machete or khukri - working tool

[EdS]

OK folks I'm after some advise about a tool for clearing the shrub and undergrowth around the garden and field.

Scythe does the grass OK, but the ferns, nettles brambles are a bit much for it. So which tool would be most suited. Around the fruit tree by the wall is bit of a confined space so that might alter things.

 

[giancarlo]

A Billhook would be good to use around there mate.

Just got mine out last night to sort out a few wild bits around the end of the garden.
It made short work of it all.. i got a bit carried away

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billhook

Cheers
Carlo

 

[British Red]

I don't like machetes personally. A good golok (from Valiant) or a bill hook would be my choice since I'm not skilled with a khukri

Red

 

[SOAR]

A good bill hook is what your after Stihl do good bill hooks they are not that that expensive either.

Simon

 

[laurens ch]

I think a long light machete would be the best option for clearing brambles and nettles. Billhooks and kukris are better suited to wood chopping imho they also lack the reach of a long machete so you may find yourself stopping over a fair bit which will prove uncomfortable after a while. For working around the wall a more precise tool like a pair of shears may be a better choice. Alternately perhaps a slasher would be a better option I’ve used them fairly extensively with btcv and they work pretty well

http://www.gardentoolsforallseasons.com/garden tools/slasher.php

An example of a slasher

 

[SOAR]

Slashing hooks are good too you can grt them from Axeminister

 

[EdS]

already got a billhook and an Irish hedge slasher.

Hedge slash not really the right to and the hook on the billhook hinders the job. Use Morris Newton for most other jobs though.

Golok might be a option.

 

[Matt Weir]

I'm with 'laurens ch' on the long machete route. I've had to clear a couple of good sized allotments that were overgrown with nettles, brambles, monster docks etc and I find the longer the better having used a couple of different ones.

Mind you the petrol strimmer tops the lot save for the thicker stuff.

 

[SOAR]

failing all else, strimmer with a metal cutting disc. just watch out for walls, sparks gallore

 

[EdS]

the bee hate strimmers. Plus it'll not get in as part of the stuff is between a wire fence and a stonewall - about 1 metre wide.

 

[SOAR]

strimmer no good then. fork it over its hard graft.

 

[gunnix]

I use a martindale golok for this kind of job (and many other jobs), and I always enjoy working wih it. I never really tried any other big knives though (except if you count the nr 12 opinel, my kitchen knife ).

 

[Matt Weir]

the bee hate strimmers. Plus it'll not get in as part of the stuff is between a wire fence and a stonewall - about 1 metre wide.

Then good length machete it is then