Need a new machete

[spandit]

My Silverline machete, although good value, doesn't hold an edge for very long and the handle is coming loose. It's nice and light which helps with the workload.

Don't want to spend a fortune as it's going to get used & abused but would like something that doesn't blunt after half an hour of slashing docks

 

[ozzy1977]

Buy a martindale one, not too dear and is a propper machete not some cheap bit of carp, buy cheap buy twice.

 

[FGYT]

clearing docks and brambles the right tool is a long handled Slasher

http://woodsmithexperience.co.uk/shop/product/morris-slasher-general-pattern-35-handle

should find an old one (may need a new handle ) at a car boot sale for a few ££

 

[spandit]

I've got the Stihl bush hook but it's heavy to swing. I like using a light machete because once I've felled the dock I can cut the leaves up so they mulch down better. I've read that due to the long tap root, the dock brings up minerals from far deeper than some other plants and I'm hoping that by cutting the leaves and letting them rot, I'm increasing the fertility of the soil

 

[Samon]

Get yourself a tramontina machete, if you are set on a machete. Martindale goloks are total crap, seriously bad tools that are out performed by every other machete in have owned and used.

Tramontina machetes are the Mora's of the machete world. Cheap, brilliant and great value.

But even tramontinas get the rickity handle, in fact all similar styled machete I've had developed this with hard prolonged use. I found drilling out the aluminium rivets and replacing them with glue and bolts is a cheap and practical fix.

 

[spandit]

That sounds like the kind of thing. The Silverline is very thin and I don't think the steel is very high quality - doesn't seem easy to sharpen either, although that may well be my technique

 

[ged]

Get yourself a tramontina machete ...
Tramontina machetes are the Mora's of the machete world. Cheap, brilliant and great value.

Amen to that.

But even tramontinas get the rickity handle, in fact all similar styled machete I've had developed this with hard prolonged use.

'Sfunny, my 14" Tramontina never got a rickety handle even when my favourite dog almost completely chewed it off. The dog's long gone but I'll never part with that machete.

They're easy to sharpen with any reasonably sized carborundum stick. You shouldn't need to pay more than a couple of quid for one, I've picked them up in flea markets for pennies.

 

[HillBill]

18" Tramontina all the way. As said, great tools, great price. I had to round the corners of the handles off properly on mine, but that only took a few minutes. It out cuts any axe on springy stuff like brambles, saplings etc. I've gone through a 2" thick sapling in one swing many a time.

The tips on the tramontinas are not ground sharp, which is sensible on a rough use tool thats not intended for tip work. Doesn't get damaged then

 

[presterjohn]

The Cold Steel machetes are well thought of at the budget end of the market.

http://www.heinnie.com/cold-steel-knives-latin-machete

 

[Big Stu 12]

I would say have a look at these i have one, and love it, never had any problems, used/sharpened well/correctly its a great tool

http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/tramontina-bolo-machete-81-p.asp

 

[Quixoticgeek]

… once I've felled the dock I can cut the leaves up so they mulch down better. I've read that due to the long tap root, the dock brings up minerals from far deeper than some other plants and I'm hoping that by cutting the leaves and letting them rot, I'm increasing the fertility of the soil

This is very much the case, this is also true of hops and Comfrey. If you want, you can put the leaves in a bucket of water for a couple of weeks until the bucket stinks, and use it diluted at a rate of about a cup per watering can, as a plant food. This also works for nettles.

Sorry to digress.

J

 

[slowworm]

Funnily enough I've just spent the morning down the woodland cutting back docks, thistles, nettles etc with my Tramontina 14" machete.

 

[John Fenna]

I find my British machete - also known as a Billhook - ideal for everything from nettles and docks, through ancient and bulletproof brambles to saplings and it also works well for firewood prep

 

[spandit]

My billhook is only 10" so doesn't have the velocity for a decent cut, although it does stay sharp longer.

Will invest in a new machete & see what happens to the docks. The bracken is so widespread that it's taking a lot of effort to control the area. The brambles are worse - more difficult to cut & the cut bits don't rot down that quickly.

 

[spandit]

Couldn't resist buying a cheap machete in Mauritius - turns out to be a Martindale (has the sticker anyway although no stamping on the blade). It's the 18" billhook machete - has a 90º bend in the cutting edge (rather than a smooth turn of a traditional billhook) so should be easier to sharpen and cut things on the pull stroke. I'll look out for a conventional one tomorrow but can't buy too many as they're quite heavy!


Same as this one:

http://www.machetespecialists.com/ma18inbimano.html

 

[spandit]

Bought a Lasher 302 machete - think they make the Cold Steel ones so it should be OK. For under £5 I think it's a bargain although I'd imagine it will need a thorough sharpening