Description
This kit contains a Styria Ditch blade (Britain’s most popular scythe blade) or a Falci 187 Ditch blade.
Tougher then the Profisense blade, these blades can happily cut young brambles, bracken, nettles and soft weeds, but can still be peened and sharpened to mow grass paths, small lawns and in orchards.
Their curved shape works well in confined areas and around obstacles.
The 65cm is generally recommended as it gives you more “bite forward”, allowing you to mow more with each stroke.
The 55cm length is useful in more confined circumstances eg paths less than 3-4ft in width or in areas with a lot of obstacles to mow around.
Books
We highly recommend adding the book “Learn to Scythe” to your scythe set.
This comprehensive instruction book is clear, informative and easy to read. It’s the next best thing to going on a scythe course! Only £10
Also available Managing Grass with a Scythe. Add to your scythe set for £6.
We highly recommend adding the book “Learn to Scythe” to your scythe set.
This comprehensive instruction book is clear, informative and easy to read. It’s the next best thing to going on a scythe course!
Add a copy of Managing Grass with a Scythe by Simon Fairlie to your scythe set for £6.00.
New revised and extended edition, an excellent book with guidance on how to manage grassland with a scythe, everything from hay making to mowing the lawn.
Click on these links for answers to FAQ
Which blade length do I need?
This kit comes with either a 65cm or 55cm blade. The 65cm is generally recommended. The 55cm length is useful in more confined circumstances eg paths less than 3-4ft in width or areas with a lot of obstacles.
Which snath length do I need?
Snaths are available in four lengths. The length needed depends on your height.
Your Height———-Snath Number
Less then 5ft ———Size 1
5ft – 5ft 10————-Size 2 (150cm)
5ft 8 – 6ft 4————Size 3 (160cm)
6ft 4 and taller——–Size 4
Once the correct length has been chosen, the scythe can be fine tuned using the adjustable handle positions on the snath such that the set up suits your height and mowing style.
Note:
People who are at the edge of the height range may not be sure which snath length to choose.
If your legs are long in proportion to your body length you should choose the longer snath. If they are short in proportion to your body length choose the shorter snath. This should give you the most useful range of adjustment of the handle positions.
Which Peening Jig do I need?
We are now offering a choice of two jigs with our sets.
The standard jig is a good entry level jig and a cost effective way to begin peening. This jig is the better choice for peening blades used for coarser mowing.
If you end up doing a lot of peening you may, in the future, want to move onto a Fux deluxe jig or freehand peening with an anvil.
The Fux Deluxe Peening Jig is slightly more expensive but is a better quality jig.
It is a good choice if you expect to stick with jig peening over your scything career, you will do a lot of peening (multiple blades, many times a year) or if you want to get started with the best tools. It is especially good for helping you achieve a finer, grass-mowing edge.
Preparing your new blade for mowing
All new blades should have the lacquer cleaned off the cutting edge to prevent it clogging the sharpening stone. See this post for further details.
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Each kit contains:
- One Scythe Blade,
- An adjustable wooden snath (inc movable hand grips, clamp and wedge),
- A whetstone holder (for carrying the sharpening stone whilst out scything),
- A natural Sharpening Stone (for regular sharpening of blade in the field),
- A Peening Jig (What is Peening?),
- A Garryflex block (for cleaning the blade prior to peening),
- An artificial Stone: Carborundum (for use after jig peening),
- A Quick Set up Guide.