Batonning v. Axing

For me, it's simple. I baton with a large knife for safety reasons. I am not 100% accurate with an axe or hatchet. A sharp swinging blade could mean disaster in the remote wilderness, or even a campground. Seems like every year, someone hits thier leg/foot/hand with one around here at the campgrounds, or a glanceing blow to the shin/leg hurts as well. With the knife, you simply place the blade exactly where you want it & hit it at a 90 degree angle. I have had NUMEROUS fellow campers ask WTH are you doing, when they see me batoning with my knives. The next question is ALWAYS "why don't you just use an axe ?" I tell them that it is safer for me to do it this way. Once i explain why, they always say "gee, i never thought of it that way."
 
You can baton an axe/hatchet/hawk also. Just put it on top of the wood and baton away. Usually the log splits when the head has sunk into the wood. Remeber, it's a thicker wedge than a knife. If the wood does not split by then, you can grab the handle and start pounding the log on the ground/block till it splits or drive in some wedges (provided you had the foresight to make some) . The first time I used a hatchet, I used it like a knife and it worked just fine. For kindling sized wood, you can just hold the hatchet and wood together and smash down, then twist the hatchet to split kindling. It's very safe. So, you don't really have to swing the hatchet at all.

There are some safety considerations when you start swinging the hatchet, but it's really not that hard if you start slow and practice. Basically think about the path of the head and make sure you are clear of and possible glancing blows. Also, at the end of the swing drive straight into the wood instead of continuing in an arc. That is only the beginning; a hatchet or axe is quite a versatile tool one you get to know it.
 
G'day Kru03

IMO, your post has provided the opportunity to clinically evaluate the batton V's hatchet/axe debate that has risen it's head more than once on this forum.

Have a look at the pro- battoning v's pro hatchet/axe respondents.

The majority of the pro-batoning (ie over 50%) of them admit to a lack of experience in using a hatchet/axe and site safety reasons for their choice.

Is this an indication of the limitations of the tool, or their simple lack of experience in using it? I would suggest the latter.;

Now before those who have come out it favour of the batton take offense, you all really need to take a chill pill and relax.

IMO, at least you have been honest. :thumbup:

Those who have posted in favour of a hatchet/ axe have shown their preference for this (no doubt based on their experience with this tool).

Which is best?

IMO, it's going to be totaly dependent on the tool you can use to it's best advantage. :thumbup:

If you think that the internet can provide you with one answer, them I'm afraid you are sadly mistaken. :thumbdn:

Life isn't like condoms where "one size is supposed to fit all". :D

If you believe everything you read on the internet is true, then surely a thiner blade (i.e 1/8 inch blade) should be better at working at working wood ....right :thumbup:

After all, there are plenty of internet outdoorsmen who "claim to be experienced" who in the past have claimed this. :thumbup:

Have a look at this & tell me that a 1/8 inch blade in O1 (that is often touted as being the bee's knee for a bushcraft knife on internet forums) was an advantage to me, where I live, with the sort of wood I use. :D

[video=youtube;WRKtwcDBIUY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRKtwcDBIUY[/video]

IMO, the only way that you are going to find out what works for you is to spend more time doing time outdoors for yourself and less time wondering what others on the internet think. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:


Kind regards
Mick :D
 
Southern cross, the video you posted is tangentially related, but I feel it is a poor example of batoning. His baton was too small, and he needed better body position. Getting on his knees and having better leverage on the knife would have been better. Also, it would have helped to have a wedge handy; that would have finished the job much faster.
 
The video is of SC.

I have to agree with you dogstar.

Good thing Chris makes a tough knife.

Should have just used the axe on that one.
 
SouthernCross said:
Life isn't like condoms where "one size is supposed to fit all". :D
Click to expand...

This is very true. In fact condoms have an incredible amount of stretch and you can fill almost two liters in one to get an idea of the expansion they are capable of. So in the end, its the guys with the small dick that have a problem.

Likewise, if you have a small mindset and think that the question of batoning vs axe applies to all circumstances equally. Well, perhaps you needed a bit more testosterone prior to puberty. Batoning works great if you have marginal needs for wood prep. Axes work great when the effort of taking one along compensates for the amount of wood required to process. If one just keeps this concept in mind, you can easily rationalize why batoning and axe use can both be acceptable methods.

