The concept behind the tramontina Machete remarks the expansion of The brazilian territory from the cost towards the tropical forest in the interior. Both the amazon forest and the mata atlantica forest which were abundand at that time had as a characteristic a very very dense vegetation.. there were no trails and all the way had to be opened with a machete. The blade needed to be thin to falicitate the job and reduce the effort since crossing the jungle usually took months spending more than 8 hours a day opening trails...Tramontina just taked traditional design and used it into its machetes. ps. I am brazilian! Every kind of vegetation led to the development of specific tools. I see european bushcrafters carring small axes. Perfect for their kind of vegetation which is not so dense and the trees are thiner. Here, even in the past small axes were not so common because trees are too big and they suck at opening vegetation.
Here in Brazil we use the machete (here is called "facão") for cutting sugar cane and other things, its light, its easy to sharp, and i never broke one. I see some guys saying here in the comments that a machete isnt made for cutting wood, but here we use for that, its light and its a very thin and flexible blade, it goes deep in the wood very easily. Its very nice for cutting branches too. We cut the wood when its wet, because when it dries, its not so easy to cut it, but it is still possible.. We use Tramontina machetes because we can find them very easily, and it costs about 12 US Dollars.
I love my Tramontina Bolo just widened the Bevel on it and now it's a serious tool. I like the lower carbon steel as it's easy to do that with a decent chainsaw file. And if you damage it. It's an easy fix also builds a patina pretty fast.
Im not surprised with your impressions and results...the Tramontina was made for jungle environments more vines and brush then hard woods. So the heavier Ontario would of course be better for hard woods. But both are winners in my book. I own both and you can really go wrong with either one. Thanks for the vid!
the tramontina has a thinner handle because with machetes you should not use a death grip while making cuts.....because using a hammer grip while using a machete is a sure way to get blisters while cutting light vegetation.....thats why the tramontina and other authentic south american machetea have thinner handles to utilize the pinch grip which greatly reduces formation of blisters....a pinch grip is easier to perform with thinner handles in comparison to thicker handles....again ontario designed there machete to cut slightley heavier materials like wood which requiered a thicker blade stock and handle....while traditional south american machetes have thinner blade stocks and handles to allow the user to cut vegetaion with minimal fatigue due to a lighter machete....thats not to say traditional machetes cannot chop wood ofcourse it can ive seen it done many times while in colombia but whats important is technique.....while chopping wood with lighter traditional machetes it is best to pull the machete straight out without causing torque on the blade to prevent the blade from snapping...
I’m not a machete expert by any means, but I made this video to show the strengths of each brand, I was wondering which would be better when I was buying so I bought both a did a review for others.
Its a machete for gods sake, not an axe. The Tramontina is made to cut cane and bushes, not chop down trees. In Brazil it is about 7 Dollars. That is fantastic value.
In Philippines they use bolo machete to chop down trees, an axe handle will fly off and be broken, most of all it's harder to chop with axe than bolo knife or bolo machete.
kpl455 Nope, made in Philippines axe are also really good(They use hard wood handles), it is hand forged and tempered well(5160 high carbon spring steel), but it's not really popular in Philippines since most Filipino lumberjacks and famers use light and heavy bolo machetes to chop down trees. The one you should mention is made in China since it easily fly off and not tempered well.
I bought an 18" Tramontina from Lowe's when I had to do storm clean up after a bad Thunderstorm. I was hesitant to buy another machete from a big box store, after the POS I got from Walmart when I was a teen, but I decided to give her a go. I've been EXTREMELY pleased, ever since. After giving the blade a quick touch-up, the array of limbs and widths that it's sliced through is incredible. I used it to help chop up a tree that we cut down and it was slicing through 4" (green) branches in a single swing. It's also gone through 4" dead hardwood limbs in half a dozen swings or less. As I've found out, and others have mentioned, you can't swing it with a tight grip. Loose and light, letting the blade follow through on it's own has had the best effect, for me, especially when clearing lighter brush and branches. (This will end your blister problem) Hell, I've used it for fine HEDGE work and couldn't have done any better with a powered hedger. The Tramontina is FANTASTIC when you use it correctly. *Don't baton with a machete like this.* Honestly, if you're in a temperate area, with lots of hardwood, where chopping or batoning are likely, skip the machete and bring a Hatchet or Forest axe. You'll be much better off.
