Why do you baton?

desmobob

desmobob

Joined
May 5, 2003
Messages
2,494
OK... after a very long time reading about batoning every time I look at BladeForums, I need to finally get this off my chest: why do you do it?

Where I camp, trees come conveniently designed for burning; from small twigs gradually gaining diameter to the trunk, there is a vast assortment and supply of various sized sticks. I section them up with an axe or saw and use the diameter I need at the moment. I don't believe I've ever had the need to split any firewood while camping. If anything, I often wish I could make the wood thicker!

Am I doing it wrong? Are the trees built differently outside of the Adirondacks?

Seriously, the only time I ever have the need to split firewood is when I need kindling to start a fire in the fireplace in my living room and have only logs to work with. In the great outdoors, it's easier to get small-diameter firewood than the big stuff. Why split the big stuff?

So I guess batoning seems questionable to me. (Batoning with a folding knife seems outright ridiculous.)


No offense intended to anyone. Feel free to try to convert me to batonning.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
When wood is wet and you need to get to the dry part. Say there is no pine trees you can take the little dry twigs off of. Also you don't have an ax on you. When everything in the forest is soaked, there is always drywood. The only way I know how to get to it is splitting it, I don't always have an ax, so batoning is a must.
 
How about going on a hike after a week of rain, and all the small pieces are soaked? You mentioned a fireplace yourself. That won't count for every camping trip, but it never hurts to practice.
 
When the woods are wet from rain? I guess that's not really much of an issue where I am... there is usually lots of dry small stuff under the hemlocks and enough birch bark around to get anything going.

But I'm starting to see the light.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
1) Wood that is wet on the outside may be dry on the inside. Batonning/splitting wood reveals the dry interior.
2) Splitting wood x2 creates a sharp edge (a wedge in cross-section) with more access to O2. Easier to get split wood to light and burn.
3) Round logs often don't burn efficiently, but sort of smolder. Split the same log and it will burn hotter. (because of reason #2)

I usually collect the "small stuff" and it will burn okay--but when I am starting a fire, I'll even split/baton some small stuff to get those sharp edges. These split twigs catch more easily and burn hotter.

Fire good. :D
 
Alberta Ed said:
Because you forgot the ax?
Click to expand...

That's my whole point... I don't NEED to baton (or use an axe) to get small stuff; it's everywhere! I bring an axe or saw so I can cut up the big stuff so it fits in the firepit or so I can carry it to the camp site.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I find it helpful to find dry wood in the center of wet wood. Also, I use it to cut 1-2" stuff that I wanted to make a clean cut....that is usually just fooling around. :)
 
spheres and circular prisms (logs) have a very low surface area in proportion to their volume. the higher the surface area to volume ratio, the easier sonthing is to burn( same principle as fuzz sticks). so, this makes circular and round things more difficult to burn. so, if you batton/split a log, it no longer has its round shape and so the surface area to volume ratio is larger, and, therefor, burns better.

yea, i am an honor student :D
 
Because I can. :cool:

bsc141xk2.jpg


But seriously, as mentioned, to get dry kindling and firewood.

But I also favor cross grain batoning to cut staffs and poles for use in a variety of wilderness structures.

If fact I’m a little baton crazy, …and often do it just for fun. ;)



Mike
 
Last edited:
Rotte said:
2) Splitting wood x2 creates a sharp edge (a wedge in cross-section) with more access to O2. Easier to get split wood to light and burn.
3) Round logs often don't burn efficiently, but sort of smolder. Split the same log and it will burn hotter. (because of reason #2)
Click to expand...


More interesting info....

(Nice Game Warden, Rotte. I just bought one last week - Sage/Green Linen. :thumbup: )


Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
If your gonna make stuff like boards to use with a bow-drill then you have to split the wood down somehow !!!
 
When you have toys, you have to play. If you don't play, you don't need the toys and the wife will want to blow the money on junk like food and cloths for the rug rats.
 
two cents from an old dog :D

So far, in answer to the OPs original question we have learned (quite correctly I might add) *why* it is important to be able to SPLIT WOOD.

I must confess that I have seen no compelling reason for BATONing wood with a fixed blade. EDIT: Except for that *fun* part hahah.

What say ye?
 
Pitdog and udtjim make some good points, too.

OK... you guys are beginning to convert me. After I fill another deer tag and get to spend my weekends bumming around the woods with a shotgun, pretending to be grouse hunting, I'll stop for lunch and build a fire. And I'll baton some wood. Apparently, it's fun. I guess that alone is reason enough.

Thanks for the insights, gentlemen. I appreciate your input.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
If I am truly serious about being faced with the prospect of needing to build a fire in a wet environment I will adjust my load out to reflect it.

I see no advantage to carrying a 14" chopper over carrying a small hand axe. I don't know anyone who would enter the 'woods' with a large chopping blade who would not also carry the requisite 4" or so fixed\folder with it. I can't imagine a situation where the large chopper would perform any tasks better than a hand axe and 4" blade combination.

But I'm willing to listen...

:D
 
While I don't dismiss the experience of others, I have never encountered a situation where batoning a knife as prep for firewood would have provided any benefit at all. In fact, here in the Maine woods I rarely need a cutting tool of any kind to make a fire, regardless of the weather.
 
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