Description
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.
Blade Choices
There are two blade choices in this scythe set, click on the links below for more information on each.
Falci 128
The curved shape of the Falci 128 blade works well in confined areas and around obstacles, eg trimming around the garden or allotment, mowing in orchards or along trackways.
It is a good choice for a maintaining a garden meadow, as the refined Falci finish means it needs less frequent peening to keep a good grass cutting edge. Like any blade it needs frequent honing to keep a keen edge, but when used to manage a small area may only need peening once a year.
It’s deep belly makes it forgiving of uneven ground and easy for the beginner to set up and mow. When used on the lawn the deep belly gives a slightly longer cut, which can be desirable as it leaves the lawn greener then with a very close cut.
It is a lighter blade then the Rasierschnitt so is a good choice if most of your mowing is green weeds and grass but is less suitable for tougher weeds.
Rasierschnitt 60cm
The Rasierschnitt is a good all rounder. It mows grasses well and, as a slightly heavier blade, would be a better choice then the Falci for stoney or rougher meadow areas, though it will need more frequent peening.
The blade has a long taper to it’s tip. This makes it easier to carry out selective mowing eg “weeding” around plants in a forest garden. The less hooked tip and it’s long taper allows the blade to penetrate clumping plants well, making it the best blade for mowing soft rush.
If used with care this blade is capable of mowing young brambles. If you have large areas to tackle, or the brambles are more mature, one of these tougher blades might suit you better.
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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 50cm, 60cm or 70cm blade. The longer blade lengths are more useful in open situations. In more confined areas, the shorter lengths are more appropriate.
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.
Which Sharpening stone do I need?
As standard, we recommend a La Saurat sharpening stone as we find this stone offers a good compromise – it is easy for a beginner to use, yet is fine enough that it does not wear away the peened edge too quickly.
As you gain experience with sharpening the finer Rozutec stone will enable you to achieve a good sharp edge whilst removing even less metal, increasing the length of time a peened edge will last.
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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