I bought a 24 inch and a 14 inch Tramontina 40 years ago at a flea market believe it or not where a man had them in a barrel where I paid about 18 dollars for both. I keep them razor sharp and they out perform anything I have used since. I like the shape of the tramontinas better. I love the 14 " cause it's not so long and easier to carry. My handles came rounded off with no sharp edges to hurt my hands. Didn't have to touch them. Mine seem to be better then what they make now. Good review and thanks for doing it.
I have a belgian machete and many Tramontina machetes. I don't use the machetes to baton wood. I have a tree farm that I use them to clear brush along the fence of a 30 acre property. Never had an Ontario but the Tramontina when sharp is an excellent machete. plus it cost less. As you said 3 to 1 difference. I think if you are in the military the Ontario would be the best for a soldier, it would be more useful for fighting and jungle clearing. All around the Tramontina is the best machete. its made for the jungle.
Honest review. He didn't go to machete school like half the commentators must have, a degree in macheteology must teach required footwear, but I have repaired a roof in flip flops, I think he can manage swinging a blade. You haters must be miserable.
indi living I never see a hater on RU-vid with a video of their own that is better. Nothing wrong with someone adding additional information or personal experience with a product. But some people just sit back and criticize. Guess they hate their life and like to bring others down to make themselves feel better.
I like the Tramontina machetes. I've got a 24" one that was less than $20 on Amazon. Mostly I use it to cut through woods. If I want to chop for firewood, I'd use my hatchet and handsaw.
Both are great blades w/ just a little work. The 12" Ontario is my go to chopper as I'm in the mountains but I prefer a !6" 18" Tramontina for real machete work.
Mike D yep they are, although I was doing some more yard work yesterday, and just have a hard time getting a comfortable grip on the Tramontina...I do prefer it for general yard maintenance still though, just easier to swing. I've rounded out the butt end which helped.
Bladesnstuff Yeah, the Tramontina comes very unfinished, once you sand the handles to fit your grip and re-profile that edge it transforms it into and awesome machete. Cheers.
***** hi mate, everyone i know including myself has customised their own handle by shaping it with a wood file or sanding tool like a dremel. Just go very slow, no rush because if you take too much off you cant put it back. Squeeze the handle every once a while during the shaping process to feel what needs to be sanded down. You'll be able to feel when it's perfect. Have fun :)
Thanks for the review. I have the Tramontina and it is great for clean wood. I also used it to cut up dirt caked roots from some bushes i pulled, and there are now several little chunks of the blade missing from it hitting little stones that were in the dirt. The steel seems soft to me.
If you repair your blade i suggest a convex edge, it should hold up better to stress. The 1075 steel of the tram is okay, but not great and can't withstand extreme abuse. But for $6 on survival-pax you can't go wrong.
Say Heah, you brought up a interesting point that I found interesting, and that is a thinner blade can baton good, I noticed that between my Ka-Bar Becker BK-9 and my O.K.C. Gen2 SP-51, both are great wood processing tools, but the BK-9 is .188" thick = 3/16th's, and the SP-51 is .250 = 1/4" thick, yet my BK-9 does a great job when I baton with it. But I also find a relief edge in a Saber Grind also does better than a Flat Grind because I think there's more wood drag with the Flat Grind, so I feel the Flat Grind is more of a slicer and a Saber Grind chops more like a axe, Yeah I like my O.K.C Military Version 18" Machete, it's been proven over the years and it's made in the U.S.A. Yeah you also brought up a good point as far as weight, a heavier tool has more power when chopping, so I will chose a winner, I think the O.K.C. Machete won.
You can buy an 18" Tramontina machete with a good nylon sheath at LOWE'S for $16. They are hung with the gardening tools in the inside seasonal garden center. I bought one and it's excellent, with a strong and durable 1070 carbon steel blade. But flip-flops and a long blade, hmmm, I wouldn't recomment that one. But hey, if you need to learn a painful lesson the hard way, then hippie-out with your bad self. 😄
Stopped watching as soon as you decided to baton with them. It's getting to the point where every knife review, no matter what type of knife it is had to be "batoning tested"! There's probably soon be fillet knife reviews where they'll add the, "let's see how well it batons some wood"! Or, the "ACME Butter knife" review that'll go like this, "I just bought my wife this set of dollar store butter knives. Let's see how well they'll baton some wood & I'll try some feather sticking. Then, I'll try striking a ferro rod. Might have to grind the spine to 90° before I try that tho." Batoning, feather sticking, 90° spine & striking a ferro rod is becoming the absolute review standard FOR EACH & EVERY KNIFE, OF EACH & EVERY TYPE, reviewed on RU-vid.
