Can I baton with a dead blow hammer?

adrock1978

adrock1978

Joined
May 30, 2009
Messages
2,538
I use either my NMFBMLE or most often my Rat Daddy to split wood. I can never find a piece of wood or anything else for that matter that will last for a session. The other problem is hand comfort and efficiency. Ive tried hardwood logs and table legs and closet rods... etc.

Would i be able to use some kind of non-metal dead blow hammer to baton with? Not a rubber mallet but something harder and heavier. I was considering two hammers:

An Estwing 45oz dead blow
http://homedepot.digby.com/homedepot/product/detail.do?itemId=202183856&categoryId=1139025&path=Home%7CTools+%26+Hardware%7CHand+Tools%7CHammer%2C+Mallets%2C+%26+Sledges%7C45+oz.+Dead-Blow+Hammer

Or a Husky 27oz Dead blow
http://m.homedepot.com/p/Husky-27-oz-Dead-Blow-Hammer/202065948/

photobucket-6841-1342136188599.jpg


photobucket-1124-1342136218818.jpg

photobucket-3040-1342136059578.jpg
 
RobStanley uses a Rubber mallet i think. I bet Rob will be glad to chime in and drop a pic or two.
 
I think a dead blow hammer would be just fine. There was guy some years ago that beat on a Swamp Rat for about 8 hours with a steel pipe before he broke the knife. You'll be OK.
 
resinguy said:
I think a dead blow hammer would be just fine. There was guy some years ago that beat on a Swamp Rat for about 8 hours with a steel pipe before he broke the knife. You'll be OK.
Click to expand...

Well... lol... I attempted to use my estwing framing hammer ever so softly to convince the RD through the log and I slightly dinged the thumb ramp, so I shant be using metal on metal again.
 
The bright orange deadblows I use from harbor freight are pretty soft on the surface. They ding up readily on sharp metal, but can take a lot of wear and tear before they are no longer servicable. I would compare them to a heavy soft wood baton.
 
Last Visible Canary said:
The bright orange deadblows I use from harbor freight are pretty soft on the surface. They ding up readily on sharp metal, but can take a lot of wear and tear before they are no longer servicable. I would compare them to a heavy soft wood baton.
Click to expand...

I'll check them out. Any idea what weight you use. The orange estwing felt great at 45oz.
 
I use a dead blow to process all my fatwood for my woodstove for the winter. It works great, left no marks or removed any coating. BTW mine is polymer. No metal to metal contact.
 
I use a rubber mallet. It does get messed up a little bit from the tip of the knife. But, they're cheap, and they last a while. Easy to swing and not too hard on the knife. Check the vid...

[video=youtube_share;8rWuNjOB2uE]http://youtu.be/8rWuNjOB2uE[/video]
 
Piece of cake Bro!!! Use the deadblow. The polymer with sand or shot inside work great. On impact the hammer hits first and then the sand/shot gives the hammer the extra thump. I questioned it also but I started thinking that if we use them on turbines, DUH I can use it on the spine of a knife:thumbup::D
 
I'm just trying to pick a size at this point. The 3 pound estwing seems a bit heavy. There's a 2.5lb harbor freight that I might order.
 
Lycosa said:
We can stop at the hand! ^
:D
Click to expand...
Glad someone stepped in ;)

adrock1978 said:
I'm just trying to pick a size at this point. The 3 pound estwing seems a bit heavy. There's a 2.5lb harbor freight that I might order.
Click to expand...
Estwing makes dead-blow mallets of weights ranging from 9 oz to 12 lbs in a few different styles, all with fairly comfortable handles, all Made in USA by a reputable company... but ~$30.
The HF deadblows have square handles (read "stupid uncomfortable - why the f*** would they do that???"), Made in China, ~$10.

That said, I own a 3lb HF mallet and not an Estwing, but I don't use the mallet when splitting, I just use a a piece of oak branch (from one of the trees I took) as a baton. When one "wears out", it becomes fuel and I get/make another. I don't want my baton bouncing back or absorbing the blow, i want it transferring the blow into the blade and on into the split. My batons are about 2"-thick and 16" long, weighing about 1-lb that's distributed along the length, light & quick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top