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Lightweight Cutting Tools
Submitted by An Outdoor Idiots Team Member.
Lightweight Cutting Tools: Bench Test
All of the numbers, pictures and words on the previous pages probably give a rough idea of what can be expected with these lightweight tools, but it might be nice if we presented a worked example.As our regular reader is no doubt aware by now, there is nothing more important to Outdoor Idiots.com than the consumption of tea. The lightweight tools are fine in that regard, as they can cheerfully spend all day providing fuel for a Kelly Kettle. But we thought we'd up the ante a bit and see if they could provide us with a bench to sit upon while consuming said tea.
The process put all the tools through their paces. Logs were cut, bark was stripped, stakes were pointed and it was all very exciting. Things were a bit touch and go at one point, when we came to tying a square lashing. We all looked sheepishly at the floor when we realised we hadn't paid enough attention in Scouts and nobody had a clue. Happily though, Ray had one of those trendy Internet-enabled portable phone things, so we were able to do some real-time, in-the-field revision on the subject, [The Editor speaks: "Witchcraft! I still don't believe it!"] and we pulled through in the end.
Here is the finished article:
We were going to say something at this point, but we're so overcome with pride that we'll just show another picture of the bench instead:
All of the tools performed well. The saw, if used carefully, can get through a log as thick as the blade is long. The knife was fine for some of the smaller work, and even performed adequately when hit lightly with a baton.
The star of the show was definitely the Fiskars / Wilkinson Sword Handy Axe. With it, we were able to make the main seat of the bench, by splitting a rather long and thick log in two. The log was about 6 foot long and about 6 inches thick, and was in fact the trunk of a fallen pine tree. It took some doing, and a lot of hammering in of makeshift wooden stakes as we went along, but eventually the log yielded. The axe was essentially used as a splitting wedge, and it was pounded into the log with a heavy wooden baton at regular intervals along the length of the log. The axe head, after its repeated and most brutal drubbings, was as good as new, razor sharp, and not deformed in the slightest.
Months after the event, we revisited the area and happily the bench was still there. We lifted the top off the bench to remind us what an achievement it was:
Unfortunately it seems that Flossy's friends have been making use of the underside to rub their disgusting tick-infested and itching bodies, but you get the idea.
So there you have it, a lot can be done with a total of 850 grams (or 30 ounces) of cutting tools. That's not a lot of weight to carry if it can provide a fire, a cup of tea and a bench on which to appreciate both at the end of a day. Okay, most of that day will have been spent preparing the fire and building the bench, but that's not the point.
Whether you are thinking of getting into bushcraft, or you are backpacker that likes the idea of getting a bit more involved with nature by destroying it to your advantage, we would highly recommend this collection of small, light cutting tools. The total cost is less than £60 (that includes the Fallkniven DC4 sharpening stone which is quite pricey), compared to the £170 for the more popular heavyweight alternatives, so it makes a good low budget / starter set. Even if you progress to heavier things, you're likely to want to keep all the lighter tools for those times when you don't want to carry the weight.
If you have any cutting comments on this article, you can make them here.
If you can't be bothered to enter the forums, then shame on you! But you can still leave a comment below. Please try to avoid the profane ramblings of a madman. That's our job.
If you can't be bothered to enter the forums, then shame on you! But you can still leave a comment below. Please try to avoid the profane ramblings of a madman. That's our job.
Your Comments
On 14 August 2007, John said:Interesting article. I have a similar outlook that the tool that can do the job for you isn't always the most expensive or the one that gets you the most kudos. Opinel do a great folding saw that I use and I also have that Frost knife. If I can just persu
On 11 June 2007, matthew said:
i knew it all along those standard bushcraft tool are made by robbing ba***** and they make them heavy so you have to buy a donkey to carry them, which they also sell at top price cunning sods.
Page 5 of 5 Previous [Top of Page]
Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: Frosts Clipper Knife
Page 3: Wilkinson Sword Retractable Saw
Page 4: Fiskars / Wilkinson Sword Handy Axe
Page 5: Lightweight Cutting Tools: Bench Test
Page 2: Frosts Clipper Knife
Page 3: Wilkinson Sword Retractable Saw
Page 4: Fiskars / Wilkinson Sword Handy Axe
Page 5: Lightweight Cutting Tools: Bench Test
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