How to Use a Machete
The machete is the ubiquitous tool for trailblazing, brush clearing and harvesting crops like sugar cane. People can work in the fields or jungles with machetes all day, for three simple reasons. First, they take care of their tools. Second, they swing in a way that gets the most cutting power out of a minimum amount of energy. Third, they do not use the machete to chop down things that are too big.
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Instructions
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Sharpening and Care
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1
Lubricate your whetstone with a little machine oil or with water and dish washing detergent.
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2
See the angled edge of the blade? This is the bevel angle. Match this to the face of the whetstone. For a clever-like tool like a machete, this should be at a high angle--15 to 25 degrees.
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3
Apply moderate pressure and draw the blade across the stone. Do this so the blade moves away from you for safety. Do first one side, then the other, giving each 12 to 20 strokes.
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4
Clean and oil the machete after use. Since you will be using it to cut a lot of wet plants with woody pulp, the finish won't last long and the blade will soon become prone to rust.
Machete Use and Care
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5
Start from a position parallel ton and outside of, what you want to cut down. You should never have to loop your wrist and arm far outside the target.
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6
Lead with the elbow and cut down at an angle.
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7
Flick with the wrist at the last moment.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Working with a sharp machete that is free of rust will save the user a lot of sweat in the long run. Always check your tool's sharpness before starting out and when resting, and clean it when finished. Following steps 1 through 3 are key to saving energy and strength, as they make the most use of gravity and body weight, and avoid cutting against the grain of most plants.
Machetes are meant to cut through light brush. Mid-sized woody plants should be tackled with a hatchet.
- Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons
