trail clearing tool suggestions ?

dhuff

dhuff

Joined
Feb 19, 2002
Messages
129
Got a friend who has about 150 acres up in south-central Oklahoma. Pretty heavily wooded, lots of oak and such.

He's been using a cheap Tramontina machete as a trail clearing tool and it's not holding up well (dull, lots of dings in the edge, etc...no surprises there). Mostly, the machete is used to cut these thin, flexible, thorn-covered green vines we call "Cat Claw" but it's also used on tree limbs and these rather thick, woody vines that grow around the trees and strangle them. The machete also "bites the dirt" a lot when being used, due to the nature of the job.

Any ideas for a good khukri design that might be a better solution ? I was thinking of a villager Ang Khola style...
 
The khukuri is going to weigh alot more than that machete. Makes a person tire quicker. The khuk will have a harder edge but will not resharpen as easy as the machete. A small file will do the job with the machete. That said, if you need to clear alot of stringy stuff like vines and some trees you might want to think about one of the lighter khuks like a Sirupati or a Gelbu Special. Won't get tired as quick and they will chop pretty well too. Could always use both and use the khuk for the heavy chopping and the machete for the light stuff. Then what do I know?
 
I'm thinking that, because of the 'bites the dirt a lot' factor, he ought to just stick with the machete, and carry a good file. Any khuk blade is going to get dinged from hitting rocks, too.

If you're really set on a khuk (which is VERY understandable), you might want to consider a kobra, since it's probably going to be closest to the weight of a machete (just a guess, there), or a sirupati. I suggest the kobra because none of the chopping you mentioned sounds really heavy.
 
Get a 20" Sirupati or a Gelbu Special, . An Ang Khola is too heavy for that kind of work. I've used mine for the exact type of work you describe and found it wore me out very quickly. The problem is that the little vines offer no resistance. You have to expend effort starting the swing and then again to stop the swing from spinning you in a circle. The GS and Sirupati are much lighter, yet still very strong. A Kobra would also be a good choice, but it's slightly less indestructable than a Sirupati. All are far, far more durable than a Tramontina. Another thing is that when clearing the type of vegetation you describe, it's very important that the blade be as sharp as possible. Check out some of Pendentive's and Yvsa's posts on sharpening for good tips.
 
Great minds think alike apparently (Eric and Aardvark, not me). :D

Also, Eric has an excellent suggestion to use the machete for the light work and the khuk for the tougher stuff. I've done that myself; again the important part when cutting those little vines is that the blade be VERY sharp. Those little bushes don't dull the blade much, so if it's used primarily for that application the dings shouldn't be a big issue.
 
Dang! The server ate my post, well, here goes again:

I would use a khukuri. I would not use a Kobra. As for arm tiring, yeah, I cut wood, and my arm gets tired sometimes. But birds still fly overhead and the Sun feels warm against my shirt. I have no doubt everyone is this thread is stronger than I am. So, use a khuk.

I would think one between 24oz and 28 about right. I would not use a martial weighted khuk. A hanshee would be perfect for the vines but you can't have mine. A heavier sirupati would be ideal.



If the dings on the end of the blade bother you, use a working khuk. If you don't have one or several by now, this trail clearing is the ideal time to find one. Khuks have soft ends for just this reason; you can use them!!



munk
 
Yeah, that may be the answer. A reasonably heavy "chopper" khuk for the tree branches and those tough, woody strangler vines + the machete for the light stuff. Wouldn't be a problem to just carry the khuk on your belt for when you needed it. Also, that way the machete would be the one biting dirt & rocks.

It was just getting frustrating doing the heavier chopping with the dinged-up Tramontina ;)
 
Well, since I spend many of my day's cutting similar vegetation, I'll chime in. I'd tried a number of knives for this purpose, including 20" siru, 20" Kobra, and 18" cheetlangi.

I would not use a khuk for this work. I use a tramontina machete and just deal with the sharpening, it's really not that much work once the edge get's set up. The martindales are also good, as are the US issue blades if you will be cutting alot of branches. The idea of combining a chopping khuk with a light machete is excellent. A golok (preferably the longer variety) is a good compromise between weight and cutting power.

If you have to use a khukuri, the kobra is the one you want - it's generally lighter than the equivalent siru. That's assumuiing you are not cutting very thick branches (I'd give the siru the edsge there). If your friend decides to use a khuk for clearing thorny vines, consider a pair of chainsaw chaps or equivalent protection. That forward curve can get the blade way ahead of where you want it to be on a missed stroke. That could be disasterous. Check out the safety thread at the top of the forum.

Pat
 
I'm glad you chimed in, Outdoors. I cut chokecherry and other thick bramble type vegitation, but most of my cutting is Pine or Aspen. So, I'm cutting stuff, some limber and green,some dry and sappy, from about a finger width to a small tree.

I see your address is Seattle. That is a different kind of thicket than the bush in Montana.



munk
 
and eye protection!!! Whipping thorn-laden vines have tried to blind me many times.
 
I can picture mobs of angry, torch bearing, villagers beating down my door over this, but here goes anyhow. Might suggest your friend try one of the el cheapo khuks sold by that outfit in Atlanta. If he finds it suits his style he can always upgrade to the real deal. If not, at least he's got something to dig a cathole with if he gets caught short out there clearing brush.

Sarge
 
Sarge, you can get a real nice Marindale machete for the price of an el cheapo khuk. Could do that and get a nice HI for the heavier stuff and just keep it out of the dirt and rocks. The Tramontina is ok too. The Martindale Jungle Knife will drop a tree if you need to. The khuk would do better and will cut the thorny stuff.
Time to go see the Doctor.:confused: :eek: :barf:
 
I suggest some two ounce charges of c-4 for anything more than an inch thick.
Set em off by remote while you eat an egg salad sandwich.

Then, if there's anything left, chop it up with swing blade. Some folks call it a kaiser blade.

Buy a nice khukuri and wear it on your belt, but never actually use it, that would get the blade dirty, and they are way too nice for that kind of abuse.

I had a tramontina machete that lasted me for years, I used it to take apart trash furniture for my parents. I even hacked a piano to pieces with it.

As far as I know, there are no cutting tools designed to be stuck into the ground when not in use. At the risk of seeming impertinent, let me recommend that you end the dirt sheath practice.
 
I've been cutting a new trail and clearing part of an exsisting trail on my place. I'm mainly cutting pines downed by the snowstorm and small trees. I've been using my Bura GRS 17". It's got that thin edge so it can cut the thin branches that an Ang Khola would bounce off of and it weighs a pound and a half so you can swing it more like a machete, but it can cut stuff up to about 6" fairly easy although I have to watch for rolling on dried stuff.
 
Originally posted by munk
I'm glad you chimed in, Outdoors. I cut chokecherry and other thick bramble type vegitation, but most of my cutting is Pine or Aspen. So, I'm cutting stuff, some limber and green,some dry and sappy, from about a finger width to a small tree.

I see your address is Seattle. That is a different kind of thicket than the bush in Montana.

munk
Click to expand...

Munk,
when I lived in Chicago, I couldn't fathom why someone would have a machete. After all, axes are what you use for clearing, right :) 8 years in the NW has taught me different, though. For light whippy vegetation, a light whippy machete is a powerful thing. Now up in Montana, I have no ideal what would be best :)

Kismet:

and eye protection!!! Whipping thorn-laden vines have tried to blind me many times.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more. I know of more than one Ecologist here who has had eye surgery from blackberry thorns.

Pat
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top