Machete Questions

P

Pondoro2310

Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Messages
522
I've used axes and hatchets for many years. Bought a machete today for small brush.

Are there any unique safety rules that I need to know?

What sharpening angles do people like? Blade is 1075 carbon steel.
 
I keep my machetes sharpened thin. They wear faster but they cut so much faster that it's worth it. IMO a machete is primarily a brush clearing tool. In this role I think it's best to have a lanyard on it. Other's here will disagree with me on this. For bushcraft or other fine work you're better off without the lanyard. But that's not what a machete is best at. It's best at clearing brush and for that work a lanyard is a plus - a requirement if there are others working nearby.

A leather sheath is a real plus.

I like 'em long, at least 18" but 22" is better. Even up to 26" is nice for some work.
 
Growing up in the North (Alaska), I've used axes and hatchets for decades but I'm pretty new to machetes myself. Now I live in the hot South (Texas) and I've been using a machete almost daily for the last week clearing some thick brush from the back of my property. I've found that the technique with the machete is much different than with an ax. Whereas you'd let the weight of the ax drive the stroke into the wood, with the machete, it seems you're really slicing the material more than chopping it. I find that drawing the blade across the branches, vines (whatever the vegetation is) as you strike makes a much more effective stroke. With the ax, you really aim to make the beard contact the material with velocity and weight to give you a solid chop--almost aiming to just bring a single point on the ax bit onto the wood (concentrating the energy to one spot). The machete lacks the weight of the ax. What the machete blade lacks in weight, it makes up for in length. Basically, I find that by slicing (letting more of the length of the blade contact the material as I draw it across), I get much better results on grasses, brush, and light weight vegetation--than if I were to use the machete to "chop" the vegetation down. In spite of all the YouTube videos of clowns showing themselves chopping wood with a machete, it's better used much more like a sword than an ax. If space permits, I find long, sweeping, slicing strokes with power (I put my back and hips into it) make the machete SUPER efficient at clearing swaths through the brush. Using this technique, I've lopped off 4 or 5 1" thick azalea (a surprisingly dense wood for it's size) branches with a single stroke.

As far as safety rules, depending on what you're cutting I'd recommend wearing safety glasses. I've found that with thick, stiff brush sometimes the branches that you didn't remove will spring back and take their revenge on your face. Also, make sure that the handle grip fits your hand well enough to prevent the machete from twisting in your hand. If it twists, not only will your stroke be ineffective--or may be deflected entirely by the branches you hit--but you can also hurt your wrist.
 
Last edited:
A bit against my sensibilities, but for me I do well to use a machete I'm willing to sacrifice. I live on soil that is a backland clay type soil that has a good bit of rock in it. Most of the rocks are limestone and not really hard, but it doesn't do an edge any good. Cutting brush very close to the ground is easier since they can't bounce out of the way. A cheap machete sometimes is a good way to go. Another is to sacrifice one side of a double bit axe. Color code one side so you can be consistent. I know, this is not some original idea, but worth passing along.
 
Pondoro2310 said:
I've used axes and hatchets for many years. Bought a machete today for small brush.

Are there any unique safety rules that I need to know?

What sharpening angles do people like? Blade is 1075 carbon steel.
Click to expand...

I personally never keep both hands out front when using a machete. What I mean is that I never grab and hold vegetation with one hand and chop it with the machete with the other. I am certain there are folks out there who do this, but you couldn't pay me enough to operate like that. I've had too many branches or vines catch the machete and deflect it, which could make it end up taking off a finger or two. If you need grab and hold, use a helper stick with a backswept portion of a branch from the crook (sort of like a cane...there's a word for it but I can't seem to remember it).

Edit: I believe it's called a grabbate.

I also keep my machete thinned and sharp. For instance, on my Tramontinas that came pretty rough I think I end up with something close to 30-40 degrees total and I convex the edges to keep them stronger. They are fantastic cutters now. A file and stone will provide a razor edge and every machete I have is easy to resharpen both on the bench and in the field. Some people will purchase expensive boutique machetes (i.e. $150+) and will be upset when the edge gets dinged or rolled. However, the machete is by nature a rough-use tool...they're supposed to get banged up, hence why they aren't made from supersteels and are easy to resharpen. My personal favorites are my two Tramontinas and a no-name Made in Colombia machete. And man oh man do some of those condors look sweet...I have a hankering for a few of them and may end up with one or two at some point.

And I will definitely second the sheath of some sort...once they're sharp, that's a lot of blade to be bouncing around the car or shop.

As for using it, start with a 45 degree angle of attack and get the blade moving decently with a flicking action and it should cut plenty of brush without much effort.
 
Last edited:
Some good advice here to get you started. When swinging just make sure the leg on the side the stroke starts on is the one leading so if there's a glancing blow your leg isn't in the path of the blade. Keep it thin, keep it sharp. When making the stroke you're "casting" the mass of the tip at the target almost like casting a fishing rod--it's a rolling snap of the wrist with an extension of the arm.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
When swinging just make sure the leg on the side the stroke starts on is the one leading so if there's a glancing blow your leg isn't in the path of the blade.
Click to expand...

Yep...great point. A buddy of mine was stepping and swinging his 26-inch machete on the same side at the same time. The tip of it cut right through the shoe, sock, and foot very easily. Luckily for him it barely got his foot...another 1/16" and it would have been into the bone most likely.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top