What is scythe? - Scythe is that scary weapon that Grim Reaper uses, it's used in some horror movies to bring terror and to kill.
But, let's leave movies and fiction on the side. In reality scythe is one very useful tool, which I would recommend to the all people that have some kind of lawn, pasture, orchard, basically some patch of grass.
There are different types of scythes in the world, but we make two big groups:
European Scythe
Slovakian Tovarna kos, model: Silver
This is the type of scythe that I use and am very fond of. It's ultra light, cut like a razor if sharpened properly. In my humble this is scythe for beginners and pros since it's very versatile and very easy to use. People talk that Austrian scythes are the best, could be true, didn't try it. My own scythe(same from the picture above) is 90cm long (36 inches), which is very good for cutting tall grass since it has some weight to it and properly sharpened blade.
American Scythe
Maintenance
Maintaining scythe is not that hard, once you get how to do it. There are the two most important parts:
Peening - very important task if you want to have sharp tool which will cut almost through anything (green). The peening itself is the process of forming the edge of the blade using special hammer to beat it until it is thin enough. Thin edge means sharp edge. It can be done on small anvil or on the peening jig which is great for people that are just starting. Personally I have small anvil since the peening jig is not available in my country at the moment.
Peening Jig with two caps.
Narrow and wide anvil for peening.
Honning - this part comes after the peening, once you have thin edge, you can clean it and sharp it which sharping stone or sharping stones of different grit (this is up to you). You will use sharpening stone more than you think, every time you feel that blade is not cutting per your expectations, few strokes on the blade with sharping stone and you are good to go for the next few minutes. Make sure your stone holder is always filled with water enough to dip 3/4 of the stone in it.
Whetstone or sharping stone.
Stone holders.
Mowing
The most fun part of the whole thing about owning a scythe is the mowing. Very fun, meditative and good physical activity. Idea is that you use scythe in that manner, that you are able to mow for a few hours at the time. Mowing with scythe is not sprint but a marathon and that should be taken seriously. Why am I saying that? Because Scythe should be held very lightly, you do not need to be stiff and hold it like your life depends on it. If you hit something hard with your scythe blade, ideally your scythe should fall out of your hands, that means your scythe will survive and your snath also.
Why you should mow in the morning. That's where the grass is wet and all that juices are in the top of the grass you want to mow. The blade will easily cut through the grass, making that famous "swooosh" sound and you will smell the chlorophyll that grass releases. Once sun started burning and grass become dry, that's when the mowing will become a little harder than before, also you will have to sharpen your blade more often than before.
Scythe has a many uses, you can cut bushes with it, you can cut short grass, long grass, you can cut a grass to feed your animals. Also you can cut grass to create hay which later can be used for many things. I cut my grass and use it in the garden for mulching and also to mulch around my fruit trees.
If you're still deciding about buying scythe, my advice is to go and buy it. I do not know a lot of people which are in possession of the same and not using it even a few times a year, if not every week.
One Scythe Revolution instruction video on how to mow:
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