What is the best wood processing system for the desert?

U

ukknifer

Joined
Jan 30, 2010
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424
Hi

What system would you consider best for a desert (sandy /Rocky) Where you have hard woods that are not huge in diameter?


Would you choose P small saw, Big knife, small fixed blade?

Hatchet, small saw, small fixed blade?

Hatchet knife?
Saw knife?
What size fixed blade if you choose a big knife as main chopper?

you get the idea.

The problem is that if you hike in a desert, you would want most of what you carry to be water. So wight is a consideration.
 
Based on zero experience whatsoever in the desert, I would think I would want a folding saw over an axe or large knife. Less weight and the wood isnt very thick as you said. Paired with a smaller fixed blade.

But like I said, I have no desert experience.
 
I don't know which desert you're lookin at traversing but back when I lived in Colorado and made it out into the scrub in SW Colorado and utah, I only ever had a 3.5" buck and a folding saw and was fine :)

There was dead "wood" and scrub and garbage plants everywhere... And now that I think about it, I never really used either the saw or knife
 
I live in the low desert of AZ. I have a knife, but I carried a folding saw, like a Sven Saw or something similar to cut up wood. Doesn't take up too much room and is light enough for what you need. It can be bought at REI.
 
From your description I'd say get a bow saw. It is a little bulky but light weight.

Also if wood is dry and not too thick you can probably get quite a lot by "kicking" branches: get the branches on some hard slope, stomp it in the middle. Alternatively you can try to bash branches on the ground or against dead trees but beware of debris flying, broken pieces of wood bouncing back at you or falling branches (dead tree tops happen to break when base of tree is shaken).
 
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I preferred a long knife (10" blade) when I lived in NV. It was not only for chopping small diameter wood, but also for keeping my hands away from the spikes and spines (which everything in the desert seemed to have.

Something like an ESEE Junglas, Hoodlum, or Busse BWM would be examples of what I mean. If you want style, a long Bowie would also work (if legal to carry where you are).

It wasn't about weight for me,but versatility.
 
Depends on the desert really. The east side of the cascades is high desert and except for winter, a small fixed blade is all you need. The wood that can be had is easier broken then chopped or sawed. Also, we don't have the stickers everywhere like Cpl's got.
 
I use a 12" Ontario machete. Good for chopping thin brush and good for digging. Not much need for an axe or saw IMO.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
I preferred a long knife (10" blade) when I lived in NV. It was not only for chopping small diameter wood, but also for keeping my hands away from the spikes and spines (which everything in the desert seemed to have.
Click to expand...

I was going to recommend something with a little reach for the same reasons CPL-P mentioned. We did a lot of camping and backpacking in central Texas (hill country). A lot of knarled, dry wood and plenty of thorns in some areas. Even though I often carried a saw, most of the smaller wood found on the ground or broken from a down tree were easy to break into fire-pit sized chunks. The biggest challenge I found was getting to dead branches or pieces up under other trees and shrubs. The reach of a 12" Ontario or other large blade made collecting much easier. Don't forget a good pair of gloves!

ROCK6
 
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