Batoning question

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rlewpolar

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Oct 4, 2022
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Question about batoning; in most videos, you see guys batoning with their knives using perfectly cut logs. Assuming you only have one knife on you (a capable chopper and batoner). How do you get those logs with a nice even cut on both ends so that they stand up on their own, allowing you to split them into small pieces? Do you cross baton first to get a nice even cut on both ends? I guess I could take a folding saw with me when backpacking but trying to avoid that if possible.

I’m trying to learn about bushcrafting but only see videos of guys chopping with a knife (which will give you two jagged ends that will not stand on its own). Or batoning with a perfectly cut log that stands up beautifully on its own. If you only have one knife on you, what’s your technique and steps you take to process wood, for say a fire? Thanks
 
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First of all, I would join bushcraft USA if you are interested in bushcraft. Bladeforums is a good place to discuss knives and such, but you will just get a lot of noise in addition to helpful information.
Second, waaaay down the list of subforums, you will see Wilderness & Survival Skills. This question is better asked there. You will get more responses in General, but most of it will be sneering and derision.
Good luck.

EDIT: if you think I am exaggerating, just read this thread: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...-knife-have-to-be-a-star-at-batoning.1914060/
 
I also carry a big boy and own the f180. The 180 is cheap and light but only 7" so you have to decide what you need. I kept the 180 in my truck bag but having had to use it at work cutting dunnage several times I switched it to the big boy I like the 14" saw.
 
Ok, I think I will listen to you gents and get a Silky Big Boy. After watching a few videos of it in action, it makes a lot of sense and looks pretty small and light when packed away. I’m thinking of adding a Condor Pack Golack to use for batoning and general chopping. Anyone have one and how do they carry? I have a number of knives I can use for the finer work (Moras). Think I’ll have my bases covered with these three
 
rlewpolar said:
Question about batoning; in most videos, you see guys batoning with their knives using perfectly cut logs. Assuming you only have one knife on you (a capable chopper and batoner). How do you get those logs with a nice even cut on both ends so that they stand up on their own, allowing you to split them into small pieces? Do you cross baton first to get a nice even cut on both ends? I guess I could take a folding saw with me when backpacking but trying to avoid that if possible.

I’m trying to learn about bushcrafting but only see videos of guys chopping with a knife (which will give you two jagged ends that will not stand on its own). Or batoning with a perfectly cut log that stands up beautifully on its own. If you only have one knife on you, what’s your technique and steps you take to process wood, for say a fire? Thanks
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Many people bring a packable saw too. Faster for cutting dry wood than a knife or axe in many situations.

Are you watching test videos? If so, they're not usually interesting in building something, just showing the knife's capabilies.

For the knives I use to chop and split, yes, you do end uo with two rounded ends. You can still baton split those rounded ends or you split along the length of the wood, not from the end but the side.

I mess around with cross batoning for testing or some crafting purposes, but it's a slow and energy wasting process compares to a saw, even a SAK's saw. The little saw on my SAK is great for crafting notches and such and makes it veey nice for crafting a shelter where you would use many notches to lock things in before lashing.

As mentioned above, BCUSA is better for this kind of topic but there is considerable crossover from there and here. Many common interests.
 
rlewpolar said:
Ok, I think I will listen to you gents and get a Silky Big Boy. After watching a few videos of it in action, it makes a lot of sense and looks pretty small and light when packed away. I’m thinking of adding a Condor Pack Golack to use for batoning and general chopping. Anyone have one and how do they carry? I have a number of knives I can use for the finer work (Moras). Think I’ll have my bases covered with these three
Click to expand...

The big boy is not small, for a folding saw. I have the pocket boy, gomboy, and big boy, the big boy is my workhorse for trail maintenance and it comes with me on the bike a lot paired with a big knife, but it requires a long space to sit in. The goboy is much more manageable and the pocket boy is my newest and probably wouldn't be my choice if I needes to fuel an open fire but good for a large twig stove and decent for crafting.

The spines of saws also make good ferro strikers.
 
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rlewpolar said:
Ok, I think I will listen to you gents and get a Silky Big Boy. After watching a few videos of it in action, it makes a lot of sense and looks pretty small and light when packed away. I’m thinking of adding a Condor Pack Golack to use for batoning and general chopping. Anyone have one and how do they carry? I have a number of knives I can use for the finer work (Moras). Think I’ll have my bases covered with these three
Click to expand...

If you wanna save weight, space and money, get a silky replacement blade (Gomtaro or others) wrap the handle with paracord and make a sheath from the plastic packaging it comes in and wrap it with some duct tape.

My Gomtaro 300 weighs less than 85 grams, sheath included. Lots of cutting power for the weight.

https://flic.kr/p/2mFokg2
 
The only time I baton is when I am trying to make kindling to start a fire. It is pretty light batoning. Usually I have cut the firewood to length with a saw of some sort.
 
A saw is a very handy tool. I often pack a Buck T-handled saw with coarse teeth on one edge and fine teeth on the other. It's no longer made but there are similar game saws available. No moving parts (except your arm:p).
 
GAGL said:
If you wanna save weight, space and money, get a silky replacement blade (Gomtaro or others) wrap the handle with paracord and make a sheath from the plastic packaging it comes in and wrap it with some duct tape.

My Gomtaro 300 weighs less than 85 grams, sheath included. Lots of cutting power for the weight.

https://flic.kr/p/2mFokg2
Click to expand...

That's great! I've thought about thay many times but always thought the blades would be too thin to work out well. They just had a bunch of blades on closeout, but I ended up going for a 2nd gomboy and pocketboy instead.

Nicely done.
 
rlewpolar said:
I’m thinking of adding a Condor Pack Golack to use for batoning and general chopping. Anyone have one and how do they carry? I have a number of knives I can use for the finer work (Moras). Think I’ll have my bases covered with these three
Click to expand...
How big do you plan to baton? Just stuff for a fire or stumps for fatwood harvesting? Most of my batoning is to size stuff up for fire starting and even just a mora is adequate. For the tent stove, I have a BK2, but I'm still working that out. So far, it's been adequate and I like that it's small enough I can toss it in with the stove when I'm carrying the hot tenting setup.
 
bikerector said:
That's great! I've thought about thay many times but always thought the blades would be too thin to work out well. They just had a bunch of blades on closeout, but I ended up going for a 2nd gomboy and pocketboy instead.

Nicely done.
Click to expand...

I've used mine a lot and didn't have any problems at all. I also got an Ultra Accel 240, but i prefer my Gomtaro replacement blade, much more comfortable than the UA...plus it doesn't weigh down my frame bag as much.

https://flic.kr/p/2mNA3EX
 
Ok, I think I will listen to you gents and get a Silky Big Boy. After watching a few videos of it in action, it makes a lot of sense and looks pretty small and light when p
pholder said:
You don’t need to Baton, period. If you are finding logs, there has to be small branches in close proximity
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This is how I’ve started fires for years. But there have been times when everything was damp or wet and I can see the utility of batoning to get to dry wood
 
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