Machete vs. Tree

[BitingSarcasm]

We had some pretty good winds last night in the So Cal Inland Empire, and I saw a pathetic sight on a run to my local Target this morning. A tree, which looked to be some species of Oak, had split off a good chunk and some poor landscaping guy was taking it down with a machete.

He was halfway through a 7-ish" trunk, and that machete was ringing like a bell with each strike, not removing any more wood at all. Even worse, he had to take the trunk so low that he was sitting while swinging. I told him I wished that I had an axe in my car I could loan him, and he just nodded.

I was having a bad morning, (ironically) making arrangements to take my neighbor to civil court for trimming and killing one of my trees. But no matter how bad my day was--or gets--nobody has made me chop down a tree with a machete. Give me an axe and a stone and point me at any tree, but that looked like absolute misery.

 

[Beastchopper]

Sucks you sued your neighbor. Way to be that guy. I love chopping wood with "machetes." I use thick high carbon steel blades and put a good convex chopping edge on them. I'll chop through a 7" oak branch in just a couple minutes, and it's more fun than using an axe. More fun than litigating the neighborhood too!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

7" is a bit large for a machete, but with the right machete and a properly sharp edge it's far from impossible, just much slower than an axe would be for the given size. Machetes usually do best on 5" or less diameter.

 

[luethge]

Half machete , half axe.

Not the best tool for taking down full trees . It is the most fun though.

 

[Beastchopper]

7" is a bit large for a machete, but with the right machete and a properly sharp edge it's far from impossible, just much slower than an axe would be for the given size. Machetes usually do best on 5" or less diameter.

Sure, an axe is the right and most efficient tool for the job, but like you said, the right kind of chopper machete gets it done.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

View attachment 1059190

Half machete , half axe.

Not the best tool for taking down full trees . It is the most fun though.

I'd estimate that an 18" Tramontina, properly sharpened, would likely outpace that on full trees. At about 16" blade length and above is where you can really start getting a good wrist snap to "throw" the mass of the blade into the work. Minimizes labor that way.

 

[Beastchopper]

View attachment 1059190

Half machete , half axe.

Not the best tool for taking down full trees . It is the most fun though.

Is that a D2 moorhaus machete? How does that hold up under abuse. I couldn't find many reviews for that.

 

[luethge]

Is that a D2 moorhaus machete? How does that hold up under abuse. I couldn't find many reviews for that.

It's a Busse NMFBM. 11.5 inch blade, roughly 2 inches tall, .25 thick, Convex.

It will take a toll on any tree, and your arms.

My post was a little off topic.. the coffee I just made has me a little impulsive.

Something like a Machete that I do own (capable of Felling) is a Scrap yard 1311. The saber grind tends to bind a little more than I like, its comfortable to swing for awhile though.

Any of you checked out the "Fell Beast" machete from Huntsman knife co. ?

 

[Cobalt]

I'd estimate that an 18" Tramontina, properly sharpened, would likely outpace that on full trees. At about 16" blade length and above is where you can really start getting a good wrist snap to "throw" the mass of the blade into the work. Minimizes labor that way.

Have you actually compared a large knife to a machete. Say a 10"-12" 1/4" thick blade to an 18 inch tramontina?

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Have you actually compared a large knife to a machete. Say a 10"-12" 1/4" thick blade to an 18 inch tramontina?

Yup. Quite a few over the years. You can't whip a 12" or less blade nearly the same way you can a blade 16"+. And it makes a huge difference.

 

[Cobalt]

Yup. Quite a few over the years. You can't whip a 12" or less blade nearly the same way you can a blade 16"+. And it makes a huge difference.

I am going to have to compare them. That is certainly interesting. Weight should be close. But the balance point should be further out on the machete and that certainly helps. Problem is that my limited experience chopping trees was not good with a machete as I had stated in the other thread and then the neighbor above was having a grand old time, which is what I would expect from a machete. I certainly need to make the comparison

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

A lot of people make the mistake of trying to swing a machete like it's a knife. It's more similar to casting a fishing rod. Pinch grip with the forefinger and thumb, other fingers splayed to start, and a rolling squeeze and extension to the target, like the coil of your arm and the tool are unfurling and cracking like a whip. Generates tons of force with very little effort. But if you hammer-fist it and bash away from the shoulder and elbow like it's a knife, it's gonna' suck.

 

[BitingSarcasm]

Sucks you sued your neighbor. Way to be that guy. I love chopping wood with "machetes." I use thick high carbon steel blades and put a good convex chopping edge on them. I'll chop through a 7" oak branch in just a couple minutes, and it's more fun than using an axe. More fun than litigating the neighborhood too!

