Saw vs. Axe vs. Hatchet vs. Large Knife (Bushcraft Tool Comparison)
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
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In this video we compare five common bushcrafting wood processing tools against each other to see how efficient and fatiguing they are to the user when it comes to bucking a piece of wood down to size.
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#Alaska #Fairbanks #Tools
I used to only use a big knife for this, but realised how much energy and time I spent chopping. Now I use a foldable saw for cutting the wood and the knife for splitting it
I'm kinda confused rn . Which one to use ? Axe or Saw ? To cut green tree / medium size tree branches from the top .
@@tyrant1000 Definitely the axe for bigger trees, with bow saws you're limited by the actual frame.
I consider size as well. A 10 inch log and the axe becomes much more tiring because the volume of wood to be removed to keep cutting deeper expands greatly, whereas a saw can cut on every stroke and doesn't need you to clear wood simply to get a good cutting angle. The extra time an axe take makes it much more tiresome for big logs. I prefer my 12" folder for even 8" logs, despite the numerous strokes from relatively short saw length, because I don't have to clear that cutting "V" into the log.
I appreciate your knife coverage. I was wondering about a Kukri instead of my tomahawk for light chopping, but given your results, I think I'm probably happy with what I've got.
Agree fully with you Toby!
Big knife and saw is best combo i think. Great comparsion, thanks 👍🏻🤠
I prefer carrying a smaller axe as it's easier to make fire wood and feels like it has more options of use than a folding saw.
Let's talk saw. It looks like the folding saw you used was a Bahco Laplander (correct me if I'm wrong - you did not tell us). You set that up against a large bow saw - a bit of a mismatch, wouldn't you say? The Laplander is a bi-directional saw - cutting on push as well as pull strokes.
It's a pity you did not include a specialised pull saw (like a Silky Bigboy). A pull saw requires far less energy than a bi-directional saw, as it requires very little downward pressure like a normal saw. Also, with the longer blade, it cuts far more efficiently, using far less effort (calories).
Agreed, a large knife was bound to perform poorly, as it is not designed for that work!
Even axes do not do cross-cutting very well, and require lots of energy expended. On a small log like that, the larger axe appeared to perform well, but with a larger log, the energy spent rapidly begins to affect performance. With a much bigger log, a Silky Katanaboy takes the same type of effort, only for a longer period, and would almost certainly outperform the axe. In addition, the saw delivers a neat perpendicular straight edge, which makes splitting the logs far easier and efficient.
In summary: to cross-cut wood, use a saw; to split large wood, use an axe (or maul, but a wedge is better); to split small wood, a large knife can be used to baton for splitting, but small wedges work just as well; for splitting shakes and shingles, use a froe; for cutting, use a knife; for making holes (small round ones) use an awl (as found on a Victorinox) or a drill brace & bits; for making holes (square), use a chisel. THERE IS NO ONE DO-IT-ALL TOOL THAT CAN DO ALL THIS!
Things start to get complicated when one tries to do work with tools they are not designed for (like the knife in your video). The whole "If you had only had one......" nonsense is just that - nonsense! What is is, is lack of preparation! People going out into the wilderness/forest/mountains, etc with minimal gear or thought and preparation are just looking for trouble, and are likely to end up with "just one tool", usually the wrong one! They are likely to end up in the proverbial!
Your video was an interesting one, and I hope you don't mind my giving some of my thoughts on it. Cheers!
I like carrying a 4-5inch sheath knife and a small axe (19-21 inches). A hatchet and a sheath knife can be interchangeable, which is why another tool set I’d do is a hatchet and a multi tool. For me a saw is a nice extra but I do most of my bush-crafting practice from a long-term wilderness survival perspective. Hence I prefer axes/hatchets over saws.
If we’re talking about someone with little to no experience I would say give them a multi-tool and a saw for starting out. Add a stealth knife, followed by a full sized axe, and they can go shorter from there.
the real answer is you need a solid knife or 2, a hatchet AND an axe and a saw with a replacement blade or 2.
Then you can really survive, indefinitely. All you need is that saw to last you for your cabin and if it survives past that it's just easy logs to split later for heat. When it finally dies hey, you can just axe it all down.
Why make compromises. But yes if it's just one tool and only one tool, a 3 1/2 lb axe is better to have than a saw or a knife alone
Nice video🙂 I always use some sort of saw for bucking. I think you should have all these tools though and bring with you what you need depending on where you are and what the season is.
That is true.
👍 Well done comparison. Interesting that the tools I take with me the most came in 3rd & 4th. The large knife did much worse than I was expecting.
