Junglas: what it can do, what it should do

[CapitalizedLiving]

I learned a few things this Labor Day weekend:

1. My neighbor's tree is possessed by demons.
2. There are things my Junglas will do, and there are things my Junglas should do. They are not, in all cases, the same.

My neighbors hate the tree too, and I got a good price for its removal. So next weekend it's gone. But not before this weekend yielded a nice windstorm that dropped a massive (12+ feet long) branch in my yard, mere inches from my power line.

A few weeks ago a 6-8 footer dropped on my car, again in a freak windstorm. This one came inches away from my windshield. I got lucky both times, but my luck is going to run dry if I don't remove what is definitely the biggest weed I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with.

Back to the Junglas. I decided to start limbing the branch with it, so I could make a pile of nicely chopped up bits for easy disposal. While I was at it, I decided to chop the very end off the branch to see how well the Junglas did.

It held up well. I could have made better time if I had batoned it, but I learned that chopping stuff this thick really isn't the Junglas' forte.

 

[CapitalizedLiving]

A brief digression from the picture tour, this morning I went to my mother-in-law's and cut out a thorny bush/tree thing she had in her front yard. She'd let it go for too long, and it was about 9 feet tall. She asked me to remove it, and since the Junglas review was underway I decided to see what it could do.

The trunk was about 3 feet in diameter maximum thickness. This was no problem, and the Junglas chewed through it in only a few chops per section. But the branches were very thin and springy. The Junglas simply did not like this at all and bounced off of them leaving only small dings.

I finished chopping the bush/tree out and dragged it off to the corner of her yard. I told her I'd come back next weekend, then came home and ordered a Lite Machete. I really think the combination between the thinner, longer blade and the convex edge will work through this with no problem.


Now, back to my tree. I finished limbing it, leaving anything thick enough to saw through and too wet to simply break off. You can see the pile of limbs was pretty deep by the time I finished (the Junglas is sitting on top for size reference).

After all of this, the Junglas was dirty and the coating was smoothed down only a little bit more than from previous uses. It had also incurred its first edge damage in the form of some minor dents and rolls near the tip. I am guessing this happened because I struck the ground a few times, and I'm also guessing this is very common in machetes.

After cleaning it up with a scotch brite pad and some Comet, I ran a ceramic stick over the edge and fixed the rolls. The dents are negligible and after a few fine cutting tests I decided they don't have any noticeable impact on performance.

 

[CapitalizedLiving]

So what did I learn?

1. Thick, heavy branches are best left to an axe and/or a saw. In a survival situation where the Junglas is your only tool, you can still do the task, but baton with it if possible to save energy.

2. Thin, springy branches are best left to a hedge-trimmer or a thinner, longer, and convexed machete.

3. Stiff branches, limbs, and trucks that are thin to mid-sized are right up the Junglas' alley. You can delimb a large piece of wood in very little time and leave the bigger pieces for either a different tool or a different technique. I'd go for the different tool if the option was present.

In short, I think I found that middle ground where a chopping knife is my preferred tool, and the extremes where I am much better off leaving the Junglas behind and grabbing something else instead.

 

[shotgunner11]

So what did I learn?

1. Thick, heavy branches are best left to an axe and/or a saw. In a survival situation where the Junglas is your only tool, you can still do the task, but baton with it if possible to save energy.

2. Thin, springy branches are best left to a hedge-trimmer or a thinner, longer, and convexed machete.

3. Stiff branches, limbs, and trucks that are thin to mid-sized are right up the Junglas' alley. You can delimb a large piece of wood in very little time and leave the bigger pieces for either a different tool or a different technique. I'd go for the different tool if the option was present.

In short, I think I found that middle ground where a chopping knife is my preferred tool, and the extremes where I am much better off leaving the Junglas behind and grabbing something else instead.

This is key my friend, very true.

Thus the term "survival knife". It can do it all, but not as effectively as other tools.

Good write-up, thanks!

 

[CapitalizedLiving]

This is key my friend, very true.

Thus the term "survival knife". It can do it all, but not as effectively as other tools.

Good write-up, thanks!

Thanks for the response! It's a bit like the Bark River Bravo-1 in that respect, and would probably pair nicely with it.

 

[357fan]

Thanks for the response! It's a bit like the Bark River Bravo-1 in that respect, and would probably pair nicely with it.

That just happens to be my preferred pair while out and about, the Bravo can do finer work and the Junglas handles the larger stuff. Either one can do it all, but things get a lot easier when you pair them together.

 

[Stormstaff]

Nice write up! Thanks!

 

[wolffbite]

Definitely sold me on a junglas dude. 100% my next ESEE purchase :thumbups:

Thanks for this!

 

[TheGame]

Great write up. Thanks for sharing this :thumbup:

 

[nevermind35]

Nice man thanks for the review. I'm currently in a quest to find the perfect chopper for my neck of the woods (The Pacific Northwest) and am still trying to figure out what tool would be best: Hatchet, chopper knife, Kukhri, thick machete... This helps with my decision.

 

[Nokoff]

nice account of the Junglas in action...getting harder to resist

 

[blacksaturn]

nice account of the Junglas in action...getting harder to resist

Agreed.
I didn't even consider getting one and shouldn't have read this thread...

 

[texastonydobbs]

Cool post....

 

[333rm]

Great post and pics!