Homemade surveying tools

A

Alex epp

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Apr 5, 2020
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Long post ahead- my dad is a surveyor working in mid Missouri who out of necessity for a better tool, has started creating his own. Its current favorite is a Fiskars brush axe (easily found at walmart or hardware stores) and modifying the handle by shoving various materials into the hollow handle and thus creating a light weight brush axe but with twice the handle length. Its a light tool- he uses it one handed and often holds it "backwards" in hand- edge towards the sky, starting his swing from below whatever he's cutting and makes quick and precise upward cuts to clear paths through various light brushy and usually thorny vegetation. But due to the forward weight and long handle, it can also be swung overhand (still one handed) like a light duty axe and used to clear small trees like saplings. Included is a picture taken today where he actually broke the fiberglass/plastic? handle- just a testament to how strong his extended handle joint is even though it looks slightly ridiculous. He uses a combination of epoxy, wedges, bolts, and even "fiberfix" the tape that when gets wet turns rock hard. Thought I'd share his innovation and wondering if there's anything out there on the market similar? Usually brush axes and bill hooks appear to be much heavier and definitely require two hands or much smaller and would struggle with saplings. We do know fiskars makes a long handle version the"Xa23" but at over $100 its a bit of an investment he's not sure is worth it.
 
You might check out the Baryonyx Knife Company's website. Lots of useful tools on that site that may be a good fit.
 
Pics on Google stillnot showing up.
What you are looking for is commonly called a billhook, brushhook or brush axe.
Start with Baryonyx Knife Co. This page has some billhooks, including one with a long handle.
https://www.baryonyxknife.com/angelob.html
Looqk at other pages on the Baryonyx site, particularly the Italian ones, for more billhooks. Also take a look at the Baryonyx machete, a 16” leaf-shaped blade (like a smatchet) with a billhook on the back.
The Condor Swamp Master is a 16” panga machete with an upswept tip that is sharpened on the back edge, like a billhook. It is discontinued, but you still may be able to find a vendor who has one in stock.
Marbles (made by Imacasa, who also makes Condor) offers a much lighter and cheaper version of the Swamp Master, but without the sharpened back edge. You would have to add that yourself.
Look around the web. There is an endless variety of similar tools. You should be able to find something suitable. Or just use a bolo or bush machete as many other surveyors have done.

Edit: the short answer Mark gave you while I was typing this long one may be all the answer you need.
 
Last edited:
Henry Beige said:
Pics on Google stillnot showing up.
What you are looking for is commonly called a billhook, brushhook or brush axe.
Start with Baryonyx Knife Co. This page has some billhooks, including one with a long handle.
https://www.baryonyxknife.com/angelob.html
Looqk at other pages on the Baryonyx site, particularly the Italian ones, for more billhooks. Also take a look at the Baryonyx machete, a 16” leaf-shaped blade (like a smatchet) with a billhook on the back.
The Condor Swamp Master is a 16” panga machete with an upswept tip that is sharpened on the back edge, like a billhook. It is discontinued, but you still may be able to find a vendor who has one in stock.
Marbles (made by Imacasa, who also makes Condor) offers a much lighter and cheaper version of the Swamp Master, but without the sharpened back edge. You would have to add that yourself.
Look around the web. There is an endless variety of similar tools. You should be able to find something suitable. Or just use a bolo or bush machete as many other surveyors have done.
Click to expand...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qbEDZMEGkcuSAxZw5 Does this link not work?
 
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