Machetes and batoning... recomendations

[Blue Sky]

Not all Ontario's are created equal. The one on the left is their "economy" model.

 

[shecky]

The economy Ontario is about the same thickness as a Tramontina. However, the one I have came with an incredibly thin edge bevel, about 10 degrees inclusive. And the steel seems tempered harder than the Tramontina. These things lead me to treat it a bit less rigorously. Ontario has a rep for inconsistent heat treat, so any particular sample may or may not be as hard or soft as the next.

In the end, blade thickness of the machete in and of itself is not a serious factor in it's suitability for batoning.

 

[pinetree]

I have the heavy Ontario and baton with it all the time - working oak logs down for the fire pit. It does a good job.

 

[Brian_T]

Use your machete to baton off a couple of wedges from the log you're splitting and then baton them.

Save your edge, save your baton, save the world.

(Okay, maybe not the last one...)

B

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

One advantage that machetes have for batoning versus most large knives is length--you can tackle much larger pieces than you could otherwise handle comfortably.