Peening and Sharpening Workshops
£55.00 – £75.00
Learn all about peening Austrian type scythes, and take your blade home peened and ready to mow!
Scroll down for more information about the course.
Available dates
Courses run 10am-4pm on the following dates:
Sunday 6th April 2024
NOTE:
This course covers European tensioned scythe blades (so called “Austrian Scythes”) that are maintained by peening. We do not cover grinding blades (traditional English or Anglo-American scythes). If you are unsure which type of blade you have, get in touch.
Buying this course as a gift? We can send you a hand written card, featuring original art work of our farm, to give to your recipient.
Description
The key to relaxed, easy mowing that is gentle on your body is a REALLY sharp blade.
Learning to peen and sharpen well can transform your mowing experience.
New to peening?
Come along to the workshop and give your blade it’s first peen with help on hand.
If you have been using your blade heavily but haven’t peened it yet there may be a fair amount of work to do to get it back into tip top condition – we’ll have our peening machine out to make the job easier.
Already done some peening?
The workshop can help you improve your skills to get a sharper, longer lasting edge. We also look at how to repair nicks in the blade edge or take the step from jig peening to freehand peening on an anvil.
FAQs
We release new dates throughout the year. To be notified of future course dates, sign up for our Newsletter
Other Scythe Instructors
There are scythe courses happening across the UK – see The Scythe Association website for courses near you.
There are scythe courses happening across the UK – see The Scythe Association website for tutors near you.
Subjects covered
- peening theory
- setting up and using a peening station,
- peening with a jig,
- free-hand peening
- blade repair.
There is also plenty of time to work on your own blade and get it into top mowing condition with help on hand.
Directions and details of what you need to bring will be emailed to you after booking.
Peening equipment will be provided, although you are also encouraged to bring your own if you have any.
Please also bring:
- your own blade(s) (practice blades will also be available.)
- a pair of well fitting work gloves.
- a pair of ear defenders / earplugs. It can get quite loud with several people peening at once!
- a covid-safe face covering (if desired)
- a packed lunch and any snacks / drinks you may need.
Practice blades and peening/sharpening equipment are available to borrow if you do not have any.
Hot drinks and biscuits are provided.
We sell scythes and related equipment, which will be available for purchase.
You can find our location on this page.
There are various local accommodation options, here are a few.
Camping at Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust.
Cilwendeg House in Waungilwen. Bed and Breakfast or self catering (2 miles away)
Bwthyn Gwyrdd self catering cabin (less then 1 mile on foot, 2 miles by car)
The Ceridwen Centre in Drefelin. Bed and Breakfast or self catering (2 miles away)
Melin Pandy Bed and Breakfast in Newcastle Emlyn (5 miles away)
Bookings
Course places are reserved once full payment has been received.
In the unlikely event that the minimum number of participants has not been met within 2 weeks of the start date, courses may be canceled or rescheduled.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel your place, please contact us as soon as possible.
For cancellations more than 4 weeks before the course date we offer a full refund or the opportunity to transfer to another course date, minus £10 to cover our administration costs.
For cancellations within 4 weeks of the course date no refund or transfer is offered, unless we are able to fill the place or if special circumstances apply. We reserve the right to decide whether the latter applies.
Start times
Times listed are the actual time the course begins. Please arrive 15-30 min before the stated time to allow time to settle in.
Ages
All courses are suitable for participants aged 16+.