Caring for a Machete Knife

Caring for a machete knife is effectively the same as caring for any fixed blade knife, with a few extra precautions due to the size of a machete and how it is used. However, assuming you administer the proper, routine maintenance to your machete, it will perform more effectively, enjoy a longer lifespan before it inevitably needs to be replaced, and you will be safer, too.

Here are some high level notes for how to care for yours.

A machete is a big tool for heavy duty, but that doesn’t mean you should beat the heck out of it. There are ways a machete is intended to be used, and others in which it should not be. For one, a machete is intended for cutting and chopping. There are some knives that are not designed to be choppers, and with which you should not baton. You can however perform these tasks with a machete. That does not however mean you should strike the machete edge into the ground, stick the tip into the earth, or strike the edge against hard objects like stone, pavement, or metal. This will damage the machete’s edge and can cause the blade to snap. The other thing you should never do with a machete is throw it. Most are made with slightly softer steel alloys, and some are made with alloys that are wear resistant and tempered so that they bend instead of taking a set or breaking. But like all tools, machetes have limits and they should not be thrown.

It is important to keep any bladed tool clean, but machetes are often made from non-stainless alloys, making this even more important here. After use, after every use, wipe the blade off until nothing remains on it. Smears and wear marks are acceptable, but ensure that no green or woody vegetative material remains on the blade. Scrub it off if you must, but do not leave it there because vegetation contains moisture and if you leave it pressed against the blade, it will eventually cause rust.

You should also keep the blade sharp, because a sharp blade is a safe blade. But even if that were not the case, if you don’t keep your blade sharp, it will require more effort from you to cut cleanly and efficiently. That’s not to mention that it will be more enjoyable to use the tool when you need to. After every few uses - or whenever you notice the edge getting a bit dull - give it a few passes on a coarse or medium grit stone or on a grinding wheel to bring back the edge. You don’t need to keep it razor sharp, but you certainly don’t want it to be as dull as a butter knife.

As you use your machete knife, you are going to notice invariably that there will be dings and nicks in the edges that arise from time to time, even if you are careful, especially if you use it for batoning or for rough chopping tasks. These must be ground out early, and it will take a bit of elbow grease. But you will want to address them as soon as you notice them, because the longer you let the edge sit dull or with nicks in it, the harder it will be to grind them out and restore the edge down the line.

As stated, most machetes are made with alloys that are only mildly corrosion resistant, and many are made with alloys that are expressly prone to corrosion if not properly cared for. In addition to cleaning the blade after use, you should wipe it dry and then apply a light coat of oil that’s appropriate for it. Mineral oil, gun oil and machine oil are all good options. There’s no need to apply a lot. You just need a light coating - a drop on each side of the blade should do.

Where you store your machete knife will also impact maintenance considerations. Ideally, you want to store it out of the elements, and somewhere cool and dry. That means keep it out of the garage, shed or basement if those places are constantly humid. It’s better to store it inside in that case.

Lastly, be conscientious about where you store your machete knife based on access considerations. These tools can be dangerous if not handled properly and should be stored accordingly so that only those authorized to access them should be able to.

Interested in adding a new machete to your collection? We carry a lot of machete profiles here. Check them out in our full collection and if you have any questions, get in touch with us.