Awaiting Replacement: Esee Lite Machete Complete Failure

[Jackal]

Today I got the chance to take my brand new Esee Lite Machete out for its first use. Well, it failed completely. Attached pic is what the blade looked like after trying to cut a 1" thick green fir limb off the tree. Complete failure. Esee really should take their name off these Condor machetes. Emailed them asking if I could get a credit toward a knife, instead of replacement garbage machete. Hope their customer service is as good as I've heard.:banghead:

 

[Deltaboy1984]

All I see is some chips in the Blade. Reprofile the blade with more chisel angle .

Defiantly not who most here would call a failure.

 

[Jackal]

All I see is some chips in the Blade. Reprofile the blade with more chisel angle .

Defiantly not who most here would call a failure.

Hope thats sarcastic.
Extreme edge roll trying to chop a 1" softwood limb IS a critical failure, lol. Even a $5 Harbor Fright machete stands up better than this. Even a butter knife can do better than this. I love my Esee 6, but this machete is garbage.

 

[LemmyCaution]

Looks like that one skipped Heat Treatment 101.

Send it back for do-overs.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

I wouldn't buy an ESEE that didn't have a Rowen heat treated 1095 blade. I've batoned my Junglas through branches before with no ill effects. Condor uses 1075 carbon steel which as far as I can tell is okay (I've got a bunch of their knives). This one however isn't right. I would absolutely take ESEE up on their warranty.

 

[Jackal]

I sent them an email requesting a warranty claim. Ideally, since I have lost any faith in these blades, I would like a credit toward another Esee knife. Imagine if I hadnt tested this in my back yard and I had taken it on a trip/relied on it.....

 

[Jackal]

Well, this is unexpected. I just got a reply from Jeff Randall on a Sunday night. Here's the reply:

"Travis, we have one every once in a while that does that. Since we don't make the blade we have no control over the actual heat treat. I will have Jodi ship you a new one to try out. I apologize for the issue.

Let me know if this works for you and I will get Jodi to send one out. Please keep the old one. You can re-grind the blade on a belt sander and just use it as a beater blade.

Jeff Randall"

Customer service is an A+++ Wow.

 

[hso]

Defiantly not who most here would call a failure.

I'd call that a complete failure for a machete. You don't have to break the blade in two for the thing to have failed the purpose (chopping a bunch of things).

***

Jeff's a great guy, they make a great product that they stand behind, but you better be polite to Jodi or there's no telling the world of woe that will befall you.

 

[TomADC]

Looks to me like they made it good!

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Well, this is unexpected. I just got a reply from Jeff Randall on a Sunday night. Here's the reply:

"Travis, we have one every once in a while that does that. Since we don't make the blade we have no control over the actual heat treat. I will have Jodi ship you a new one to try out. I apologize for the issue.

Let me know if this works for you and I will get Jodi to send one out. Please keep the old one. You can re-grind the blade on a belt sander and just use it as a beater blade.

Jeff Randall"

Customer service is an A+++ Wow.

Please give us an updated field report on this.

That machete has been on my list. Need to know if it can stay there or needs to come off.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Looks to me that they did better than "good"...
if I needed a(nother) machete I'd buy from them just on that response.

 

[Jackal]

Please give us an updated field report on this.

Will do. When I get the replacement, you can bet your booty I'll be testing it on the same limbs. The handle is really comfy and the blade is a perfect length/weight. Most companies feel their machete's need to be 12"-14" or 24" and many others feel the need to make them way too heavy. If the replacement can hold up to basic chopping use, it will be a keeper for sure.

 

[Speedo66]

If you're happy with their response, that's great. Personally, I see it as "we know there's a problem, but we continue to sell them anyway. We're sending you another of the same, let us know if you got lucky this time".

I don't necessarily see that as good customer service. To me, it would be "we know there's a problem and have decided to find another supplier".

 

[Jackal]

I don't necessarily see that as good customer service. To me, it would be "we know there's a problem and have decided to find another supplier".

Well, I have to give them at least 1 try at replacing it. If the next one is bad, you can bet I'll be requesting a refund or exchange for another product. In the mean time, it seems my trusty old 18" Brit military machete will be getting a workout. That bugger can chop rocks without taking damage.

 

[Valkman]

You could always take the handles off the old one and try to heat treat it yourself and regrind it. Of course I was a knifemaker but it seems like a doable project that might yeild results and teach you how to heat treat, which is pretty easy.

I too don't see much in the response of "we have no control over the crap we sell but here's another one". I'd take the new one but wouldn't be suprised if it failed also.

 

[Girodin]

I don't think you can judge their decision to continue to sell with out knowing the relative numbers. It's a pretty different situation if its one im ten that has a problem versus say 1 in 1000.

 

[22-rimfire]

I agree, problems are relative. I would be a bit bothered chopping that particular tree and having the chips. Condor manufactures very good stuff and they also stand behind their products.

I don't necessarily see that as good customer service. To me, it would be "we know there's a problem and have decided to find another supplier".

Funny. There are only a couple manufacturers in the world and Condor is one of the best. I have quite a few Condor products and have generally been very pleased with them. My most recent is the wood handled El Salvador machete (18") and love the thing.

 

[Jackal]

My most recent is the wood handled El Salvador machete (18") and love the thing.

So I understand that it does not chip out chopping a 1" thick green softwood limb?

 

[Jaymo]

Dude, machetes are for brush, not for chopping wood.

Parangs and Khukuris are what you need for chopping wood.

I'd say the failure was a failure of the user to utilize the machete for it's intended purpose.

I don't see how you can fault Condor for making a non-woodcutting tool that does not stand up to woodcutting.

That's like getting mad because your wood chisel chipped out when you tried to use it as a cold chisel.

Bear in mind, I'm not a big fan of machetes because of the fact that they don't work well for chopping wood.

I like a brush axe better. Or a khukuri.

 

[Speedo66]

Dude, machetes are for brush, not for chopping wood.

Parangs and Khukuris are what you need for chopping wood.

I'd say the failure was a failure of the user to utilize the machete for it's intended purpose.

I don't see how you can fault Condor for making a non-woodcutting tool that does not stand up to woodcutting.

That's like getting mad because your wood chisel chipped out when you tried to use it as a cold chisel.

Bear in mind, I'm not a big fan of machetes because of the fact that they don't work well for chopping wood.

I like a brush axe better. Or a khukuri.

That may be true, but I've used machetes for removing branches many times with a few different brand machetes, and have never had something like that happen.

His sounds like a tempering problem. I'm currently using an old US marked Ontario bolo style, works great on branches.

 

[Jaymo]

That may be, but machetes aren't designed not intended for anything heavier than brush/vines clearing.
The fact that some stand up to the abuse of chopping tree branches does not mean that another one chipping out on wood is a design, material, or process failure.
It's design parameters were exceeded and the edge failed.
That is normal and correct.

It is good that Esee is replacing his machete.

I still haven't found a machete I truly like.
The closest I've found is the old Ontario US military issue machete.

 

[Jackal]

You should easily be able to fell saplings with a machete. Period. A 1" softwood limb is nothing, a butter knife can cut one. My old Sheffield machete has fallen many 4"-8" trees without suffering damage. I was planning on retiring it after getting the Esee, but I am still awaiting my replacement.