Cheers!

Ken
 
I don't know how well he sits with some here, but I like Nutnfancy's way of doing it (I know he didn't invent the method). Saw+big knife. weight-wise, it's the most efficient over-all IN MY OPINION, based on the efficiency of the saw vs. axe at cross-cutting and that the knife+sheath+saw combo weighs less than 1.5 lbs total. I carry the Pocket Chainsaw for a saw (works great), and my ESEE-6 for my blade. Throw my SAK of choice in, and I have a killer combination. I want to get a bigger blade (think 10+ inch khukuri) instead of the ESEE-6. Just need to figure out how to make it economical with the cost of a kydex sheath. The weight of a khukuri will increase the overall weight of my loadout significantly, but a good khuk is on-par (if not better) in chopping ability with an axe of equivalent weight, in my experience.

Also, I find I've never needed to process so much wood that an axe was justified for my uses.
 
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kgd said:
Likewise, if you have a small mindset and think that the question of batoning vs axe applies to all circumstances equally. Well, perhaps you needed a bit more testosterone prior to puberty. Batoning works great if you have marginal needs for wood prep. Axes work great when the effort of taking one along compensates for the amount of wood required to process. If one just keeps this concept in mind, you can easily rationalize why batoning and axe use can both be acceptable methods.
Click to expand...

This is the deal .... listen to Ken.

In almost all cases you can get enough dry kindling to start your fire of broken up deadfall or bucked branches with an axe or knife.

I have and use some big and nasty chopper blades ....... a good hatchet or axe always works better for me.

If you are trying balance a piece of wood .... pull away your hand ..... and then swing a hatchet at it ........ you have a lot to learn.

Even for general work a good hatchet is easier to choke up on and easier to sharpen.
 
Brian Sargent said:
If you are trying balance a piece of wood .... pull away your hand ..... and then swing a hatchet at it ........ you have a lot to learn.
Click to expand...

Comments like this are unfortunate because they make axe use seem esoteric and inaccessible. Specific advice, like "use a chicken stick to hold the wood" or "lay the log on another piece of wood and hit it on the side," would be better for the cause.
 
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dogstar said:
Comments like this are unfortunate because they make axe use seem esoteric and unaccessible. Specific advice, like "use a chicken stick to hold the wood" or "lay the log on another piece of wood and hit it on the side," would be better for the cause.
Click to expand...

I'm actually not here to be a teacher, I guess ... my bad.

So why do so many comment on axes being unsafe?

Being that you told SC everything that there is to know about batonning you can teach the unknowing the proper use of the axe in the proper way.

We could all be so fortunate.

You've picked out two to quote .... so lets hear the specifics.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
What about batoning a hatchet? :confused:
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I tried this ... and ended up hitting the back of the hatchet too hard , and messing with the shape of the bit the handle goes in .
i may have used a too big baton .. I may have been using it on wood that was too tough .. some of the twisty grains we got a beautiful but gnarly to work with

The handle being now the wrong shape for the head worked loose and fell out . I re adjusted the head with the back of an axe and it was all ok again . Coulda been crappy steel too come to think of it .
 
Brian Sargent said:
If you are trying balance a piece of wood .... pull away your hand ..... and then swing a hatchet at it ........ you have a lot to learn.
Click to expand...

I do that for fun . Its almost meditation of a sort . Sit it up , split it before it falls , repeat ..

That being said , My grand dad taught me to use an axe , he was a sleeper cutter and used to work felling timber for a mill while his cousin dragged it out with his bullocks and timber jinker . ( I cant hold a candle to their ablities but i do know how to not chop into my own feet and legs )
I do know how to use an axe safely , but that stand it up and smack it before or while its falling , its just for funs when there isnt much important goin on and there is no rush to do anything else .
 
I'm a student as far as WSS is concerned, so I can use as much knowledge as people are willing to pass on.

Using a chicken stick:
[video=youtube;x31UtoLnY8Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x31UtoLnY8Y[/video]
Using another log as a chopping block, also twisting the axe:
[video=youtube;LjrJapcdWqY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjrJapcdWqY[/video]
A very good comprehensive video, I like the technique at 2:06
[video=youtube;AfAwlzk8aA8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfAwlzk8aA8[/video]
 
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