What's up with all the chopping

I don't know about the rest of you, but chopping has always seemed too much like work for me to enjoy it. I prefer less strenuous forms of recreation, say, drowning worms in a pond, drinking a beer while watching the sun go down, reading a good book, or fondling my Douk-Douk. :D
 
SpookyPistolero said:
One distinction I want to make, though, is that I NEVER CUT DOWN A LIVE TREE!! I was under the impression that no one was doing this, and I hope this is at least largely the case. If there was not plenty of deadwood in the forests I was frequenting, I would rely on a stove setup. Maybe I'm just lucky to live in Kentucky. I'm nowhere close to a 'hippie', but trees/nature/God spent a lot of time growing just to give us shade, O2, shelter and a great view. Being a good steward of the woods means not destroying what we visit.
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+1. If you see a pic of one of my knives stuck in a tree, it's either a tree that has fallen in the woods or has been cut on purpose out of someone's yard.

Dr. Mudd said:
or fondling my Douk-Douk. :D
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Okay, this thread has jumped the shark. :D
 
Geez, sure like the pictures of big things being chopped with big knives. They're very illustrative of why I use an axe. Sure a khukuri or other big knife can chop a big tree, but look how much energy is spent. All those little bites in order to remove enough wood to drop the tree. I'd really prefer to use two hands and stand back a bit to put real power into a well controlled axe head -- much deeper bites. BTW, for that type horizontal chopping, a double bit axe head is balanced much better. It's all about using the right tool, if all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
 
Guyon said:
+1. If you see a pic of one of my knives stuck in a tree, it's either a tree that has fallen in the woods or has been cut on purpose out of someone's yard.Okay, this thread has jumped the shark. :D
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+2

My axes or hatchets do not shamelessly cut down live trees in the woods. Just my neighbors yard.:D
 
My Lightweight hatchet will outchop and knife and weighs less than most knives that are considered choppers. I will chop with a knife only when I absolutely have to, as when I forgot my hatchet.
 
hey tarmix....I really like your selection of trad style tools how do you like that oppinel saw???...in response to thread an axe is handy for me when camping for a while I was just winter camping about 2 weeks ago and the night ime temp was in the high teens, I burned alot of wood...all dead fall (wouldn't chop live wood unless it was an emergency) that's just me....but my little fiskars made it into butnable segments... could of used a saw too but just haven't tried that yet...the 14 inch fiskar however definitely outchopped my 12 inch ontario..... but chopping is a very small part of my outdoor activities when camping (unless it's the winter)
 
ras said:
I'd really prefer to use two hands and stand back a bit to put real power into a well controlled axe head -- much deeper bites. BTW, for that type horizontal chopping, a double bit axe head is balanced much better. It's all about using the right tool, if all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
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I agree completely.

Do you backpack with a large axe?
 
RescueRiley said:
hey tarmix....I really like your selection of trad style tools how do you like that oppinel saw???...in response to thread an axe is handy for me when camping for a while I was just winter camping about 2 weeks ago and the night ime temp was in the high teens, I burned alot of wood...all dead fall (wouldn't chop live wood unless it was an emergency) that's just me....but my little fiskars made it into butnable segments... could of used a saw too but just haven't tried that yet...the 14 inch fiskar however definitely outchopped my 12 inch ontario..... but chopping is a very small part of my outdoor activities when camping (unless it's the winter)
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Thanks:cool:


It's a nice, lightweight little saw for the $$$. The teeth and curf set is very aggressive, and cuts through wood very fast. One when cutting some wet branches I pruned, it got a little bound up however. It took some force to fold it back up. Nothing new though, that is very prevalent among Opinels in general.

If I were on a extended trip where weather might be a problem, I would take the Fiskars. Just a little easier to use in bad weather.
 
IMG_4746.jpg
 
Guyon said:
I agree completely.

Do you backpack with a large axe?
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Nope, rarely find a need to chop when I backpack, when I do my little GB mini-hatchet has done what was needed. Next time out I may take my Cold Steel Trail Hawk with 30" composite handle. Lightweight, it would be nice to see how it does in a serious chopping role.
 
ras said:
Nope, rarely find a need to chop when I backpack, when I do my little GB mini-hatchet has done what was needed. Next time out I may take my Cold Steel Trail Hawk with 30" composite handle. Lightweight, it would be nice to see how it does in a serious chopping role.
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I do like having a chopper in the pack for wood prep. I have a GB mini, but it's only capable of handling logs that are very small in the first place. Great for small chores, but I wouldn't want to tackle logs over 5" with it.
 
ras said:
I could backpack with a hammer and it would be as useful as other heavy pieces of steel folks carry and don't need ;) but they do look cool :cool:
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Now here's a fun challenge!

We meet somewhere in Texas. You bring a hammer. I'll bring a Busse and some logs. Timed trials at sunset. First to chop through wins. Loser buys the Shiner Bock.

:thumbup:
 
Guyon said:
Now here's a fun challenge!

We meet somewhere in Texas. You bring a hammer. I'll bring a Busse and some logs. Timed trials at sunset. First to chop through wins. Loser buys the Shiner Bock.

:thumbup:
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I'd pay damn good money to see that..... damn good.;):D

I would definitely take skammer up on this offer using my hatchet.

skammer said:
I have found carrying a heavy hatchet stupid when a multi purpose tool like a large blade does it all. No hatchet ever outchopped my large blade on smaller diameter wood and never will. As for saws yes they are handy but you cant pry or spit with them but you can with a large knife, again multi purpose.Skam
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Any time... any where.

Well not really. I have a family, three Daughters, and a full time job. So really when it fits my schedule
 
Guyon said:
I have a GB mini, but it's only capable of handling logs that are very small in the first place. Great for small chores, but I wouldn't want to tackle logs over 5" with it.
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I have one too and I love it and what you say is true.

Another thing that I like to do is find a big limb or something that I'm going to chop up into smaller peices. Rather than chopping straight down and thru I stand the limb on one end and chop around it. I can usually get thru it quicker that way than starting on one side.

Of course it won't work with stuff over 5" very well.
 
tarmix101 said:
Any time... any where.

Well not really. I have a family, three Daughters, and a full time job. So really when it fits my schedule
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That was funny LMAO:D

Not only does the knife work better a hatchet just bounces off small diameter wood barely cutting it.

Whos buying the airline tickets haha.

Skam
 
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