Description
This scythe set is intended for people who will be using their scythe for rough work only.
This set comes with a 65cm Styria or 55cm Falci 187 Ditch blade as standard.
The Styria and Falci 187 Ditch blade will also cut grass, for best results this requires peening.
If you are only mowing rough weeds, docks, bracken and brambles it is possible to get away without peening your blade. To manage these blade with out peening, use a file and a coarser stone to periodically re-shape the edge of the blade.
NOTE: if you choose not to peen you will lose out on some of the advantages of peening such as:
- work hardening of the edge, which allows it to hold a longer lasting sharp edge
- the drawing out of new metal to replace that worn away by work and sharpening.
The 65cm Styria blade gives you more “bite forward”, allowing you to mow more with each stroke. The 55cm Falci 187 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.
Other blade options
The following short, tough blades are suitable for mowing tough weeds, bracken, bramble and woody plants such as raspberry canes and young tree suckers.
The 40cm Fux Bush blade is capable of cutting older, woodier tree suckers in addition to the above, but it is not suitable for grass.
The 40cm Falci 187 is a more versatile bush blade and a better choice if you will be mowing softer weeds as well as tougher ones. The short length is useful in very confined conditions, and contributes to it’s strength and means it will put less strain on your snath when used to cut tough, woody material.
The 55cm Falci Bear is similar to the Fux bush blade but longer and more versatile, for details of this heavy ditch blade, see here
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 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.
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 Quick Set up Guide.