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    Member irishjim's Avatar
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    Default Bananna plants

    Hi all,I've got a job to chop a clump of about 10 bananna trees.they are around 4m tall.just wondering if I use the Chainsaw will it bugger the chain as they are so full of water.is it better to just use a handsaw or something similar?obviously would take a lot longer but this job can be done in winter when I'm not busy...

  2. #2
    Senior Member troppo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    Forget the chainsaw and wear your oldest clothes 'cause they stain like you would not believe!!!!!! Buy a machete, cheap and fast, that's what the narnie farmers use. Hope you're strong as they are heavy. That's something else to consider (the weight) if you have to go over a weigh bridge if disposing of as well. I hate 'em and charge accordingly.

  3. #3
    Senior Member troppo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    Oh, and if disposal is a problem for whatever reason, they do break down real fast. Just gotta let 'em dry out.

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    Member brodie's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    No reason you can't use a chainsaw. It's not going to dull the chain but it may block up the side plate around the sprocket. They are messy and tend to have a small that stays with you for a while.

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    MEMBER Fred's mowing's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    Quote Originally Posted by brodie View Post
    No reason you can't use a chainsaw. It's not going to dull the chain but it may block up the side plate around the sprocket. They are messy and tend to have a small that stays with you for a while.
    Im with brodie, although it all depends on the size of your banana
    A machete might be alright for smaller ones but if the trunk is of a bigger diameter a chainsaw is the way to go.
    It will cut through like a hot knife through butter & although you will need to clean out behind the sprocket cover at the end of the job, its just mush in there so no probs for the saw.
    You can cut the trunk into rounds then if there too big too handle, easily split them with an axe whilst they sit on the stump.
    Yes, its a messy job with all the water, but its easy & I don't remember any smell.
    The tree filled a good portion of the tray, & as you can see looking at the back left hand corner, the rounds were 18", proly a bit big for a machete.
    Cheers Fred.


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    Senior Member Bluey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    Troppo is right. Big sharp machette does the trick
    Cheers

    Bluey
    Adelaide Home & Garden Solutions
    http://www.ahgs.com.au


    "Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when everyone is watching."

  7. #7
    Member Mick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    If you can find one, a Cane Knife! Its a machete but thinner steel and will slice through easier. A mate of mines dad can attest to that when he almost cut his own leg off! lol. Well, not really but it left a frickin big scar! He was a banana farmer!
    They are a great general cutting tool actually. We used to have them for when laying turf, leaves a nice clean cut when cutting in etc.
    One side has a little bit jutting out. You can shape that into a hook for picking up turf off cuts etc.

    http://www.shanleyknives.com.au/prod...-short-handle/

  8. #8
    Senior Member steveo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    yep I agree, when in rome do as the romans do. I used to have a sickle type hand held knife that I picked up for a 5 bucks but it busted in half while hitting some bamboo. That knife was great for cutting flax. I had it so sharp I was showing off to the kids by trimming the front hedge with it, unfortunately kids are really hard to impress these days. Something like this http://www.forestrytools.com.au/index.php?id=933

  9. #9
    Senior Member Bluey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    On that I will start a new thread. Feel free to contibute
    Cheers

    Bluey
    Adelaide Home & Garden Solutions
    http://www.ahgs.com.au


    "Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when everyone is watching."

  10. #10
    Senior Member Bluey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    Mick I reckon you would be going to find a quality cane knife now. Like this one http://www.qhatlas.com.au/resource/cane-knife
    Cheers

    Bluey
    Adelaide Home & Garden Solutions
    http://www.ahgs.com.au


    "Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when everyone is watching."

  11. #11
    Senior Member Bluey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    Cheers

    Bluey
    Adelaide Home & Garden Solutions
    http://www.ahgs.com.au


    "Success occurs when no one is looking, failure occurs when everyone is watching."

  12. #12
    Member Mick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    Quote Originally Posted by Bluey View Post
    I havent seen one in a shop for years and is why I said, "if you can find one..." LOL Quick Google found them so yep, they're still around!

    I remember using one years ago that was owned by an old guy. That knife was so bloody sharp it would not only take hair off your arm but the first 7 layers of skin as well. Thing is, it was really old and rusty but where he'd sharpen it was unbelievably sharp! He was the one who told me about making the protruding bit into a hook. That old guy was a local legend. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Griffiths

  13. #13
    Senior Member troppo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    I would still go for a machete as they are a lot more versatile in our line of work. Cane knife can only handle soft/light stuff whereas a machete can handle a lot heavier stuff like shrub branches. Use mine to quickly chop up shrubs/palm fronds before throwing in the ute so it packs better and you'd be surprised how handy they are, especially if you can get a heavy duty one. Chainsaw on a banana tree? Might try that one day for a laugh and see how long it takes to unclog around the drive sprocket.

  14. #14
    Member Mick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    Quote Originally Posted by troppo View Post
    I would still go for a machete as they are a lot more versatile in our line of work. Cane knife can only handle soft/light stuff whereas a machete can handle a lot heavier stuff like shrub branches. Use mine to quickly chop up shrubs/palm fronds before throwing in the ute so it packs better and you'd be surprised how handy they are, especially if you can get a heavy duty one. Chainsaw on a banana tree? Might try that one day for a laugh and see how long it takes to unclog around the drive sprocket.
    I agree that a machete is more versatile, I have a machete on my ztr for low branches etc.
    Cane knife is the right tool for this job and is also great for when laying turf! Way better than a machete for cutting turf!

  15. #15
    Senior Member steveo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Bananna plants

    I know this is not a banana related question, but does anyone have tips and techniques for removing blackberies in a garden situation. What I had to do today was cut them at the base and pull them through the shrubs they were tangled in. Took ages. Where they where sprayable i left them in tact and sprayed but I'll have to go back and respray once the ones I have cut start throwing out leaves again. Loading it on to the ute was tricky, ended up dragging it all to the ute with a rake type tool. It had to be done in slow motion because of the thorns.

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