is almost like cheating... You might feel in need to split open way thicker logs and in that case, you need an axe. No questions asked. If we are talking about 6" thick logs you could split them using your knife point first and then a wood wedge but you will be better off carrying an axe just like you do.

Mikel
 
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