Machette questions.

jasperjb said:
I kind of want the Junglas for a bit of eye candy, I don't know what I would use it for though. Ideas?
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If you buy it, just use it for what you'd use a machete for.
The dings and scratches add character.:thumbup:
A combination of Sharpmaker and sandpaper works just fine for sharpening it.
The only time I got a chip in the blade was when I was using it, as I usually do, as a "bashing my way through the woods because I hate thorns in my face" knife. One of the tree/bush/whatever things that was in my way had grown with a piece of barbed fence in it. I saw a spark, and thought, "Oh well, I'll have to sharpen that out."
So I did.:)

Condor is the way to go for full length machetes, but I love to beat the hell out of stuff with the Junglas.
 
Jasper, for use you need a machete cheap, i would advise not too expensive...how Collins or Tramontina...
 
woody d said:
oh gosh....my most sincere apology to Joezilla....he completely slipped my mind
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He and I have slightly different preferences when it comes to a machete (most likely due to regional environment and specific uses) but the man easily knows more about machetes than I do. :):thumbup:
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
He and I have slightly different preferences when it comes to a machete (most likely due to regional environment and specific uses) but the man easily knows more about machetes than I do. :):thumbup:
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i seem to get near instant replies from you and youve never steered me wrong, so youve been my go-to guy. LOL

also, im looking to buy a smaller machete now( id like something of the 14" variety if possible)...what would you recommend? id like to stay with the condor brand.
im very happy with the few products of theirs that ive bought in the past so why change? lol
 
Well what do you plan on doing with it? :)

There are a number of models from Imacasa and Condor around that size that are quite nice. Some are more "choppy" and others more "slashy" depending on how your tasks are weighted. :D
 
i want a shorter machete thats easier to pack than my El Salvador, but darn near capable of performing the same type work...basically clearing out a spot for a campsite (brush clearing, taking down smaller diameter trees, and even a bit of light batonning furewood).... am i shoot outta luck on that one? LOL
 
What about KA-BAR? A friend gave me this Cutlass Machete a while back and I use it for camping and yard work, it's quite nice for a $45 knife.

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I like Ontario machetes... have tried most of the rest of them, including Goloks (very good as well). For me the Ontarios blades are more sturdy. This helps the the blade to take a bite, rather than glance off the target, a sturdy blade also will absorb the shock and vibration and not send it back to your hand. For me this is key, because many Machetes will cut and chop but they transfer back lots of annoying shock.
I have the 18 and the 12 inch both D handles. The 18 will take down 2 and 3 inch saplings without much effort. The 12 inch will do the same but requires more effort.
 
Nothing fancy is really needed IMO.

That and a pair a loppers will take care of most anything short of needing a saw.

And Machetes don't have to be screaming sharp either to work well.
 
woody d said:
how would you rate the other maker's versions vs the 14" condor? it was the one i was leaning towards, but i didnt know much about the competitors...im a machete newb LOL
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It's fantastic. Amongst my favorites, in fact, for the classical Latin/bush pattern. It's based off of old Collins examples but with numerous advantages regarding the grip, which--as you already know--is an ergonomic wonder. The fact that it comes with a nice sheath is quite handy as well.

endurawave said:
I like Ontario machetes... have tried most of the rest of them, including Goloks (very good as well). For me the Ontarios blades are more sturdy. This helps the the blade to take a bite, rather than glance off the target
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I think you'll find that approaching the cut at a shallower angle than that of the edge bevel is what causes glancing blows. If I try to make a cut at 15 degrees when my edge is 20 per side the shoulder of the edge is going to hit instead of the edge itself and the blade will glance off.

Ankerson said:
And Machetes don't have to be screaming sharp either to work well.
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But it sure helps! Especially on light targets, and even more so when tackling light targets with a short machete.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
It's fantastic. Amongst my favorites, in fact, for the classical Latin/bush pattern. It's based off of old Collins examples but with numerous advantages regarding the grip, which--as you already know--is an ergonomic wonder. The fact that it comes with a nice sheath is quite handy as well.



I think you'll find that approaching the cut at a shallower angle than that of the edge bevel is what causes glancing blows. If I try to make a cut at 15 degrees when my edge is 20 per side the shoulder of the edge is going to hit instead of the edge itself and the blade will glance off.



But it sure helps! Especially on light targets, and even more so when tackling light targets with a short machete.
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Yes, there are times when sharpen is better, but for the most part they don't need to be really sharp, depends on use though as you pointed out. :)

Clearing around rocks and stuff they can get pretty banged up. :D
 
I'm always just careful. :p It's actually VERY rare that I end up hitting something I shouldn't. Look twice, swing once. :D
 
I'll second the 14" Tramontina and a mill file... $30 or so for both. There are other good options already mentioned in that price range, too. Everyone with a yard should own one. I didn't even bother making a sheath for mine, it hangs on a nail inside the garden shed :o
 
In Australia, perhaps a very good choice would be a Martindale (Crocodile brand). When I lived and worked in Western Samoa (a Commowealth country), the Martindale is all I ever saw. Those bush knives were used for everything and every job. Faiaoga
:cool:
 
Indeed--Martindale is the most likely to be found locally, and is a fine machete.
 
18" Tramontina and file and sandpaper is all you need, imo Tram has a better HT than the ColdSteel
 
jasperjb said:
I'm going to really be beating this knife. I think I'll get the Junglas. I've never free-hand sharpened before. Do you think a 10 inch blade is too big for the sharpmaker?
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No sir. Don't do that please. You say "I'm going to really be beating this knife". Well your arm is going to give out way before the edge on that Junglas gives out. The Junglas is a really fantastic knife...make no mistake about that. It's beautiful. It's brawny. It's well made. It's sharp. It's an answer to a question that nobody needing to do the work you've described has asked I'm afraid.

For serious work...real work of the kind you describe...you need a real machete. Spend about 20% of a Junglas' price and get a nice Imacasa from FortyTwoBlades (Baryonyx). Those real machetes are designed to do the maximum amount of work with the minimum of effort and are easily maintained with a file. Nothing beats a real machete for machete work. Same too for an axe. Don't try to make a machete do axe work. etc
 
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