Batoning Problems

A

andrew7978

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
664
I was lighting a fire today and was using some logs that have been in my backyard for about 5 years or so (not sure of the wood type). I felt like doing some batoning so I took out my NWA forum knife and F1. I lined them up with the grain, but I just couldn't get through them.

Anyone have this problem?


EDIT:

After a few hours of frustration after not being able to get throug the wood, I decided to brave freezing cold temperatures to try batoning some wood again.

Close up of the grain
16.jpg

Starting to work but the knife is wedged in there really really tight
17.jpg

SUCCESS!
18.jpg
 
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I don't have either of those knives but I've never been unable to get my Ratweiler to go through a log but I have ran into some knots that I had to beat on pretty good. Can you show a pic of the wood?
 
Bwilson said:
I don't have either of those knives but I've never been unable to get my Ratweiler to go through a log but I have ran into some knots that I had to beat on pretty good. Can you show a pic of the wood?
Click to expand...

Sorry burned the wood already. Dont think it was any knots, maybe just some tough hardwood.
 
I am going to third the opinion on the knot. It has always been the only culprit to give me problems while batoning. Being 5 years old, those sticks should fly like you put dynamite under them.
 
I will see if I can grab a few more. Do you think if it has been sub-freezing temperatures outside that it would make it more difficult?
 
Sub-freezing temps should make the wood slightly more brittle and likely to pop for you.

You might have encountered some really twisted grain in the wood that wasn't a knot but also wasn't nice smooth stuff.

I've had pieces of wood that would bind up a knife pretty good but nothing a couple of wood wedges and my baton couldn't fix. :)

B
 
+1 on twisted grain and knots.

That's always been the culprit for me.
 
If it's good straight grain, it should pop apart pretty easily. But when the grain gets wavy, it's a lot harder to split. Takes some prying then. I've had to tackle such wood from different angles.
 
Bwilson said:
I don't have either of those knives but I've never been unable to get my Ratweiler to go through a log but I have ran into some knots that I had to beat on pretty good. Can you show a pic of the wood?
Click to expand...

I have always found the same to be true with my ChopWeiler, sometimes I hit some tough knots etc and that's when I make a bigger batton !!!:D:thumbup:
 
Andrew, my solution to your problem is to find a bigger baton,

...of course that goes hand in hand with using a knife like a Bark River with a no questions asked warrantee.



"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike
 
Big Mike said:
Andrew, my solution to your problem is to find a bigger baton,

...of course that goes hand in hand with using a knife like a Bark River with a no questions asked warrantee.



"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike
Click to expand...


Ya that could be it. I was using a stick that didnt have a ton of weight behind it and I had to essentially hit on the tip. But the F1 is strong and could take it.
 
Some woods split easily and some hard. Elm is difficult to split and that's why they used it to make wagon wheel hubs.
 
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