Best bamboo chopper?

scotchleaf

scotchleaf

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Oct 23, 2006
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What would be my best bet for a bamboo chopper? The best thing I've found is a condor golok machete, but I've got quite a bit of bamboo.
 
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any good machete will clear bamboo. It's a lot of work, but not difficult.

I wouldn't use the golok because it's far too thick and heavy for clearing something as light as bamboo.

I'd get either a good ontario machete, or my personal favorite the Tops .230

but really, any good machete from a local hardware store will be better than the golok, and your arm will thank you
 
Hello,

The ESEE Lite Machete is awesome at chopping things under 4 inches across. For $60 its a great tool that should do what you want very well.

Have a good one,

Chris
 
I cut a lot of bamboo and have found knives like the your typical parang and golok with a very low or "no" point and a fairly straigh edge to be the best. I personally use a competition chopper made by a maker called Farid as my bamboo knife and couldn't be happier with it. I deal with quite large bamboo being generally a few inches, perhaps 4 or even 5 at most. If you are dealing with the thin whippy stuff those sorts of blades still work well but one must adjust their technique some what.

If the knife is a work knife going to be seeing use for hours at a time through the day the most important thing is that it should be comfortable to hold and light enough that you can work with it for a long time. Every man is different so the knife I use my not suite you well at all. IMO that is a bigger consideration that the actual type of knife at the end of the day. :):thumbup:
 
You'd be hard pushed to find something more suitable (or cheaper) than a Tramontina machete. You may have to do a little bit of rubbing with sand paper to make the handle comfy though.
 
Ontario, Tops .230 or a Condor machete will do just fine. They are all great products with great heat treats. Not sure that i would want to swing a 1/4" thick one all day though.
 
+1 for Corn knife or Tapanga.

I've also used a 4 bladed steel blade on a 2 stroke weed wacker. However, the only real way to remove Bamboo is with a bulldozer.
I spent a summer removing it from my Grandmother's place.
It was back the following summer as if I never did anything.
 
Its all dependant on the thickness of the bamboo. The larger bamboo have the tendency to bounce thinner machetes off. Golok and parangs do alot better regardless of the size of the bamboo.
 
If looking for a shorter chopper a Hansa "arrocero" model is a nice handy "mini-tapanga." :)
 
bamboo is pretty tough so you might ought to be ready to field sharpen it as you go.

also, like the previous person posted, it will be back if you dont either dig it out or use herbicide. either way, be prepared to keep on it for a few years.
 
BePrepared said:
any good machete will clear bamboo. It's a lot of work, but not difficult.

I wouldn't use the golok because it's far too thick and heavy for clearing something as light as bamboo.

I'd get either a good ontario machete, or my personal favorite the Tops .230

but really, any good machete from a local hardware store will be better than the golok, and your arm will thank you
Click to expand...

One of the primary uses for the golok is to process bamboo and cane...

Who knows how many millions of them have been used over the centuries to clear fields and groves full of fast-growing bamboo?
 
For small patches and cutting some for ornamental use I use a an Ontario 18" machete. For clearing large patches, a chain saw. Much easier on the arm.
 
scotchleaf said:
Would you say a 1mm or 1.5 mm machete would be better? Do you combine shipping? Also, Thanks for sending that great Mora and sheath recently!
Click to expand...

Probably a 1.5mm for rigidity and mass on the heavier/thicker stuff. Still nice and thin, though! Glade your toys landed safe and sound. ;):thumbup:
 
CWL said:
One of the primary uses for the golok is to process bamboo and cane...

Who knows how many millions of them have been used over the centuries to clear fields and groves full of fast-growing bamboo?
Click to expand...

I didn't say it wasn't capable. It's just so bloody HEAVY... compared to a good machete, it's about double the weight. I have a parang, and while it's just about the most impressive chopper i've got, it is too heavy for a full day of chopping
 
Although i recommended a machete, i would rather prefer the use of a chainsaw. You need to cut at a steep angle to cut bamboo, what's left behind is a minefield of punji stakes waiting to impale a foot or worse.
 
Or you can use a handsaw which is much more portable, just use one with aggressive teeth
 
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