Anyone have a machete or similar tool for outdoor trimming??

[Mr James]

I'd love to borrow it if you do?? I want to take down some weeds/bushes and other similar things in the backyard some time in the next week or so. I had wanted to do it now before the snakes and spiders come back.

EDIT: On the same note, if you need a chain saw (Stihl), table saw, circular saw, DI water, or anything else that you don't have, check with me!!

[IslandCrow]

I have a machete, James, though they aren't necessarily the best tools if you have a lot of clearing to do. You're more than welcome to borrow it, though. It may need some sharpening. . .I have a sharpening tool somewhere in my garage.

[Phildirt]

I use my lawn mower, or weed eater if they are small enough. I have used a chain saw for thicker growth, just hack it close to the ground.
Yea, I'm no safety nut.

[Mr James]

Thanks Mike, but apparently I found a machete in my neighbors garage. I used it for the little stuff. I do plan to rent a walk behind bush hog for the rest of the project. Mike, I still may ask to use it when I start the clearing project.

[FLricordia]

I hope you don't kill the snakes. What kind do you get around there? If they are often I wouldn't mind coming out and removing them.

[Mr James]

I had a Florida Green Snake (I think) come up on the driveway and probably would have tried for the garage if I wasn't there. They say there are moccasins out in the swamp behind me, but I haven't seen any yet. If I see any snakes, I'm not going to try and kill them, I'll be too busy running. If I do see any Mike, I'll give you a call. You can have em all, I don't mind one bit. I'm dreading the day I see a rattlesnake or a moccasin.

[Sk8r]

Three very good tools for this job: a pruning hook for stuff over your head; and a string-saw for minor brush. A string saw can be had at Ace Hdw, and may not be out on the shelves. It's two rings with a jagged-coated wire between, and if yanked back and forth can take a sizeable branch in short order. Also, a Japanese pruning saw, which is small, foldable, nasty teeth, and bowed. Fast work, good leverage.

[Mr James]

You should see the brush I am talking about Sk8r. Vines, pricker bushes and more vines everywhere. I wish it were just small trees. I am probably going to leave the palmettos alone though (although I hear they are a favorite resting place for snakes). But, the string saw sounds cool. I have the other two....and a Stihl 029 Farm Boss w/18 blade!!

[Phildirt]

I've had 2 Brown Water Snakes in my yard over the years. Non poisonous but their markings are similar to the Cottonmouth. If I can catch them I put them in a drain culvert up the road from me that empties into a wetland area (did that with one).
Good luck with that bush, I had to clear out some wooded are in my back yard last year, what a pain.

[TheGriffin]

I can’t stand those dang thorn bushes. When they get thick it’s a challenge to even hack your way through them. Most of my property is large pines with thickets of briars and thorn bushes about 5ft high. I can’t even get through it. In areas where they get thick I spray bush killer being carefull around the trees. I keep trying to convince the wife that we should fence in the back 5 acres and get some goats. They would clear it out in no time. Those fainting goats look really cool not to mention entertaining.

My wife also gets the ideal every summer to expand the yard some more. Its about 1 acre now but its getting harder and more time consuming to keep beating back the forest.