Can you split wood with a wooden wedge?

BlackKnight86

BlackKnight86

Say my name, cheesers!
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Oct 14, 2003
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Hi, guys!

Has anyone ever split wood with a wooden wedge? By that I mean, you're splitting along the grain, so all you'd have to do is be able to force it apart. Let's assume that you start the gap with your knife, then replace with the wooden wedge and hammer it in.

The reason I ask is, just trying to get an idea of alternate techniques to battoning with a knife. You could use the knife to fashion the wedge, then use the wedge to lever the wood apart. Any alternative techniques that can protect one's knife in a survival situation are good to know.

I'm figuring that the hardness of the wood will be a factor, of course; but if you're talking about a soft wood, like pine, wouldn't it be fairly easy to split if you're going with the grain? (It sure is when you're attempting to build something with it!!)

Thanks, guys!

BK86
 
I;ve done it... its not difficut, and the way I do it is lke you said.. Start the solit with my knife than replace with a carved wedge.. than I hammer the wedge as far as it will go... this usually does not split tough wood.. but a leading solit develops that extends several inches before the wege... I place a 2nd wedge there perpendicular to the first one..and hammer that in (this creates space and frees up the first wedge.. at that point if the wood is not split I place the first wedge a few inches (in the presplit ) further down than the 2nd one and hammer that in and I keep swapping as Nec.. ( a whole downed tree trunk could theoretically be split like that.. but I'll stick to fire wood.... I'll try to do a pictoral next time I;m out, if it;s help.
 
Here's a video on splitting wood with wedges posted by a fellow W&SS member (Siguy)

[youtube]zM9YR20oqw4[/youtube]
 
do it even with a hatchet when the stump is to big to swing through, here I was gathering fatwood, works good




IMG_1761.jpg
 
Plastic wedges and a sledge hammer are often used to split wood. You must have a start , either a natural crack, one made with an axe , or a groove cut in the end . It's always better to work with natures cracks.
 
natives of the pacific northwest used wood wedges to split the planks(from giant living red cedars) they used for their traditional homes. makah canoes are still made by initially splitting a cedar in half with wood wedges
 
After seeing someone post a picture here (I'm thinking Old Jimbo) a few years ago of someone using only a small hatchet (I think a Vaughns mini hatchet) and multiple wedges to split a HUGE log I decided to try it. Up until then I'd only used wedges when splitting smaller wood and I only had a folder on me. I was less ambitious than the guy in the picture so I split a smaller 5 or 6 foot log that had plenty of natural cracks in it. I used probably 8 wedges and got it done but I was pretty worn out by the end of it. I also destroyed several batons in the process and it all took me around half an hour. I suppose if for some bizarre reason I needed to build a long term shelter AND had only a knife AND it was early enough in the year AND I had plenty of time for felling (by building a small bed of coals at the base and continuing to feed it as it works it's way through the tree) and split logs then I would do this.

Now you've got me thinking, what if I find myself in that scenario? How am I going to handle it. What if winter is coming? I think I'm going to add a couple Wood Grenades and a maybe a maul (before anyone poo-poos this I of course would only bring the head and a small wedge and fashion my handle from a buttress tree, which this place will have in a convenient location) to my survival necklace or survival keychain. Snicker all you want, but who's going to be out in the middle of nowhere with only their knife and freezing to death, and who's going to be feeling pretty smug in his new 2 story 3000 sq ft cabin? I thought so.
 
For his age, Simon is one of the most mature and inquisitive guys out there. He has a great deal of first-hand knowledge and experience. He can paint his nails any color and I'm going to ask you guys to keep this discussion on topic.

With that said, I do it all the time. It is an easy way to remove a battoned blade from knotty wood. On a canoe trip 2 or 3 years ago, Marty and Jerry Y. split a very large dead birch with wedges. We ended up using the two halves as benches.

Keep in mind a wedge doesn't even have to be shaped like a doorstop. Even a small diameter branch can split wood.
 
did when I was growing up to make split rail fence. Generally made the wooden wedges out of dogwood or hickory. Dogwood is a bit denser than hickory, so would last longer. Dad and Granddad always called the wooden wedges "gluts". We'd split 10 foot logs lengthwise to make the rails with them. Started with a metal wedge, then inserted the first wooden one and started moving down the log with the others.
 
k_estela said:
For his age, Simon is one of the most mature and inquisitive guys out there. He has a great deal of first-hand knowledge and experience. He can paint his nails any color and I'm going to ask you guys to keep this discussion on topic.
Click to expand...


:thumbup: He's a good guy. Wish he would post over on this side as much as he used to.
 
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