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Post by williamh4 on Jan 12, 2016 14:26:52 GMT -8
How about hatchets? Does anyone carry a hatchet? I realize that's a tool that shouldn't be used everywhere, and may not even be allowed depending on where you go. However, if you go backpacking where it's applicable, what have you found to be good and lightweight?
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 12, 2016 14:53:10 GMT -8
Good and lightweight are an oxymoron. You need an axe, carry an axe, IMHO. Though for wooded areas and a canoe I prefer a folding saw... sooner or later there's a portage... otherwise I'd probably take a cue from the Swedes, land of a LOT of wood... www.loghomestore.com/1368-gransfors-bruk-scandinavian-forest-axe-430.phpAnd never for backpacking. Whatever for? I'm not interested in making furniture, not interested in a wood fire (even where "legal") since I go out there to have fun not futz with wood so a stove is FAR easier and faster and cleaner for my food prep. Warmth? I carry adequate clothing for that and a decent sleeping bag. As a weapon against bears? Bear spray is more effective and lighter still.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2016 15:05:58 GMT -8
I do not carry 'hatchet, axe, and saw.' When I go backpacking.
A hatchet has a flat face. Using a hatchet to prep wood for a fire is near useless. The flat face will tend to stick into the wood which will waste a lot of energy to remove and may even require a 'hammer' to free from the wood. A hatchet is best used for demolition work. Instead use a smaller hand axe. A hand axe has a curved face to allow a person to rock the blade back and forth to free the blade when it gets stuck in wood.
A better item would be a bow saw of some type.
Either item, a set of files should be carried to keep the blades sharp.
Letting the axe head penetrate into the dirt will quickly dull the edge.
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Post by williamh4 on Jan 12, 2016 15:08:07 GMT -8
Good and lightweight are an oxymoron. You need an axe, carry an axe, IMHO. Though for wooded areas and a canoe I prefer a folding saw... sooner or later there's a portage... otherwise I'd probably take a cue from the Swedes, land of a LOT of wood... www.loghomestore.com/1368-gransfors-bruk-scandinavian-forest-axe-430.phpAnd never for backpacking. Whatever for? I'm not interested in making furniture, not interested in a wood fire (even where "legal") since I go out there to have fun not futz with wood so a stove is FAR easier and faster and cleaner for my food prep. Warmth? I carry adequate clothing for that and a decent sleeping bag. As a weapon against bears? Bear spray is more effective and lighter still. I would use it for a campfire. I would, of course, bring enough clothes to stay warm. I really enjoy sitting at a campfire, starring into it pondering the meaning of life, LOL. Perhaps after making a campfire a few times, I'll get that out of my system. However, I doubt it.
Found what appears to be a pretty good one (Schrade SCAXE2O Survival Hatchet with Orange Handle). Only weighs a pound (I know, it's a pound) and has good reviews. Also recommended by a couple of survival "experts" (at least they've been in the business for 20+ years).
www.notifbutwhensurvivalstore.com/product-p/schaxe2o-brk.htm
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 12, 2016 15:20:51 GMT -8
Carry a lot of wound sealer. And a tourniquet... Lightweight axes and you over force: that, sooner or later leads to an out of control blade ( similar reason for a dull knife being so much more dangerous than a sharp one: force a blade and it slips, going somewhere not intended and damaging sooner or later): which leads to bleeding out or traumatic amputation.... my college roommate did his summer medical internship in a forest industry town in Canada: those things produce really nasty damage... OTOH this saw looks decent and Opinel is a decent brand of knife. www.notifbutwhensurvivalstore.com/Opinel-Folding-Saw-p/opinel-saw-brk.htmWould work for firewood prep, possibly less so for opening your femoral artery.
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Post by williamh4 on Jan 12, 2016 15:34:16 GMT -8
Carry a lot of wound sealer. And a tourniquet... Lightweight axes and you over force: that, sooner or later leads to an out of control blade ( similar reason for a dull knife being so much more dangerous than a sharp one: force a blade and it slips, going somewhere not intended and damaging sooner or later): which leads to bleeding out or traumatic amputation.... my college roommate did his summer medical internship in a forest industry town in Canada: those things produce really nasty damage... OTOH this saw looks decent and Opinel is a decent brand of knife. www.notifbutwhensurvivalstore.com/Opinel-Folding-Saw-p/opinel-saw-brk.htmWould work for firewood prep, possibly less so for opening your femoral artery. That certainly looks like it would work well. My multi-tool has similar teeth, and for as small as it is, does an excellent job. Something to consider instead of a hatchet.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 12, 2016 15:36:19 GMT -8
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BlueBear
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Post by BlueBear on Jan 12, 2016 15:39:32 GMT -8
Personally, I pretty-much never feel the need to cut wood while backpacking. That said, I have a small folding saw (mostly used for car camping) that I would much rather take than a heavy hatchet. It does the job more efficiently and safer on medium-sized wood (too big to break by hand, not big enough to need a chainsaw or axe), at a fraction of the weight. If I wanted to take a large cutting tool backpacking (again, I pretty much don't, but if I did) that's what I'd use. I don't really see the benefit of a small hatchet, personally.
If I'm at a cabin and need to split large wood, I'll use a full axe and/or a log-splitter, but that's a different story entirely.
The folding saw I have is similar to what HSF linked in his first link. There are many like it out there, of varying quality.
- Mike
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Jan 12, 2016 15:51:13 GMT -8
I have one of these, but never take it backpacking. I can see using it on a camping trip where open fires are permitted, however. I also have one or two bow saws, but like the Bahco folding saw, I've only used them at home (we live in the woods). Bahco makes good stuff if you're interested in something like that. I think Franco suggested it to me.
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Post by hikerjer on Jan 12, 2016 15:54:46 GMT -8
Only when car camping and then I hardly ever use it.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Jan 12, 2016 16:32:50 GMT -8
I bring a 2" knife so that I can make kindling. Anything I need that is larger, I can use a tool I call...my boot. I break branches. If I actually need a hatchet or saw, the wood is too big. Mind you - This is the area I hike in. The wood in your area may differ. To be honest, it is extremely rare that I have a campfire anymore but in those situations, those are the things I use.
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markskor
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Post by markskor on Jan 12, 2016 17:45:23 GMT -8
In conjunction with the current knife thread... This summer, Yosemite Valley permit office, in line behind a younger backpacker carrying a hatchet holster thing on one hip, and a massive machete/Bowie on the other. The Ranger looked at him, and asked him why. The backpacker said, "To stay in balance of course."
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Post by williamh4 on Jan 12, 2016 19:12:39 GMT -8
In conjunction with the current knife thread... This summer, Yosemite Valley permit office, in line behind a younger backpacker carrying a hatchet holster thing on one hip, and a massive machete/Bowie on the other. The Ranger looked at him, and asked him why. The backpacker said, "To stay in balance of course." LOL...
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 12, 2016 21:17:34 GMT -8
No hatchet. Never. Any fire built in the backcountry should be small, which means you don't need sticks bigger than you can break with your boot. And any mom knows that if you give a boy a hatchet, he'll go around looking for something to hack with it
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Jan 13, 2016 2:23:18 GMT -8
if you give a boy a hatchet, he'll go around looking for something to hack with it Yeah, but Tommy had fun, didn't hurt anyone, and almost chopped up some firewood for us at HOTB a couple of years ago.
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