Splitting Wood...Again

If you guys are really into the whole splitting aspect of the wood, you could also get a "feller's wedge" or "logger's wedge".

Made of some kind of high impact plastic, these things are light enought to pack, and almost indestructable. They are made to be hit with metal mallets, butts of axes, so the tree limb baton shouldn't hurt it a bit. I had one for a while, and while it isn't as strong as my regular steel wedge, it sure did its share of work.

You could get the size you want, and then cut it into length and shape you like.

Just a suggestion.

Robert
 
midnight flyer said:
But - at the risk of meeting the flames of the bladeforum forge - can anyone tell me why batoning is actually required from your camp knives?

But in 40 years of camping under all conditions, I have never felt I would gain anything from batoning with my knife, even though on long trips I carry more than one. I may just be ass backwards on something else as I learned to start fires exactly as Bryan described as a Cub scout in the mid 60s.
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You just almost answered your own question. Like you said, you have never felt you would gain anything from batonning your wood, who said you would gain anything?

The thing you have to remember is batonning isnt a new fad, its not a test for standards of knives, its ANOTHER way to process wood, and sometimes depending on the situation easier and less dangerous.

If I were to pick up a 6" blade over a hatchet and a smaller knife, I would ultimately still get the same thing done. But if im tired, cold wet and all the other things that go with a fun day from hell, I feel the last thing I want to be doing it wailing away with a hatchet. That said, I grew up with a hatchet and am probably the most comfy with one over everything, but I also know I wont put my self in any more risk than the situation brings, and using a hatchet will bring more danger to a situation wether someone wants to admit it or not.

Siguy, you did good. I dont think you were telling people this is the only way to be spliting up wood, but should the need arise, and you dont have the apropriate tools, this will work.
 
midnight flyer said:
If you guys are really into the whole splitting aspect of the wood, you could also get a "feller's wedge" or "logger's wedge".

Just a suggestion.

Robert
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May as well go at that one while im at it.

Its not to just be splitting wood, the need for dry wood and materials to make a fire easier are what makes batonning more usful. You could achieve the same thing with an axe, but again its not just splitting wood for a fire, its getting all of what you need to start one from a round.
 
I still dont get why everyone thinks using a hatchet or ax is SO DANGEROUS!!!!! you'all swing a big LONG blade.........a hatchet is simply a handle with a SHORT blade on it.....

:)
 
G'day Bushman5

Bushman5 said:
I still dont get why everyone thinks using a hatchet or ax is SO DANGEROUS!!!!! you'all swing a big LONG blade.........a hatchet is simply a handle with a SHORT blade on it.....

:)
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Personally I don't consider a hatchet to be dangerous, but rather a very handy piece of outdoors equipment.

However, I acknowledge the fact that others may have different experiences with one and are therefore entitled to a different opinion :thumbup:



Kind regards
Mick
 
Fonly said:
You just almost answered your own question. Like you said, you have never felt you would gain anything from batonning your wood, who said you would gain anything?
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Note the inquisitive tone of my post. (HINT: This means I am looking for information). I was indeed looking for information, not opinions on portions of my post taken out of context.

Take a look at how GD careful I was to not step on anyone's toes.

It was a post to see if I could learn anything about batoning from those whom regularly practice it. It is such a HOT topic here compared to any other backpacking/hiking/hunting venue it is almost a rite of passage for any non folder.

No one said I would gain anything. I asked for no one for any promises of enriching myself other than in knowledge. I asked for nothing but a few opinions and some information to see what I might be missing.

Please read the whole post and keep the whole post of just a few paragraphs in context. Immediately after the comment you seized on were the sentences with question marks after them.

Is this the point where the multiple post threads on BF always seem to turn personal?

Ready if you are....

Robert
 
Bushman5 said:
I still dont get why everyone thinks using a hatchet or ax is SO DANGEROUS!!!!! you'all swing a big LONG blade.........a hatchet is simply a handle with a SHORT blade on it.....

:)
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In inexperienced hands they are more dangerous, they glance and bounce with little control.

Skam
 
I think that axes require an additional care due to their ability to glance off-target, but in general they aren't any more dangerous than any other bladed object. Let's face it--they're all potentially dangerous! It just depends on who's holding them. :D
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I think that axes require an additional care due to their ability to glance off-target, but in general they aren't any more dangerous than any other bladed object. Let's face it--they're all potentially dangerous! It just depends on who's holding them. :D
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I can say for certain the amount of axe/hatchet injuries I pick up in my ambulance during outddoor adventures are many times more than blades. The injures are horrible. You have more control over a blade.

They "are" more dangerous in anyones hands just more so with the inexperienced.

I am not saying dont use them as they are great tools just know the risks.

Skam
 
Batoning with a knife is all about the speed at which a fire can be started in wet conditions just like skammer says. I think we live in the same general climate region.;) A year ago I went out for a hike and decided to get a fire going for a cup of tea. It hadn't rained in a week but I live in Oregon and everything, and I do mean everything, was extremely damp and the only way to get the fire going was to split. That time I used a GB mini and I found it took longer than if I used my knife. Not much longer but if I were cold, wet, and tired, it could be the difference between being cold and hypothermic.

As to the original thread, have you tried just using the saw to split the wood? Another thing one should learn is how to split wood with only a saw. That's still faster than using wedges and you wouldn't even need to do the LIGHT batoning with your knife. Heck, you wouldn't even have to pull the knife from it's sheath.:D
 
Wow Siguy! Those are the prettiest wedges I have ever seen. The few times I've used wedges in the wild I just split pieces, shoved them in the cracks and pounded them in. Your wedges are works of art! I'm teaching a wilderness survival class next week and I'm going to try to make some like yours just because.

As far as the importance of batoning, if you have ever been in a rainforest or jungle then you know. I would never have been able to start a fire in some places like Panama or Thailand without splitting the wood first. Those places give "wet" a whole new meaning.
 
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Ya'll need to check out the ray mears videos. truly some cool stuff. He does this on them. good stuff simon.
 
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