Batoning - What am I missing?

leatherman said:
Here ya go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Froe

This comes from the old wood working ideal of splitting logs into shingles and/or smaller projects. The Froe has been used for centuries, batonning is an offshoot of that practice using a sturdy knife instead of a froe. Its much more accurate and follows the grain better than a splitting wedge.

I found this idea about 12 years ago stumbling upon a fellow splitting cedar logs into shakes for a roof. I spent hours learning that day. Then I found the "Woodwrights Shop" on PBS, he uses a Froe to split timber to usable sizes for his projects. And he is a hoot to watch. :) http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/ 31 years, wow!
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Thanks for that and the other link as well. Good stuff.

In my parents basement is a big wooden box. Apparently my great grandfather was a carpenter and had all those old school wood chisels and stuff. I need to get into that box sometime and see whats left. The basement has flooded but not as high as the box is kept. I still fear that mloisture mighta ruined all those tools though.
 
rlacan71 said:
Thanks for that and the other link as well. Good stuff.

In my parents basement is a big wooden box. Apparently my great grandfather was a carpenter and had all those old school wood chisels and stuff. I need to get into that box sometime and see whats left. The basement has flooded but not as high as the box is kept. I still fear that mloisture mighta ruined all those tools though.
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Very cool! Those old tools have so much character, I'm always on the prowl at garage and estate sales for forgotten "old" wood tools,

The Woodwrights shop is a fascinating show, so far I have watched him use two different types of wood lathe's, one pedal powered and the other has a large bow spring and reciprocates. I try not to ever miss an episode. :) The way the man uses a froe is an art in and of itself.
 
leatherman said:
Very cool! Those old tools have so much character, I'm always on the prowl at garage and estate sales for forgotten "old" wood tools,

The Woodwrights shop is a fascinating show, so far I have watched him use two different types of wood lathe's, one pedal powered and the other has a large bow spring and reciprocates. I try not to ever miss an episode. :) The way the man uses a froe is an art in and of itself.
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Yeah I will try to catch those episodes if I can. I will be visiting my mother soon so maybe Ill take a peek into the basement while there and see the condition of great grandpas tools.
 
=MAX= said:
I baton all time with my knives

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Was that knife damaged, or did it straighten out once it was through that log?
 
Is that a trick question? I know you didnt ask me but Im pretty sure I know the answer and so should you :D
 
fuzzwuzz133 said:
Nothing, it's a waste of energy when there's dry brush all around.
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Its hardly a waste of energy. Its just another way to accomplish the common task of splitting wood. I've never seen anyone baton brush. If its small enough, you snap it by hand. But if you have 2" up to 12" diameter logs, one way or another, you're going to need to split them. So rather than carrying a short splitting maul, or hatchet which is typically heavier than most larger Bussekin knives, as well as a knife, you just baton with your knife.

My brother brings an Estwing Fireside Friend to camp all the time. The darn thing weighs 4 lbs and requires just as much, if not more effort to split logs.
 
Things get wet here in PA. especially when I get my best chance to hit the woods. I baton to get to dry interior wood and also there are times when I don't want a really smoky fire. And water soaked moldy mossy bark makes for a very smoky fire...at least initially.
I also like interior wood when I process it into stakes since it has rougher, irregular surface area they seem to stay in soft, loamy ground lots better without ever pulling up.
 
I've also spent much of my life camping, hiking, and playing in the woods and I never knew batoning was so important until I found the online knife forums.

In my case, I've probably never done much batoning because I never carried a large fixed-blade. Hatchets, axes, machetes, and folding knives are my usual woodland tools.

I'll have to pick up a large fixed-blade soon. It does look like fun. :)
 
Nullity said:
I've also spent much of my life camping, hiking, and playing in the woods and I never knew batoning was so important until I found the online knife forums.

In my case, I've probably never done much batoning because I never carried a large fixed-blade. Hatchets, axes, machetes, and folding knives are my usual woodland tools.

I'll have to pick up a large fixed-blade soon. It does look like fun. :)
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That's the spirit!!! Get a nice big knife and wail on it. You'll then understand all the fuss. :)
 
salvo said:
I have always wanted to ask this question!
I have been camping and hunting all my life and have never had a need to baton a piece of wood. I just gather up smalls to start a fire and feed larger pieces as it burns. I'm out West, maybe there is more of a selection of wood out here when starting a fire?

I've split logs for the fireplace at home and can see the need with the limited supply of logs/sizes in the wood stack. But even then I use a wedge and sledge.

Is it just something to do that is enjoyable, which is OK by me, or is there something about batoning that I'm completely missing?
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No you're not missing anything.
Generally speaking, with a normal 4 inch knife you are still capable of reaching dry wood and starting fires. I did that not that long ago, and I'm in Northern ireland... Northern Ireland should have its own word for "every freaking thing around you wet, all the time". :)
Having said that I usualy have a big knife because well, yes, you can chop with it and sometimes it does make things easier.
FerFAL
 
FerFAL said:
No you're not missing anything.
Generally speaking, with a normal 4 inch knife you are still capable of reaching dry wood and starting fires. I did that not that long ago, and I'm in Northern ireland... Northern Ireland should have its own word for "every freaking thing around you wet, all the time". :)
Having said that I usualy have a big knife because well, yes, you can chop with it and sometimes it does make things easier.
FerFAL
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Not to sound offensive, but do you still have TREES on that island?? Or are you talking about driftwood floating in from elsewhere?;) My last visit to Ireland wasn't on the Teddy's head, but driving from Dublin to Dún Chaoin had me homesick for forests and woodlands. Here even in Midwest USA, trees grow thick, and there are many hardwoods. I went backpacking with my father- & brother-in-law and brought both a Bravo1 (blade ~4") and Catt225Q (blade ~6"). The 4" blade was just about useless for processing the hard oak we had on hand - too short to chop much (two-fingers on handle, rest on a lanyard extension) and too short to baton effectively. The Catt performed what we needed - that extra length made the difference between a cold, wet, dark night and a warm, dry night of cooked food :thumbup:

Many have said before that you can often use a bigger knife to perform the tasks of a smaller knife, but there are some tasks for a bigger knife that the smaller knife is completely inadequate to handle well if at all. +1 to the big knife :)
 
If you don't baton, then you don't have an excuse to carry a large knife in the woods . . . so then, what's the point of being in the woods in the first place?
 
A lot of good points mentioned already so I will mostly add - safety.

Its a lot safer when you are tired and exhausted to swing a stick rather than swinging an ax which could get a leg, shin or foot.

Ex. I will let my 8yr old baton, but he knows the axe is off limits.

Plus I have seen logs left at camps that laughed at me and my axe cause it cant be driven all way thru without wedge and maul whereas my fbmle and my baton laughed at the log:D
 
^^^^^^^

More very good logic! :)
 
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