When I use my fire box it's a folding saw and wetterling hatchet ,when its winter boil ups its 24 " bow saw and 26 " estwing axe . Always carry my esee 4 with both set ups .great video by the way .
Thanks for the info
Is not part of the discussion of efficiency and, inversely, the fatigue induced by using the tool also its weight, bulk, and the fatigue caused by carrying it? Also, I know it's complicated to do, but it would be fun to count the amount of strokes for each implement with sufficient rest periods in between. This could allow a bit more quantification of results. Thanks for a great presentation!
Thank you for the feedback
Boreal 21 or BigBoy and an axe is preferred but I have battoned a fiskars X7 into decent sized logs and flip and drop the weight of the log on the x7 pommel to split. For a small light option my reground x7 does a lot of work.
I would still pick hatchet for survival. Portable and you can sharpen it. Saw becomes useless during civilization collapse as it gets dull
I think having one of each can't hurt.
My thoughts exactly
Very true
Hurts to carry. Lol
OUTSTANDING video. Thanks,.
With a knife I use batoning most of the time. You need a knife anyway because you're not gonna gut a fish with and ax or a saw. So I don't bring an ax, hatchet or a saw and the energy conserved by not carrying this extra weight is much bigger than the energy used if you have to get some small pieces of wood. And if you compare both hatchet and ax, small saw and big saw, also compare knife and machete.
I always have a small saw. Most notably for notching or cutting to length for shelters. But I agree, batoning is best. Whenever possible I use a large tree fork to bust firewood to length.
@@ManInTheWoods76 For notching a small saw can be handy indeed. Not necessary but handy. I usually find a dead tree standing about leg size and just push it over. If lucky it already breaks into pieces when hitting the ground. If not use a forked tree for sure! Except for maybe starting a fire getting some small wood, curls or shavings you actually don't need any tool and if you do a small knife will do.
The axe will do the most work I believe that
It really can!
If you can only choose one. Then I choose hatchet hands down every time, it's durable, lightweight, efficient size for movement and space, it can cut just as good as an axe though it may take a few more swings, it requires less energy due to the fact that it's explosive movements that are short bursts of fast twitch muscle fiber recruitment, compare that to an axe which is a full body compound movement, compound movements demand more energy output, which means you will have to consume more food than what is already sufficient. Risking too much energy is a game of gamble when out in the wild which we all know. The saw is great but it is subject to breaking, the hatchet has the durability of an axe and if kept sharp, it will chew through anything, big trees will be a hassle sure but if absolutely needed, you can still defeat it.
thank you for sharing
You bet!
@@AlaskanFrontier1 👍
For what you need a axe or saw anyway? Firewood can easy be found right?
I would assume an axe or saw would be sued for shelter if you happened to be stranded or something but otherwise I have no idea
Correct. People tend to over process their wood to extremes. I saw a guy who fell, bucked, and split wood just to cook some bacon and eggs. Unnecessary.
Hatchet Hands down....
They are handy
Why? Is it the portability?
@@Divici02623 a hatchet will do whatever you need done from cutting to taking down trees and it's smaller than an axe whick allows carving . It will strike a ferro rod also. if I had to take 1 tool it would be a small pack axe or hatchet. From my 45+ years of playing in the woods 👍
Is the large axe the GB Scandinavian forest axe?
East TN... 3 season... My kit is 1. small folding saw and 2. BK18 Harpoon. I'm gold dealing with/carving anything less than 2"
My upgrade for winter or large material and digging is my Libertariat machete... It digs holes, shaves bark and chops.
Yes I have hatchets and axes, but the Libertariat is half the weight and still 80% as effective... And it's a machete too
the axe can be used as a hammer too
What kind of knife is that ?
Joe D - I think it’s a CRK (Chris Reeves knives) survival knife.
@@jackchn23 I thought he said it was a buck. I know he has the Pacifica by Chris Reeves. But i thought he said it was a buck knife.
Correct, this was the Buck Thug. Though I do have a CRK Pacific
@@AlaskanFrontier1 I knew you said Buck. I like the look of the thug. How's it going up there in God's country & have you thought of doing a little prospecting ?
Great video, I will prefer the saw and axe 🪓
That’s a hard decision to make,but big axe wins,alternative is hatchet with built in saw,they sell those you know something like WorkPro…
HAHAHA coffeeeeedehehehe
Ahahaha
Saws and hatchets are much easier to cut large thing branches than a axe but axes split and cut down trees much easier, I would never use a knife to cut wood
00:47
Very questionable hatchet skill XD