oldtimer4567 notice how all the successful RU-vidr knife reviewers baton....that's what people want to watch hints all of those channels become successful
I think the point is you wouldnt carry a fillet knife or butter knife as your only knife. A machete being one of a persons only tools they would bring it makes sense to know what it can do if need be. I understand the bring the right tool for the job but if i did that i would be bringing 10 tools everytime i go camping. When walking long distances a person might rather bring a couple tools.
It also looks like you got a new "heavy duty" ontario since it is thicker. My ontario is the 12 inch and it is actually thinner than my 14 inch Tramontina.
Have had 60 Ontarios in 5 years for coconuts Love the metal and the width..the black coating is great. You can spray the metal with black epoxy and then sharoen it on the edge if you want to prevent additional; rust. I cut of 3 inches of length on the tip dont need that length..I had one that stayed sharp fr over 18 months used daily
Out there in your sandals cutting shit up like a boss. LoL. I actually found a Ontario with a leather sheath in the trash. It had some rust on it and it was bent slightly but I got it looking good now. I am assuming you didn't put an edge on the Ontario yet, so that could be the problem. Mine slices through brush like nothing. Both machetes have their uses. It's awesome that such quality tools are so cheap. Thanks for the video.
You should watch some of the other videos on RU-vid for technique on cutting the light brush. Your video shows which is a better camp tool for your area. In the thick woods that get lots of rain a thinner machete is far superior. When I pick up a new machete the first step is to file, sand, and or modify the handle before I even sharpen the blade.
I love my Tramontinas. The handles are easy to round off. I’ve done a couple. I have an 18” Tramontina Tapanga (square end) that is really heavy. Great chopper. The Ontario is $80 for the 18” in Australia and the Tramontina is about $35. We pay a bit more for our stuff but with the dollar the way it is, it works out about the same.
Give me a folding saw every time when trying to cut through stuff like this. One of the real issues in using machete's for chopping through branches of all types is that, if they are still attached to a tree, then there are usually a whole lot of other branches/twigs in the way of where you are trying to chop, so you cannot take a full swing like you are doing. No swings/power needed with a saw if you're using it right.
sam nelson i would not use a machete or knife for this either but I think it's good to speed the process of wear and to see if it will break or not after a long time of use so it's nice that this guy does it o we don't have to waste our precious money on
@Herbert Hoppe, obviously your ignorance reveals you're the one who don't know the "many uses" of a machete. And to that person who claimed battoning is for people who have not yet discovered axes? You've been domesticated too much you probably don't know anymore how to utilize bladed tools. There are situations where you can't carry both machete and axe. If I'm in that and from where I live, a machete is always the first choice. Now, please kindly tell me what are the things you can do with your axe that I cannot do with a machete?
all blade & design is reflect culture & geographic. in java, we use Parang, long thin lightweight machete just perfectly as tramontina machete to go to the jungle. maybe since our jungle is tropical as brazilian have one so the tools is identical.
Jeez louize, WHY WHY WHY Buy a Machete ( or two ) to review and then put it through a test that only a fool would use a machete for. Who in their right mind is going to chop through logs with a Tramontina Machete? Brush clearing is the sole purpose of what those hunnies are used for. Yes it is possible to chop through some types of wood but a hard use Kukri or an axe is usually the way to go with hard woods. I have a Busse NMSFNO and this even sucks at going through logs. The bush in the background is making fun of you, yes that pretty green one, go and schwack it ( I know you already did a little )......Thanks for the video, and you also have a lovely home ( so perhaps best to not go schwack the pretty green bush!!!)
+Bill Blake That's right ! I use mine to cut thru brush or vines and maybe de limb branches no bigger than an inch, anything bigger then it's axe time !!! I don't get the batoning thing.
+Bill Blake That's right ! I use mine to cut thru brush or vines and maybe de limb branches no bigger than an inch, anything bigger then it's axe time !!! I don't get the batoning thing.
