How to Split Firewood with a Hatchet
A bonfire is one of the greatest pleasures of camping.
I'd like to talk about the hatchet, which is used for the first step of building a bonfire: splitting firewood.
This article will focus on firewood purchased from home centers or campsites, rather than branches or fallen trees found in the wilderness.
At the end, I'll also recommend axes, which are more suitable for thicker wood than hatchets.
Please read until the end.
Firewood Splitting Procedure
First, let's talk about where to place the firewood when splitting it.
If you split firewood on concrete, the hatchet blade can chip if it hits the concrete after splitting the wood with too much force.
However, splitting it on soil will cause the firewood to sink into the ground when struck, preventing the force from being properly transferred and making it impossible to split.
Therefore, use an unsplit piece of firewood with as many flat surfaces as possible as a base, and split the firewood on top of it.
Once you're ready, let's start splitting.
- Place the firewood upright on the base, and hold the hatchet in your dominant hand, placing it on the top end of the firewood.
- Prepare a piece of firewood of a size that is easy to grip and hold it in your other hand.
- Strike the back of the hatchet with the firewood you are holding. As the hatchet bites into the wood, keep striking it until it splits.
This process is called "batoning."
Things to Keep in Mind When Splitting Firewood
If you follow the steps, it's not difficult, but a moment of carelessness can lead to serious injury. Prepare thoroughly and enjoy safely.
Wear gloves.
Not just any gloves will do. Since it's a dangerous task involving striking a blade, choose gloves with good grip to prevent the hatchet and the striking firewood from slipping.
Leather gloves are ideal, but if you don't have them, use work gloves with yellow non-slip grips. If you don't have those either, wear regular work gloves on the hand that will be striking.
The reason for wearing regular work gloves only on the striking hand is that thorns can easily pierce your hand when striking hard with firewood.
Also, it's very dangerous to hold a hatchet with work gloves, as it can easily slip.
Check your clothing.
Not just for splitting firewood, but for camping in general, long sleeves and long pants are standard, and the same applies when splitting firewood.
When firewood splits with force, it can hit your legs or arms, potentially causing unexpected injuries.
Shoes. When firewood splits, it can pass through the wood. Sandals are dangerous in such situations. Sneakers, or ideally, boots with reinforced toes, are recommended.
How to Choose a Hatchet for Splitting Firewood
Size Selection?
The size is generally around 16-20cm in blade length, which is a manageable size for beginners.
There are two types of hatchets: those with a V-shaped blade cross-section called "double-edged," and those with a "single-edged" blade shaped like the katakana character "レ" (re).
Double-edged hatchets are used for splitting firewood, while single-edged hatchets are used for peeling bark or trimming branches.
For those who don't want to carry too much gear, there are also compact sizes available.
Recommended Hatchets for Splitting Firewood
Now, let's look at what kind of hatchets to choose, introducing the best-selling one and the one with the best cost performance.
Kôten Hagane-tsuki Mini Hashi-tsuki Nata 130mm C-70
| Overall Length (cm) | 28.5 |
| Blade Length (cm) | 13 |
| Blade Width (cm) | 6.5 |
Kôten Hagane-tsuki Mini Hashi-tsuki Nata 130mm C-70 Recommended Points
This is a double-edged hatchet suitable for splitting firewood.
It is made using a forging method where steel is wrapped around soft iron, hammered, and stretched, resulting in a material that is hard and resistant to chipping.
Since it's made of steel, you can sharpen it when it gets dull, allowing for long-term use and developing a bond with it.
It has a projection (called "hashi") at the tip to prevent chipping even if the blade strikes hard ground.
While this doesn't mean you can treat it roughly, it does allow you to perform batoning with full force while prioritizing safety.
It's great that I can split thinner firewood and whittle wood without worrying about the blade chipping, even on gravel (^-^)
If you put too much force, there's a possibility that the blade might hit the gravel in deeper areas, but the blade is sharp enough that you can easily split not-too-thick firewood with light force!
From Amazon reviews
BOHKEN CLUB Nata to Noko Small NS-180
| Overall Length (cm) | 35 |
| Blade Length (cm) | 16.5 |
| Blade Width (cm) | Not listed |
BOHKEN CLUB Nata to Noko Small NS-180 Recommended Points
This is a great value product that comes as a set with a hatchet and a saw.
Unlike the previous hatchet, this one doesn't have a "hashi" to prevent blade chipping, but it's not an issue if you're using it at a campsite with soil ground.
