Clearing Brush with a Machete
Clearing brush is one of the principal reasons people need a machete. Just a few of the many reasons:
1) Choose a long machete for clearing grassy vegetation and brush. The length will prevent your hands from being cut, as well as providing leverage to clear large swaths at a time. A thin (as opposed to thick) blade on the machete reduces fatigue, as well as slicing more easily through grasses and stalks. For woody brush, choose a blade with a wide (as opposed to narrow), thin blade. The wide belly of the blade will give chopping power, but the thin blade won't tire you out.
2) Always wear eye protection as brush bends easily and will whip back if not entirely cut through.
3) There is nothing more important for cutting down on the time it takes to clear brush and tall grasses than the "gancho" or hook.
Typically, the hook is made in the field out of a bifurcating branch as the image above shows. By using the hook in the opposite hand as that which wield the machete, considerable time and effort can be saved. Just a few advantages:
-Keeps hands further from where the machete will be cutting to avoid accidents.
-Pulls vegetation taught so that it can be cut more easily.
-Prevents animal and snake bites by eliminating the need to grasp with the hands.
-Pulls vegetation aside to expose the stalks and trunks of plants for easy cutting.
-Prevents cut vegetation from interfering with areas still to be cut.
-Protects from thorns and briars.
-Can be used to pull obstacles such as fallen limbs out of the way to allow unrestricted cutting.
See this video showing how to make a reaping hook in the field for brush clearing. Don Fernando is using a 14 inch Tramontina bolo machete.
Check out this video showing Don Fernando Caamano, a veteran machete-man, taking care of some brush with a 24 inch Hansa lampon machete.
1) Remove underbrush to prevent wildfires
2) Clear and maintain trails
3) Beautify yards and landscapes
4) Clear brush before placing a fence line or to clear a space for a new patio.
5) Trim vegetation around gardens, orchard trees, fences
6) Clear sight lines for bow and gun hunting
1) Choose a long machete for clearing grassy vegetation and brush. The length will prevent your hands from being cut, as well as providing leverage to clear large swaths at a time. A thin (as opposed to thick) blade on the machete reduces fatigue, as well as slicing more easily through grasses and stalks. For woody brush, choose a blade with a wide (as opposed to narrow), thin blade. The wide belly of the blade will give chopping power, but the thin blade won't tire you out.
2) Always wear eye protection as brush bends easily and will whip back if not entirely cut through.
3) There is nothing more important for cutting down on the time it takes to clear brush and tall grasses than the "gancho" or hook.
Typically, the hook is made in the field out of a bifurcating branch as the image above shows. By using the hook in the opposite hand as that which wield the machete, considerable time and effort can be saved. Just a few advantages:
-Keeps hands further from where the machete will be cutting to avoid accidents.
-Pulls vegetation taught so that it can be cut more easily.
-Prevents animal and snake bites by eliminating the need to grasp with the hands.
-Pulls vegetation aside to expose the stalks and trunks of plants for easy cutting.
-Prevents cut vegetation from interfering with areas still to be cut.
-Protects from thorns and briars.
-Can be used to pull obstacles such as fallen limbs out of the way to allow unrestricted cutting.
See this video showing how to make a reaping hook in the field for brush clearing. Don Fernando is using a 14 inch Tramontina bolo machete.
Check out this video showing Don Fernando Caamano, a veteran machete-man, taking care of some brush with a 24 inch Hansa lampon machete.
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