+Bill Blake sometimes I have an item in the yard that might take an axe, but I have the machete out already, it takes less time to use the machete than to go back and use the axe. Also, this is a review for all purposes, people have questions about both of these models so I tried to cover all the bases.
deerrr, how about cutting corn stalks, clearing weeds on rocky ground, or cuttings vines encroaching on trails or crops. The tramonina is an agricultural working tool. The Ontario is a military design for clearing brush around a guard post. I prefer a plastic handle in the moist tropics, but a wood one in drier areas. The plastic is maintenance free and will work everywhere.
I got a 12in Ontario it works fine wish the blade was a little thicker but I can see you need more experience in using a machete it takes practice but you did ok
I am going to take a wild guess here, but from what I am seeing you don't have too mouch experience with machetes. Light and thin is what you want. When you are actually cutting sugar canes or clearing brush all day a heavy machete will wear you out quick.
I have the Ontario and I didn't care much for it it was better than the Walmart stuff but still Edge retention not create and hedge roll over a bit thicker than it needed to be.. but the cold steel has been amazing lightweight agile fantastic Edge retention no rollover or chipping and nice and cheap I recommend the 16 inch anymore is a bit too slow
I found one in an old shed. Didnt realise at that moment the gem id found. Dude. No shit they swing sweet, great comfortable handle (i covered my handle in a little pine resin for even better grip) and it can cut through anything. It is literally my favourite machete ever owned in my entire life. Ive gone through foot or so around tree limbs with it. Can not gush enough how much i love this thing.
The blade material is "ten-seventy" and "ten-ninety-five"..the second number ..after the "ten" is the points of carbon on a scale of 1-100. 95 points is alot for a machete. Could actually be too hard..I like the 1070 better for a battering application. Less brittle. 1075 or 1084 would be good. Secondly..it's a MACHETE..NOT AN AXE.! . If you are clearing cane or tall grass for a hour..see which one you like better..?? I'll bet the lighter one.. Peculiar test..
You should feel free to use your stuff how you see fit - I, however, don't think that machetes were ever intended to split wood, much be batoned. Would have liked to see a full unboxing, but otherwise I enjoyed your review. Keep up the great work!
Consegui uno que lo tenian botqdo en la basura..tiene como 30 años..le puse mango de madera.. y me quedo bonito esta muy oxidado.. cuesta encontrar de estos en Guatemala
tramontina is better , ontario's handle is the worst , it vibrates allot, and you have to modify the edge to make it cut decent. good steel but bad desighn. tramontina is cheap and good !
for light brush and lighter tasks? absolutely. but for heavier tasks? the ontario takes it. yeah, you gotta add your own edge to it. but lots of blades don't come full. If you can't put a proper on your blades, you shouldn't have them (though i do agree that it should have at least some time of edge when you get it) personally don't feel that much vibration when I use mine. but yeah, the handle does need to be modified due to it being so thick, smooth, and squared. the tramontina definitely has a better handle, especially since you can get a better grip on it. these are both great machetes, don't get me wrong. but you do get what you pay for, especially in the knife world. but these are both great value for the money. like bladesnstuff said. Get both
LOL "These pieces are quite small. I don't have anything bigger to test them on." Jeez man. You want to fell Redwoods with that tool designed to cut jungle bushes?
Ontario seems like it would take the place of a small hatchet but probably make you tired with a lot of use. Tramontina would be better for regular machete tasks
+bloodgout It's a hard use testing video. He probably knows that most people won't go around batoning with their machetes but he's just showing what they're capable of.
+Hmmer Pimy haha you guys are great. Of course I use an axe for things that an axe is good for. But I like to know the limits of these tools. Feel free to make your own review video?
I have the ontario 1-18SBK saw back machete . It's great but its heavy . 1 hand wielding this machete can be cumbersome . This giant slab of 1095 carbon steel doesnt stop on a dime . so be aware of your body position . Would I take this on a trek through the jungle ? I dunno . for clearing bush I think the tramontina might be lighter and easier to swing . Clearing a campsite? Id probably want the ontario. Tramontina? I wouldnt baton with it . Both have their pros and cons . I found 1 1/2 hand grip that is BRUTAL on the ontarion . Much increases stability , control and ads a louisville slugger esque swing to it that just slays larger brush . Im very happy with it . I dig how the blade doesnt warp like 95% of other machetes. But this isnt an antifa soy powered man's machete . Im decent size 6'1 215 . lift my little weights and and even I feel the ontario when swinging it with one hand. Its not terribly heavy per say my issue with it is controlling its deceleration on a hard swing .
