Machete Modifcations Tutorial Part One

A few years ago I realized that I hated new machetes and much preferred my old worn out ones. I sat down and took a good hard look at my blades to figure out why and discovered that I had been transforming the blades to have a high, flat, sharp edge at the base and a robust convex forward of that. I also had squared off the spine of the machete to make tinder shavings and rounded off the forward portion of the spine because it was tearing up my hand. Ever since I started modifying my machetes to that configuration from the start I never looked back. This is the process I put my new machetes through, feel free to use it if you think it would work for you. Just remember where you got it.

A little over a year ago I posted my first machete modification video. Since then I have had numerous requests as to how I put the modifications on the blades and how I sharpen a machete. The first part of this two part video shows how to take a new Tramontina 16 inch machete and do the basic file work necessary to put a scandi edge at the base of the blade, convex the forward portion, and create both square and round sections on the spine.

The only tools needed for these mods are a large single cut mill file, two "C" clamps, sandpaper and a work bench. Of course the actual process takes much longer than the video, I eliminated much of the repetitive filing from the video but left in all the steps of the process.

Safety Warning: You do this at your own risk. The process demonstrated involves filing a machete blade towards the edge. That is inherently dangerous, as are machetes, files, and workshops in general. Never leave a machete blade clamped to the edge of a workbench, you run the risk of someone bumping into it. Whenever you stop working, remove the blade from the clamp and place it in a safe location.

The second video shows how I correct the grinds and sharpen using a Smith's Tri-Hone. I have found this simple sharpening system to be very useful. The final result is a machete that is sharp along its entire length and gives me a variety of edges to work with in the bush. It is also an edge that I can maintain simply in the bush with a small diamond rod.

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[FrancoAtiirador]

Hi, congratulations for the tutorial, I have some machete and I liked the changes you made​in your, I'm just a question. The part you scratched with a pen has to be made of two equal sides, or only one side? Sorry I do not know English, did the translation of my question. I thank the attention. I

[Colhane]

@FrancoAtiirador O corte esta feito nos dois lados da lamina. Eu falo no video que eu nao mostro o outro lado porque e o mesmo processo. Eu devo refazer este vd em Portugues.

[SavageBodybuilding]

Thank you for the very informative video sir

[danilosteinke]

so falto o video em portugues rsrsrs

[ZjAc0]

Nice tip for marking it with the marker! Now i can see a better difference when filing my machete

[godofimagination]

What kind of steel is that? will those mods work with any steel?

[Colhane]

@godofimagination No but it saves lots of money and time doing it that way. The only quick way of doing it is with a belt grinder. I remove the steel first with the file then sand the convex by hand over a mouse pad. To remove all the steel that way would be costly in time and sandpaper.

[godofimagination]

@Colhane do you have to have a file to make a convex edge on a store bought machete like that?

[Colhane]

@godofimagination No, a double cut will score the steel deeply. A single cut removes the material leaving behind a much smother surface.

[godofimagination]

@Colhane Would a double cut work?