Some people even prefer hatchets without the "hashi" as they are easier to sharpen.
Although the blade width is not specified, batoning can be done easily.
This is because, unlike knives, there isn't extreme variation between hatchet products.
For fire pits designed specifically for burning wood, not cooking, commercially available firewood can sometimes be too long to fit.
In such cases, having a saw allows you to easily adjust the length.
You can also do it with a hatchet, but it requires physical strength to chop and break the wood.
As an amateur using it for batoning, it splits firewood without any problems.
When making firewood for a wood stove, if it's too long, it sticks out. So if you want to cut the firewood shorter,
there's a saw, so you can cut it smoothly.
Hatchets are good at splitting wood vertically, but difficult to cut horizontally. So, having both a hatchet and a saw in one set
I think this is a very easy-to-use product.
The price is also low, so it offers great value for money.
From Amazon reviews
An Ax is Better for Splitting Large Firewood
Recommended Hand Axes
Among commercially available firewood, you sometimes find pieces that are too thick for a hatchet to handle.
In such cases, an ax becomes absolutely necessary.
Beyond that, for those who've seen someone effortlessly splitting firewood at a neighboring campsite and thought, "I want to try that!", here are some recommended axes.
Husqvarna Hand Axe 38cm Made in Sweden
| Overall Length (cm) | 38 |
| Blade Length (cm) | 8 |
| Weight (kg) | 1 |
Husqvarna Hand Axe 38cm Made in Sweden Recommended Points
Crafted (forged) by artisans from high-quality Swedish steel, it offers a well-balanced combination of hardness, toughness, and sharpness.
The handle is made of American hickory wood, and its exquisitely curved shape helps reduce fatigue.
Additionally, while it's designed to be easy to use with one hand, it's also easy to control when held with both hands, allowing you to swing the axe precisely to your target.
A luxurious leather cover is included.
When storing it, always use the cover and prioritize safety.
Storing it with the cover prevents it from bumping into and damaging other tools, or from chipping the blade.
I used to baton with Columbia knives and Mora knives, but they didn't split well, and eventually, the handle of my Columbia knife broke...
After using the Husqvarna I'd wanted to try, I wondered what all my previous struggles were for.
For me, it's perfect right out of the box!
Now I just need to be very careful with my fingers and toes when using it...
From Amazon reviews
Hewflit Hand Ax
| Overall Length (cm) | 26 |
| Blade Length (cm) | 10 |
| Weight (kg) | 0.3 |
Hewflit Hand Ax Recommended Points
Weighing only 300g, this is a very lightweight one-handed ax.
While its lightness means it's less effective for splitting firewood by leveraging its weight compared to the Husqvarna, its compact and lightweight characteristics give it an all-around usability similar to a hatchet.
Additionally, the included case (called a sheath) is made of tear-resistant, durable nylon, and the sheath has a belt loop, allowing it to be carried on your hip.
Walking through the forest with an ax hanging from your hip... that sounds exciting, doesn't it?
The base of the blade features 10, 14, and 19mm hex wrenches, which can be very handy in a pinch.
Being made of stainless steel, it is rust-resistant and maintains its sharpness for a long time. When it starts to dull, a light sharpening with a 1500-grit whetstone (called touch-up) will restore its sharpness.
If I used it as is, my hands would probably hurt, so I wrapped it with paracord and it became easier to hold. It's light and easy to hold, so I think it's very user-friendly. The blade is also reasonably sharp when it arrives, and I lightly sharpened it with a whetstone. Since the blade is thin, it bites in easily, and can be used like a hatchet for cutting through, or like a knife. For firewood, if you use it by letting it bite in from above and then striking, it works quite well. It seems better to sharpen the blade thicker. I like that it's not overly exaggerated and that I can customize it and play around with it.
From Amazon reviews
Summary
There are several ways to keep warm during winter camping, and among them, burning firewood is the most rustic activity.
For information about stoves for winter camping, please refer to the article below.
While a wood-burning stove or bonfire provides warmth, petroleum or kerosene stoves are simpler for heating, and gas burners are easier for cooking.
However, enjoying inconvenience is one of the pleasures of camping. The products introduced this time can add a little enjoyment to that inconvenience.
Imagine placing a Sierra cup of beer on the snow, taking a sip while batoning, with a snowman, and your child and wife roasting marshmallows beside you.
So, why not embark on your best camping trip?
