Battoning with wooden wedges

Basically, it's the same principle used in mauling logs. Used wedges to continually split the wood as you go. Using more than one at a time prevents the wedges from being stuck.

The only issue is that the wooden wedges need to be stronger than the wood being split, or else they deform rapidly in hardwood.

Of course, in a true survival situation, it might be tricky and time consuming to make wedges...maybe not. But if I've got the necessary tools to make reasonably well-formed wedges, I'm probably not going to need to baton my wood...which I regard as a no-other-option solution.

Don't get me wrong--I think this is very interesting advice.
 
Of course, in a true survival situation, it might be tricky and time consuming to make wedges...maybe not. But if I've got the necessary tools to make reasonably well-formed wedges, I'm probably not going to need to baton my wood...which I regard as a no-other-option solution.
Click to expand...
Methinks the difficulty with respect to wedgemaking would be closely associated with the type of wood that you want to batton. Having worked with maple in the past, it's a real a real pain in the ass work with. I recall breaking several scroll saw blades doing precision cuts (luckily I was making my own blades from used bandsaw blades), and yes, I am aware there were better tools to use. Even with other tools, it was obvious what stress and effort was required to shape the wood. To make a wedge, one would need a knife or other tool(s), so I say "why not batton with the knife?"
 
I know anytime, in a survival situation, if I can save my blade in any way, I will. But if its gonna take more time to make wedges, than why not baton???
 
You CAN baton the knife, or use the wedge, or a rock. This is just one more tool in your ourdoor toolbox! Don't limit your tools to just one thing!

A Survival Instructor once told me: "Vary your sources and PRACTICE your methods."

Thanks for the post Docnightfall!!
 
Fonly said:
I know anytime, in a survival situation, if I can save my blade in any way, I will. But if its gonna take more time to make wedges, than why not baton???
Click to expand...
The idea behind using wedges is to make batoning go much faster, and reduce the risk of getting the knife blade jammed into the wood. I suspect you know this, but your statement makes me reiterate: if I can make the wedges, I probably have better tools for cutting wood (like an axe). If all I have is a knife, and I have to baton, I'm probably in a bad state, and won't have time to make the wedges.

Of course, it all depends on why I'm cutting wood in the first place!
 
In the old ,old days to split rock they would chisel a slot ,insert wooden wedges ,then wet the wedges. The expanding wood then split the stone !!
 
You got it watchful ;)

ya, The way I was thinking was, Its kinda like using a splitting maul to split wood, you drive the maul all the way through. Like I would do with a piece of wood, assuing it was hardier than the wood I was splitting.

but ya, I get what else is being said, as you move the knife through the wood, you wedge the other piece of wood open with some type of wedge. :D

just took me a bit, sorry, I am sick you know :)
 
You don't need an axe or hatchet to make a usable wooden wedge.

Any decent knife can make a wedge simply by wittling.

A small wedge can be made from a hardwood stick. Know how to make a spear tip?? Well, do that, but, just flatten it out by only wittling on 2 opposing sides.
There's your starter wedge.

If you've been splitting wood during a woodcraft project, you 'll probably have shim stock all around you.
Don't forget flat rocks, pound them in with another rock. Try chipping a rock first, to create somewhat of a leading edge or triangle shape.
 
There's my point... if I've been splitting wood, I'm not going to need to baton. I've got an axe.

The spear tip idea has a lot of merit, and would be fast to produce. I guess a true wedge is not as important as the principle: anything jammed into the split will help wedge it apart.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top