Do I have the right stuff?

And another specific question: Will the Condor Bolo 12" be good (strong enough) for spliting (is it called bunting?) the bamboo I have to work with? Maximum 9" thick with 1'5 " interior walls... this is one of the most important jobs as it will be part of building everything: fences, gutters, beds, shelves etc.....
 
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I've used my SAK saw to prune limbs up to @ 2" in diameter, but as you say it was testing the limits of the saw. Your list is adequate but limited. The Silky will work well on the bamboo but you will probably end up cutting around the circumference like you do with your SAK saw. But, your machete or ax should work with the bamboo so the smaller saw can be used for more delicate tasks. My only concern would be sharpening the saw when it dulls (therefore, multiple blades).

Your machete is plenty strong enough for splitting the bamboo. Although, for 9" bamboo I'd get a longer machete. You want to use the belly of the blade for splitting and leave plenty of the blade to baton on towards the tip.
 
My only experience has been with bamboo that gets only 2" in diameter max.

Lots of information from Googling harvesting bamboo. E.g. :

http://www.guaduabamboo.com/blog/when-and-how-to-harvest-bamboo

http://www.jmbamboo.com/2011/09/harvesting-bamboo-timber/

http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4091 A forum dedicated to bamboo !

http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4091 Pull-cut saws discussed.

http://www.bamboo.org/FAQ.html American Bamboo Society


I expect that the locals are the best source of information.
 
Thomas Linton said:
My only experience has been with bamboo that gets only 2" in diameter max.

Lots of information from Googling harvesting bamboo. E.g. :

http://www.guaduabamboo.com/blog/when-and-how-to-harvest-bamboo

http://www.jmbamboo.com/2011/09/harvesting-bamboo-timber/

http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4091 A forum dedicated to bamboo !

http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4091 Pull-cut saws discussed.

http://www.bamboo.org/FAQ.html American Bamboo Society


I expect that the locals are the best source of information.
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Thanks! I'll look into all of them.... as for the the locals, they are a great source of information for many things (when it comes to local flora and fauna and weather there is no book nor satellite that can beat my old neighbors) but when it comes to work, I'm afraid that they look at traditional materials as inferior to modern ones (I live in a stone and mud house and everyone keeps telling me to "upgrade" to cinder blocks) and when it comes to time....well lets just say that my neighbor does not care if something takes him a half a day or a whole day..... labor is completely divided here...... they think I'm crazy to live here to start with and they don't understand why I would not pay someone to do all the manual labor...different worlds.....
 
We all have our preferences but your list is certainly solid. I'd give up the Mora for a Vic OHT, and replace the machete with a golok.
 
Nobody has better tools for cutting bamboo than the Japanese. Check out a site called Japan woodworker. You want finer teeth for bamboo than you use for wood. Green bamboo is usually easiest to cut with one swift cut from a very sharp blade because a saw tends to tear the fibers. Dry bamboo is somewhat better to cut with a fine toothed saw.

Your selection would be great for the woody stuff though.
 
I would strongly consider replacing the DC4 with something larger. If you are new to the knife world, a bench stone is easier to use than a hand held stone. The DC4 has had some quality issues as well (mine included). DMT diafolds are a little larger, and their bench stones are very good as well.
 
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