How big of a difference do you think there is with the 18 inch model compared to a 22-24 inch tramontina or imacasa in chopping? how much more leverage will you get when chopping through thick wood. best regards
People doing heavy work use the longer sizes--more weight, more weight up front. People doing lighter work use smaller ones. 18 inchers are the compromise length for people who don;t quite know what they are doing or want the Rambo look.
Thanks for the review! What did you use to modify yours, a file? I got the majority of the blade convexed but have not done the scandi grind section yet.
A file, I would not recommend any Nicholson that you buy from your local home depot. Hop on Ebay, find a NOS (New old stock) american made Simonds file. I found one for $10 (10" multi-kut). They will cut 10x better than any crap Nicholson made in Mexico.
yeah man ikr and why are Nicholson files so damn expensive 13-25$ for one file hell no i just bought a harbor freight Pittsburgh set and omg they have lasted way longer then a crappy Nicholson junk oh hey good video by the way i am thinking of buying both machetes
Not really a valid test in many respects, IMHO. You're are, in some ways, comparing apples to oranges. One issue is the difference in weight which may not really be that noticeable chopping more or less straight up and down. Chop at an angle, though, like when chopping cane or chopping vertical branches, and you'll find that the heavier machete may fatigue your hand and arm significantly faster, and may twist in your hand more and decrease your accuracy. That's been my experience.
Odd. My Tramontina chops better than my Ontario. It's also better at real machete tasks and I prefer the wooden handle and thinner profile. I'm not big into machetes but if I take one with me in the woods it's the Tramontina forsure.
Say Heah, It's that time of the year to wake the Machetes out of Hibernation, I have the Military 18" Ontario Machete, But I also like my Ontario Blackie Collins Heavy Duty Machete, just because of its lenght, and I like the D-Ring Handle on it, It came with the d-ring handle. That little bit extra lenght really helps clearing out a camp area and makes short work of it. I also like my Woodsman Pal Premium Machete. Both do a great job for the intended purpose. But Yeah, Hip Hip Hurray for the U.S. of A. Job well done.
Hey, Safety,Safety, and more Safety. Eyes (probably not safety glasses....I don't know), Hands,and Feet. Hope you don't have a mishap; they are not fun. Accidents do happen. Thank You. Enjoy Life!!!
O facão Tramontina obviamente terá uma qualidade inferior, embora sua lamina seja bem projetada é um machete de baixo custo (aqui no Brasil varia de $ 6 a 8 Dolar's), em quanto um Machete Ontário 12" por aqui custa na faixa de $ 60 dolar's... Eu poderia enviar 10 machetes em troca de um Ontário (kkkkk). Gostaria muito de testar um Ontário nas Selvas brasileiras, embora o alto custo do mesmo me impede.
qdo ele emperrar numa bananeira ( acontece muito de vc cortar uma bananeira grossa e ela dobrar e travar o facão, esse ontario 1095 iria quebrar rapidin se fizer os mesmos esforços doaue vc faz nun tramontina .
Good comment. There is a bias towards Jorges comment, willing to prone towards Ontario brand instead of Tramontina. I understand that cause he is just can't get the US brand on his local store and maybe shows off to his friends. But instead of this, he can get a more capable tool (Tramontinas) locally and avoid a lot of trouble on his bushcrafting activities. Tramontina hands down I choose.
jorge greiner, o aço e o tratamento térmico da Tramontina não deixam nada a desejar a qualquer bom facão americano. Tenho Cold steel, Ontario, crkt...usei Tramontina quando morava no Brasil por mais de 20 anos. É tão bom ou melhor que qualquer outro. Isso sem levar em conta o custo benefício, aí o Tramontina ganha disparado.
I'm surprised you didn't hurt yourself. you've successfully compared apples with oranges. I just don't get why. Please put some boots on & work safe next time. You set an appalling example, remember that kids watch this stuff, and your countrymen love to sue people, good luck with that, kind regards from England. ☺
Have people totally forgotten what a tool is for. Dag-gon-it. Use a knife for cutting, use a machete for hacking brush, and use a friggin ax or hatchet for splitting wood.