Jun
Using a machete for agriculture
Machetes have been used in agriculture for as long as they have been around. Inexpensive and effective, they are a must have tool in many cultures around the world.
Clearing and maintaining trails
All around the world from the Americas to Asia one of the most popular uses for a machete is looking after trails – both maintaining existing trails and creating new ones. Hunters and fishermen are increasingly using machetes to open up new paths to fishing holes or develop new hunting grounds.
Clearing brush
Machetes are the most popular options for clearing brush. With it’s broad cutting blade making quick work of overgrown areas, the machete is a must have tool for getting rid of unwanted vegetation.
Creating compost
This may seem like an odd use for a machete, but being able to chop up vegetation into smaller pieces increases the rate at which decomposition occurs. The machete helps by being more effective and efficient than other tools.
Harvesting crops
Machetes are great for cutting grain based crops such as rice or wheat as they are both light and accurate so are less likely to ruin the crop whilst harvesting.
Clearing weeds
Machetes are useful for clearing unwanted plants around existing crops. Their efficiency and accuracy allow the user to remove the plants they do not want while leaving wanted plants and crops undamaged.
Scalping plants
Leaving the root for future growth is a vital part of agriculture. Using a machete to take off the above ground vegetation whilst leaving the roots intact is much easier than with just about any other hand tool.
Coppicing
Coppicing is the act of trimming back or felling trees and shrubs at the base allowing new shoots to grow and provide longer term, sustainable materials. The machetes design is ideal for making this work much fast and efficient.
Snedding
Snedding is the practice of removing branches from felled wood. Machetes are ideal for this task.
Cutting fodder
The machete is perfect for cutting food for animals into smaller pieces. Machetes offer fast, efficient cutting, slicing and chopping.
Camp management
Machetes excel as campsite companions. From cutting firewood to building shelters, there is probably not more effective tool in camp than the machete.
Splitting firewood
A machete is ideal for chopping and splitting firewood and is an excellent tool for batoning. Using the thin sharp blade of the machete to split a piece of wood is simple and practical.
Making tinder
An extension of splitting firewood, the accuracy of the machete is ideal for splitting wood into thinner and thinner pieces to make kindling.
Cutting poles
A machete is the ideal tool for creating poles for camping or construction purposes. Fast, accurate broad strokes can help shape wood into more consistent pieces.
Creating latticing
Latticing is basically weaving thin strips of material, normally wood or similar vegetation, to create a wall or barrier. The sharp flat blade of a machete is perfect for this task.
Survival
When in a survival situation a multi purpose tool like a machete is a life saver. From shelter to food, a machete should be on the list of must have items.
Building shelter
In an emergency situation, being able to construct a shelter quickly could be the difference between life and death. The speed and accuracy of a machete when creating shelter materials cannot be underestimated.
Hunting
The long, light weight blade and sharpness of the machete make it an ideal hunting companion. From trap creation to animal skinning and butchery, the machete is an excellent all rounder.
Foraging
The machete is ideal for foraging – it’s long blade helps you to reach fruits, nuts and berries that may otherwise be out of reach.
Making traps
From simple snares to more complicated multipart traps, the machete is a flexible and practical tool that will make trap building much easier.
Cordage
In a survival situation, cordage has multiple uses including shelter and trap building. A machete will help cut fibrous materials easily and effectively and the flat blade makes it an ideal tool for stripping bark from trees.
Splitting fruit and nuts
A classic example of using a machete to split fruit and nuts is the coconut. The machete is ideal for short fast chopping or slicing, so it is a great all rounder for getting to the all important nutrients contained in fruit and nuts, with as little wastage as possible.
Defence against wild animals
Fending off dangerous wild animals is made easier by the long sharp blade of a machete. Poisonous animals like snakes need to be kept at bay – the length of the machete makes this a more effective tool than a knife. You can also use a machete to make other defence tools like spears or sharpened sticks.
Digging
In a pinch, the broad flat blade of a machete makes it a useful alternative to a shovel. Whether it’s digging a hole to find water or accessing edible roots and tubers, the machete will prove a useful ally.
Fire lighting
Once the machete has helped you create the materials for the fire it can also help you light it. Striking against a fire steel or flint will create the spark required to get a fire lit.
Food preparation
Skinning, butchering, slicing, chopping, gutting and descaling fish – all made easier with a machete. As an all round tool for food preparation, the machete takes some beating.
Emergency signalling
Polishing the side of the broad flat blade could make it possible to use the machete as a heliograph or signalling mirror – a life saving survival tool for finding assistance and rescue.
Emergency exiting
A machete can be an essential tool if you find yourself trapped in a situation beyond your control. From prying away rocks to splitting locked and stuck doors, the machete could help you get free.
Other uses for a machete
Machetes have historically been used for a whole host of other uses, cementing it as a tool for all situations.
Crafting
A machete is an excellent crafting tool. From whittling and carving to preparing lumber for furniture making, the machete is a multi-purpose, traditional tool that is used for crafting all over the world.
Military use
Many militaries around the world are issued machetes as part of their basic kit for use in survival and defence scenarios.
Arts & entertainment
Whether it’s a complicated Brazilian dance (maculele) or used in carving beautiful works of art, the machete is an incredibly versatile and practical tool. You can even try your hand at machete throwing as an alternative to knife or axe throwing.
Cutting & shaving
The thin, sharp blade can be used in a wide variety of situations including cutting hair and shaving!
Construction
The machete is not just useful for helping to construct emergency shelters, it is also used as a tool in the construction of permanent fixtures. Chopping and shaping lumber, cutting and trimming thatching materials, creating and cutting cordage are all tasks where the machete excels.
This list of uses for a machete is by no means exhaustive. Ever since man started to craft metal tools, the machete has been an effective, efficient and practical tool.
Being simple to make and easy maintain is just part of the appeal of this incredibly versatile and universally used tool.
