Talk to me about Machetes

[Ton ton]

I ended up ordering the Woodsman Pal late last night after a whisky or two as was tough to press the "confirm purchase" button due to the price. Alcohol made it easier ha.

I researched it more and it is universally praised, and I also saw a few forum and reddit posts where people said they used this for blackberry bushes. Also, I needed something that could take on even tougher jobs as my yard has a number of bushes and trees and this will prove useful in trimming.

I have these plants/vines on a trullice near my front door and they are crazy aggressive and strong.

Can't recall the name of the plant (when it blooms beautiful with these hanging pinkish flowers) butr most people who know plants comment on it because they are great looking and supposedly expensive (were here when I bought the house). They've attached to my roof gutter and literally pulled them off the roof so I have to fight them back. The Woodsman Pal will be good for the job.

I know there are more efficient ways to get the blackberry bushes under control, and perhaps I'll engage in more aggressive tactics down the road. The Woodsman Pal is more for "fun" brush clearing. Hopefully I don't scare my neighbors when I walk out of my house with a big **** hooked machete ha ha.

May need to get a hockey mask to wear when I'm clearing bush just to have some fun.

Again, thanks all.

My mom planted that bush by the house, worse idea ever.

 

[RTM]

My mom planted that bush by the house, worse idea ever.

When I was a kid, my dad had one near the patio. He tired of it, and dug it out. Grew back a year later, so he dug deeper. The next year he dug down three feet, and poured gasoline in the hole. Few years later it was back. I think it was still a fight in my late 20s when he sold the house.

 

[wolverinehusky]

Ok, an odd day filled with elation and pain.

So received my Woodsman Pal today. Very quick shipping, and wow, just gorgeous and sharp. Also got a nice sharpening stone and belt holster for it. Very happy.

So I test it out the Wisteria while my extremely skeptical girlfriend looks on. Works like a charm and the Wisteria didn't have a chance. A hot day in Seattle but I decide to decapitate some blackberries with it. Had a good time, but I quickly realize that I'll be out there for 10 hours when I can use the Poulan gas powered in two (as I noted in OP I know it isn't the efficient way to clear blackberries, just wanted to mix it up for some fun). Using both the Poulan and the Woodsman Pal for mini trees (cut with ease one-handed), I basked in my success making progress.

Before (few days ago):

After (today)

Just about an hour of work and I was sweating and tired lol (getting old *****). Can probably clear it with a half day of work.

Then DISASTER struck!!!!!

Apparently I need to button up the holster for it that I had on my belt, so while weed clearing with gas it @#$@#$@ fell out of the holster and I didn't notice! I spent a good 30 minutes searching for it in the brush, but no dice, could not @#$@#$@ find it.

So tomorrow I have to head to a buddy's place in Puyallup WA to get a metal detector and magnetic fishing set to locate it. I no doubt will find it, but basically three hours of my day tomorrow will be driving to get the tools I need to locate and finding it. Super pi$$ed off but $hit happens lol. Thankfully it isn't raining.

All in all, very happy with it and will get some good use. But can't believe I lost it the first day I had it. Wow.

 

[Tallpilot]

Wow, that is some bad luck. I hope you find it with the metal detector. I'm glad you enjoyed it for a few swings though. Did it hold its edge?

 

[Ton ton]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. Hopefully you will find it quickly.

 

[RTM]

Oh man. I lost a cheap mattock and feel bad about that. That must have been a gut punch. Good luck.

 

[Outlander]

Sorry couldn't help it. My only machete comes from the surplus store and I keep it in my ATV.

Sorry to hear you dropped yours!!

 

[bassbone52]

Bush axe.

^^^ This all day. Was a surveyor. This is the tool you need when you wade into some rough stuff.

 

[jg4660]

I just bought an 18'' Tramontina from Lowes for $20 with a sheath. A great value. Check out the Youtube reviews, they have quite a following.

Thanks
JG

 

[MSG Jeff]

I have the 18" Ontario military machete that keep in my truck. It stays very sharp because very time you pull it out of the sheath it gets sharpened because of the sharpener in the sheath. It is very sturdy.

 

[Daviid]

You could try a kukri machete…
https://wildproofgear.com/best-kukri/
My bro in law used of these for the same operation at his backyard. I could choose something longer and bulkier as much as possible to chop the bushes rather than slicing em.
I would also search for MOVA-58 steel kukri if it’s in your budget.

 

[seber]

Did you ever get through that lot? Thinking back on it, if it were me, I'd rent a sickle mower and be done with it.

 

[FMB4]

Those looking into machetes might also consider a sugar cane knife and sugar cane machetes (both types almost always have hook). Cane knives are ~13-14" while the machetes are understandably a bit longer. I picked up a couple of Seymour S400 cane knives for under $20 ea. that have worked out well for me (I removed the hook on 1 of them). These, of course, do not come with sheath at the above price. However, Cold Steel's large machete sheath (~$10) fits them.

 

[Jland]

soooo....what are you going to do with that mess as you chop your way thru and afterwards???

 

[67King]

I have a Condor El Salvador 18" one. I was a bit disappointed. Had hoped it would hold an edge a bit better than it does. It is better than the Home Depot $20 specials, but I'm almost inclined to think I'd just buy 4 of them and have them sharpened, instead, and rotate through them.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Slingblade is your friend