Yeah, I'm that guy who doesn't appreciate malicious destruction of my property by a neighbor who has offered numerous provocations. I think the point of my off-the-cuff post was that the poor guy sitting on a Target meridian chopping down a tree with a dull machete was having a worse day. Pretty much anyone who reads here would have better tools and techniques for the job. But this guy was stuck with his $6 machete that he could have sharpened on the curb or another tool if he'd known how, probably getting paid by the job and not the hour; this was hardly "funtime." I have to admire his grit, but a little knowledge of how to sharpen, or a better chopper, would have eased his day. I think he would have traded all that joy of chopping for even a 12" bar chainsaw so that he could have gotten on with his job.

 

[Cobalt]

I know what you mean on how to use. I used a machete a lot for many years in my youth.

A lot of people make the mistake of trying to swing a machete like it's a knife. It's more similar to casting a fishing rod. Pinch grip with the forefinger and thumb, other fingers splayed to start, and a rolling squeeze and extension to the target, like the coil of your arm and the tool are unfurling and cracking like a whip. Generates tons of force with very little effort. But if you hammer-fist it and bash away from the shoulder and elbow like it's a knife, it's gonna' suck.

I know what you mean on how to use. I used a machete a lot for many years in my youth.

 

[Beastchopper]

Yeah, I'm that guy who doesn't appreciate malicious destruction of my property by a neighbor who has offered numerous provocations. I think the point of my off-the-cuff post was that the poor guy sitting on a Target meridian chopping down a tree with a dull machete was having a worse day. Pretty much anyone who reads here would have better tools and techniques for the job. But this guy was stuck with his $6 machete that he could have sharpened on the curb or another tool if he'd known how, probably getting paid by the job and not the hour; this was hardly "funtime." I have to admire his grit, but a little knowledge of how to sharpen, or a better chopper, would have eased his day. I think he would have traded all that joy of chopping for even a 12" bar chainsaw so that he could have gotten on with his job.

Yeah, I'm that guy who doesn't appreciate malicious destruction of my property by a neighbor who has offered numerous provocations. I think the point of my off-the-cuff post was that the poor guy sitting on a Target meridian chopping down a tree with a dull machete was having a worse day. Pretty much anyone who reads here would have better tools and techniques for the job. But this guy was stuck with his $6 machete that he could have sharpened on the curb or another tool if he'd known how, probably getting paid by the job and not the hour; this was hardly "funtime." I have to admire his grit, but a little knowledge of how to sharpen, or a better chopper, would have eased his day. I think he would have traded all that joy of chopping for even a 12" bar chainsaw so that he could have gotten on with his job.

Yea, he didn't get an axe, a chainsaw, or a curb sharpened machete though, just pity. Hopefully it made you feel better during your tiresome day of shopping at target and suing the next door neighbor. It's the little things that bring us joy...

 

[jdk1]

Sure, an axe is the right and most efficient tool for the job, but like you said, the right kind of chopper machete gets it done.

A chainsaw is the RIGHT and most efficient tool

 

[22-rimfire]

An axe would have been the hand tool, but I certainly wouldn't have enjoyed cutting down an 7-8" Oak with one. Chain saw time for me....

 

[McFeeli]

Yea, he didn't get an axe, a chainsaw, or a curb sharpened machete though, just pity. Hopefully it made you feel better during your tiresome day of shopping at target and suing the next door neighbor. It's the little things that bring us joy...

I don’t really have an issue with the OP taking his neighbor to court if he destroyed a tree on his propriety maliciously. When you own land that you’ve worked hard enough for at your job(s) just to buy, let alone the countless hours and days you put into the upkeep, you try your damndest to keep it nice. Hell, I get irked whenever some fool drives 2 feet into my yard just because he can’t three-point turn correctly.

Sure, it’s a big decision to make, but we don’t know what brought the OP to that point. It could have been his last resort. Some neighbors just plain suck.


More to the point.. I like the axe-knife hybrid for taking down trees(for fun at least), the good ol’ Khukuri! I’ve had a blast using my CAK to help chop through some downed trees. Though, a chainsaw is my finisher most of the time, haha.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I don’t really have an issue with the OP taking his neighbor to court if he destroyed a tree on his propriety maliciously. When you own land that you’ve worked hard enough for at your job(s) just to buy, let alone the countless hours and days you put into the upkeep, you try your damndest to keep it nice. Hell, I get irked whenever some fool drives 2 feet into my yard just because he can’t three-point turn correctly.

Sure, it’s a big decision to make, but we don’t know what brought the OP to that point. It could have been his last resort. Some neighbors just plain suck.

Maybe Beastchopper is the neighbor.

 

[Beastchopper]

Maybe Beastchopper is the neighbor.

It was me!!!!

Yea, my dumbass neighbor cut down his trees changing the way the wind blows through our block. Because of that I lost 40 eastern red cedar trees from my back yard 1 month after i bought the place during hurricaine sandy. I bought a forest, and got a swamp. Blew my savings cleaning it up too. Different situation entirely, the neighbor didn't screw me maliciously and we're great friends. I don't give this bitingsarcasm guy the benefit of the doubt because of his story about not helping a guy out 'cus he was to busy suing his next door neighbor.