Ideally you just swing the knife, and let the weight of the blade carry it through the branch (virtually no wear on your wrist that way). If the total weight of the knife is just over a pound, it doesn't get very far, and you end up making a lot of swings, also wearing you out.
If ALL you want is to "chop" with a heavy tool doing a lot of the work, have you tried an axe or camp hatchet (with a GOOD edge)?
As far as weight vs. power and wearing out. Depends on your intended chores.
I still look for a "knife" to provide versatility and be worth carrying.
If all I want is a tool to chop, there are BETTER tools that cost WAY less.
But, personally, I am not going to carry much over 16 - 20 ounces of knife on my belt. And rarely even that. But, that is me.
I also have my 24" Machete, but it still isn't very heavy and can't really chop (it does work well on the light stuff though).
I don't know what machete you have. But, I can chop quite well with quite a few different machetes.
They do make some machetes thicker and heavier than others if looking for more power.
The heavier ones are not as nimble and not as good on the "light stuff" because not as nimble and wieldy, but if you want a heavier duty machete that can chop well, you might want to look into the Condor El Salvador (with carbon steel blade!) It will chop. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> .. and for only about $50 comes with leather sheath and EXCELLENT convexed edge. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
Tramontina machete = 17.0 ounces; 0.084” thick; 17.625” blade; 22.9375” oal
Condor – El Salvador = 22.0 ounces; 0.13” thick; 17.9375” blade; 23.125” oal
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