Need a bit of assistance on choosing proper Machete.

S

SilvanNosty

Joined
Jan 12, 2012
Messages
9
Hi. Sorry if this is in the wrong place, lot's of sub-forums on here.

So, I went out and took some pictures of what I need to cut back. But I have no idea what would work best or least stressful on the shoulder and back, lol. Anything in about the $40 price range would be ideal, please.

I don't know what these are, or what you would call them. But they need to be cut back. :)
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This is some shrubbery (I guess?) on the other side of the lawn. Could be taken care of, but not a big worry.
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Thanks.
 
Trust me I have used a lot of machetes for a lot off brush clearing (mostly blackberry bushes) and for a woody-er plant I would go for an ontario mil-spec machete, it take a little of customization; handle is super boxy but can be fixed with a bit rasp work (to desired shape) its an excellent handle. Also the blade was dull as soap and with any sharpening skills you can get it shaving sharp. I hope the bushes get what they deserve!
 
I have an 18" & a 12" Ontario. GREAT machetes. Great heat treat. Made in America. Cheap enough to mod for even the beginner.
 
Bit hard to say mate . So much depends on variables .. your physical self , arm length , size etc .. my 6'5 with long arms .. Id be grabbing a 20 - 24 inch machete so I can get close to the ground without bending too much , just works good for me with springy sticky stuff .

Im speaking from perspective of a big but lazy guy with a bad back .. I let the tools do the work where I can .

for my wife who is a little over 5' .. Id give her a much shorter blade to do the same job , my longer blades are just unmanageable for her

Maybe its going to be a case of grab one , go have a bash , see if youd choose bigger or smaller to suit ? machetes are usually pretty cheap , and having more than one , plus the experience of working out what works best for what jobs for *you* is dam good to have

just my $.02AU :)
 
Yeah I'd go with a 20"+ blade. Myal is on the right track--work smarter, not harder. :)
 
You can't go wrong with Ontario Machetes. Old, tough, and reliable. You could, if you bump up your budget a lil' bit, go for the Ontario Kukri. I think I saw wild grape in your pictures. Ontario machetes work great with soft woods, especially redbuds.. We use them in our work often enough clearing brush, either that or Coldsteel....but the handles on the Ontario are much more user friendly!
 
Ah ha, replies! I just got back home.

So I went ahead and ordered a Condor Golok (always wanted one) and am looking for an 18" or so one. Looking at the Eco-Survivor/El Salvador (Condor), Tramontina 18", or the Ontario 18" Cutlass. I don't want to go too long out of the gate, I'm on the short side of average height at 5'8" or 5'9" depending on the day. lol
 
18" Machete's are probably a good way to go. I have a bunch of 18 inchers and the Ontario USMC is my current Go-To blade for big chores.

Allowing the machete to do the work, is always a good thing!
 
I went the gerber gator route...not fantastic :( spring steel is tough, but haven't been able to put the edge on it that I'd like. With a 18"or so blade for this sorta work I'm not gonna spend too much time either. The saw...not useless or great either. Sure it works, and glad to have it in a pinch, but I recommend trying something else
 
Really, I've handled a few Gerber machetes, they've all taken good edges.

I'm not a machete nut, but it handled cutting down trees, not saplings, trees, not the right tool for the job, but a few beers and a chopping contest.

Coleman machetes are the ones to avoid, more like machete shaped object, you can literally turn the blade into a knot, a kid can bend one in half.
 
Pretty much you need to buy the types of machetes that get put to work in places where if you don't work you don't eat. In North and South America you will find serious brush choppers rely on Ontario, Imacasa, Collins, Tramontina and a few other very similar models. Condor is also real nice to have and use. Stay away from celebrity endorsed survival gizmos and go with campesino endorsed instead......comprende?
 
willseeyalater said:
Pretty much you need to buy the types of machetes that get put to work in places where if you don't work you don't eat. In North and South America you will find serious brush choppers rely on Ontario, Imacasa, Collins, Tramontina and a few other very similar models. Condor is also real nice to have and use. Stay away from celebrity endorsed survival gizmos and go with campesino endorsed instead......comprende?
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Mmmmmmmm...Imacasa/Condor. In fact, I personally lean towards the Imacasa side these days since the Condor line (or, rather, their market) has had a thick fetish lately. Gimme the pure-bred machetes! Thin with distal taper, all the way! :)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Mmmmmmmm...Imacasa/Condor. In fact, I personally lean towards the Imacasa side these days since the Condor line (or, rather, their market) has had a thick fetish lately. Gimme the pure-bred machetes! Thin with distal taper, all the way! :)
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When you say thin, can you quantify it for me? Why do you prefer thin over a thicker blade?
 
I'd be very surprised if his answer didn't include conservation of mass. Not to answer for him, just not seen him post here for a while.


Look at that thing in his sig he designed. For the same mass it could be half as high but twice as wide,or a third as high and three times as wide....you get the pattern. There's going to be a sweet spot for optimal penetration for a given mass. In extremis a guillotine like blade VS a club.
 
Guess it depends on if you're cutting grasses and brush and having to hack and slash all day, or using it in lieu of a hatchet on actual hard and soft woods. Both have their places
 
willseeyalater said:
Pretty much you need to buy the types of machetes that get put to work in places where if you don't work you don't eat. In North and South America you will find serious brush choppers rely on Ontario, Imacasa, Collins, Tramontina and a few other very similar models. Condor is also real nice to have and use. Stay away from celebrity endorsed survival gizmos and go with campesino endorsed instead......comprende?
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Excellent advice......Right On. The campesinos, land surveyors, Amazon tribesmen, Pacific Islanders and others who use machetes as everyday tools know what works because they use machetes all day long to make their living. To them, celebrity endorsement means nothing. They know what works and what does not. They also know that more expensive does not mean better. Follow their lead.:D:cool:
 
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addiaaj said:
When you say thin, can you quantify it for me? Why do you prefer thin over a thicker blade?
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Machete (From Wikipedia) is a large cleaver-like knife, similar to a kukri. The blade is typically 32.5 to 45 centimetres (12.8 to 17.7 in) long and usually under 3 millimeters (0.12 in) thick.

A machete by design is thin. Anything sold over 1/8th in thick may be called a machete but is not true to most original machetes. Machetes are to design to cut grass, brush brambles etc. and light chopping not to cut down oak trees A 1/4 thick bladed knife shaped like a machete is no more a machete than a cold steel smatchet machete is a true smatchet .
By the way I like the smatchet machete:D
Roy
 
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