Batoners Anonymous (breaking the habit)

You might find this thread from a while back interesting. Just because you have a small/thin knife (heck even a folder) doesn't mean your high and dry should your need to baton.

-sh00ter
 
went through all the links and have gotten some pretty good ideas on stuff. gotta say that this thread is turning out to be way more informative than i originally thought it would :D. those links talk a lot about using hand carved wedges to baton through logs that have a small split started in them, which has got me thinking... i might try and take my tiny gerber back paxe that cannot split large logs well, and fashion a long wedge with a flat nose to drive the head home.

might give it a try this weekend in the back yard
 
xtramile said:
went through all the links and have gotten some pretty good ideas on stuff. gotta say that this thread is turning out to be way more informative than i originally thought it would :D. those links talk a lot about using hand carved wedges to baton through logs that have a small split started in them, which has got me thinking... i might try and take my tiny gerber back paxe that cannot split large logs well, and fashion a long wedge with a flat nose to drive the head home.

might give it a try this weekend in the back yard
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Yeah I started that thread mainly because I, like I said in the thread, do mostly day hikes and the like and carry very minimal gear. Sometimes I'll do an impromptu hike and just wander out with just my EDC; which has most the basics covered, but only a large folder is my main blade. I don't feel under equipped, I wouldn't need to baton unless it had rained hard, or was raining hard, where I live anyway. BUT, if I did, you can bet it be with wedges and not my folder (though it could probably take it being a ZT 0200:D).

With the 'paxe' you could also start the split, carve a longer wedge and then use the hammer end of the 'paxe' to drive it home rather then stress the head to handle bond plowing the 'paxe' through the log. If you give a try post up how it turns out.

-sh00ter
 
I like batoning because its usually hard to find dry tinder when I camp. Im usually near lake cumberland in KY or on the cumberland river so dry wood isn't always available especially in the spring when it rains constantly.

I think almost all of us can make a fire without batoning but for me its easier than having to look for dry wood.

There's so much controversy over batoning on this forum. I find it hilarious. Its really no different than any other technique. If you do it right its not hard on your knife at all. At least no harder than chopping or a similar task. I just don't get what all the fuss is about.
 
KalEl said:
There's so much controversy over batoning on this forum. I find it hilarious. Its really no different than any other technique. If you do it right its not hard on your knife at all
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I know for me it was hard on my knife. and i dont want the heft and size that comes with a heavy duty, baton capable blade.

sh00ter01 said:
With the 'paxe' you could also start the split, carve a longer wedge and then use the hammer end of the 'paxe' to drive it home rather then stress the head to handle bond plowing the 'paxe' through the log. If you give a try post up how it turns out.

-sh00ter
Click to expand...

i think i will give it a shot here soon and try and fire off some pics
 
Big knives and batoning make me happy - so hrmph!

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Beckerhead #42
 
so ya the back paxe does not consistently work well as a wedge or baton. for small rounds i am sure it would do fine, it is a hatchet after all. but on large wood it could not take the job. as a baton to drive a wedge it has too small of a striking area. i might just be asking too much of it, but to be honest i was looking to match the efficiency of a large knife's batoning capability.
 
xtramile said:
so ya the back paxe does not consistently work well as a wedge or baton. for small rounds i am sure it would do fine, it is a hatchet after all. but on large wood it could not take the job. as a baton to drive a wedge it has too small of a striking area. i might just be asking too much of it, but to be honest i was looking to match the efficiency of a large knife's batoning capability.
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Honestly I haven't found the 'micro axes' to be of much use for anything other then busting knuckles.

How'd the wedges work for you though?

-sh00ter

-sh00ter
 
that is why i have it up for trade ha. it is great for making small kindling for the stove at home, and limbing trees. that is about it. i tried some wedge stuff but i was pressed for day light and did not get to play around with it too much. also every time i tried driving the wedge it would just hit a point where it would not go deeper. and if i tried to take it out it would lose some chunks. i might try again sunday and see if i can improve on it though
 
I live out here in the dry, near-treeless wasteland of Nebraska, so batoning is useful here only in certain circumstances. I do make small kindling by batoning in wet weather, as splitting very small kindling with something like a 19" Wetterlings axe is an exercise in patience and fine muscle control.

I have split a lot of wood in damper climate areas, though I usually carry a hatchet or something along those lines for that.
 
I love a large knife. Nothin' feels so...capable. But truth be told, I usually carry a small fixed blade (2-3") or a folder. I really do think a big 8" Tusker gives one more options, but the need for a big blade is often not there. If one can't baton, one can start smaller and whittle a damp stick down to find drier wood. Still, if I were wilderness camping in the damp Pacific NW in winter, I don't think I'd leave my batoning blade behind...not unless I had an axe with me.
 
camping i never would not have a way to split. strictly speaking day hikes is where i find my problem
 
Nothing can stop me from batoning. I enjoy it too much.

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I need to get some more recent pics.. but that will do.
 
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