Billhook - which one?

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Billhook - which one?
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robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 3:47 pm Post subject:
And cheers dpack and Ty Gwyn as well.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 3:52 pm Post subject:
I found my billhooks tend to pull the brambles towards me so avoid using it from bramble clearance and use a small machete. If you wish to remove the bramble roots as well then I've found a rake is hard work but it pulls the roots out as well.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 43773
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 3:52 pm Post subject:
a small folding pruning saw will deal with any thick bits

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 43773
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 3:55 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

I found my billhooks tend to pull the brambles towards me so avoid using it from bramble clearance and use a small machete. If you wish to remove the bramble roots as well then I've found a rake is hard work but it pulls the roots out as well.

a sharp edge and a flicky strike with follow through avoids that problem with most hooks

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 4:27 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

Treacodactyl wrote:

a sharp edge and a flicky strike with follow through avoids that problem with most hooks

They edge is reasonably sharp and cuts through several stems but often catches on others when tackling a thicket in limited space. Still, I've got plenty to practice on.

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 4:36 pm Post subject:
A mattock works well with brambles, you can get a good swing on it in a limited space. Sharpening the edge helps.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 43773
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 4:43 pm Post subject:
i try to clear a patch by working along a line and pulling the cuttings out and throwing them behind but brambles can have other ideas slash slash backslash pull ,it should be flowing to make it easy ,steady is fastest with brambles

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 43773
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 4:44 pm Post subject:
find the ground with a hook and mattock the roots is a tidy idea

Midland Spinner

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 2931
Location: Under a green roof

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 5:27 pm Post subject:
When I was a kid an old chap we knew always had a hooked stick in his left hand when he used a sickle for nettles & stuff. He reckoned that he could sickle nettles all day in shorts & singlet & never get a sting. Should work with brambles as well?

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 5:35 pm Post subject:
Doubtful although worth a go. Brambles don't tend to stand like nettles and are less compliant to the gentle pressure of a stick.

MikeM

Joined: 20 Oct 2010
Posts: 76
Location: Devon

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 5:45 pm Post subject:

as has already been mentioned, for what you want a long handled slasher is better. I have cleared brambles using a billhook and it was an exercise in pain.
With regards to billhooks, I personally believe you are best off buyiung second hand, and trying before buying. I use mine quite a lot, and having used other peoples in the past know how uncomfortable a poor "fitting" hook is. I was lucky in that I got mine from a 2nd hand garden tools dealer at a country show. He had a large selection and I got to choose the one that felt best (to me). I can happily use it for hours and feel no ill effects.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon Jan 10, 11 6:27 pm Post subject:
I've used a longer handled slasher, and it'll clear brambles, but a Devon bill hook handled well will do so better. The mistake I think is that people use a bill hook like its made for slashing through loads of stems at once, they try to do too much with it.

robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 11 8:17 am Post subject:
Blimey - one day offline and I come back to a two-page discussion! Once again, DS proves itself to be a mine of useful information and opinion. Think I might ask around the site and see if anyone has either a billhook or a slasher to try before I buy. As for a mattock I've got one of those already for the roots. Cheers all.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 11 8:30 am Post subject:
I'm a bit disappointed no one has suggested pigs...

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed Jan 12, 11 8:36 am Post subject:

robkb wrote:

Think I might ask around the site and see if anyone has either a billhook or a slasher to try before I buy.

Thats sensible.

I think I can clear thorny stuff faster with a bill hook, but its harder work. A slasher is a less precision tool, but I've not found it as quick.

Once you'e got either tool, you'll find plenty of uses for it. I use my bill hook for trimming the hedge

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