These are what all our crews use; I've seen guys clear a lot of brush in a little time with these babies. We use the 16" blade and our crews call them "sweepers".
Loppers are a little slower, but they keep your arms from being bloody. I usually knock heavy stuff back with a shovel then follow up with the hacking.
For tying a corner in thick blackberries, nothing beats a 1x12 board. Helps when all you want is access to a corner and don't want to spend the time to hack a path in. You just lean it up onto the mess and walk down the board. Usually things will get smashed down low enough that the thorns are not an issue.
It's how we pick black berries around here.
> For tying a corner in thick blackberries, nothing beats a 1x12 board....
Except 2 1x6's. You walk to the end of the first carrying the second. Lay the second ahead of you and pick up the first. Repeat as many times as needed.
Correct.
"Loppers" :good:
Loppers with long handles :good: :good:
Our crews used to use the Martindale and Collins. They all prefer these now.
Out here in the sunny desert every thing that grows has spikes and thorns and needles. Any machete type tool just wears you out and you'll cut your hands up thinking you can out smart them.
I typically use a normal garden rose type clipper and process my way into wherever I need to be. Saves time on the back and blood loss. May take a bit longer and certainly not macho, but ..... some plants are smarter than us.
I've also got a machete with a saw blade on the back. I always keep them sharpened as best I can. It works in a pinch for bigger stuff, but it's a PIA. I've got a sheath I can put on my belt, but I'd just as soon take my clippers. But I do have this dream about whacking a snake in half with it, so I still take it along just in case.
I really liked the idea above with the 1 x 12 (or 6) as a gang plank method. I've done that crossing creeks with available logs, but keeping a couple in your truck sounds pretty lock solid.
Caterpillar D-3. 'nuff said!
-JD-
:good: :good:
I like a beefy machete blade for most work, but for briars I have always had the best luck either beating them down with a long stick or a long flimsy machete. Seems odd, but I swear thinner/flimsier blades work better for briars and multiflora rose.
Brush hook answer
The Brush Hook on the left was my go to tool when cutting line was kill them all, let God sort them out.
4 bolt model holds up the best.
We don't use machetes. This will do everything a machete will do and more. Can be found in almost any hardware store for around $35. Just keep a spare handle in the truck in case you break one. I have cut green briers, rose bushes and trees as big as 12" in diameter (that take a while though). If you need more than this, then you need a chainsaw or a bulldozer.
> > IF you ever get it REALLY sharp and headed in the right direction, it will take nearly 6" trees out in one shot (soft woods).
>
> By necessity, not choice, (party chief was too dumb to know how to go around it) I once took out a 8" white oak with one. It was 25 years ago and my hands are still sore
We do that quite regularly around here. The brush hook did make it quicker. 🙂
> I like the blade on the Martindale, but I hate their handles. Even with leather gloves on I can still feel the cap, between the blade and handle, and I have tried both the wood handle, and plastic handle.
>
> I like the Ontario machete for the thicker stuff, and the Collins for the thinner stuff. Even hand pruners just to cut the vines work well.
The wooden handles don't hold up, for us, like the plastic ones do. Each person mends it to fit their hands at home so no complaints so far.
We broke a bunch of Ontatios. They are hefty, but they are more brittle, in our experience, than the Martindales.
For us, in the vines, the martindale's lack of weight makes it win out for us. 🙂
> We take the wooden handled Martindale machete out to the concrete porch in front of the office and drag the handle across the concrete until we have smoothed off all the rough corners and edges of the wood. With a little practice, you can make a perfectly comfortable handle. And if you don't quite get it right the first time, do it until you perfect it.
We used to do that, then dad got a job. 🙂
LOL! We use a bench grinder. It's easier on the concrete porch. 🙂
The porch likes it...
2nd that James
File sharpen them. They look like they would be good for politicians too... they are so prickly!
🙂
Mr Winowc, where are you?
Your question needs us to know what part of Downtown Manhattan you are in!
I mean..er.... what part of the world you are in!
N