Scythe Workshop: How to Mow with a Scythe

[BishBaroniee]

this is just fun to watch.

[rentacowisgoogle]

I'm using an antique scythe my parents had in the garage to clear a beach that's overgrown with bamboo and crab grass. We can't get the tractor down onto the sandy riverside and a weed-whacker can't handle the bamboo. The scythe goes through one inch thick bamboo and DENSE crab grass/black berry bushes like butter. A very useful tool.

[mojototal]

@rentacowisgoogle You should make a video about that...but I guess you already cleared that beach 3 times over. lol

[Crunchy68]

@Scythesman8 Thanks for that! Another VERY cool video. Very inspirational.

[laserstun]

I'm still trying to get the hang of one of these. I tend to flatten the grass instead of cutting it. Practice practice...

[Scythesman8]

@laserstun Make sure that your blade is sharp, your hafting angle is closed, and your blade stays on the ground through the entire stroke.

[dobe762]

@Scythesman8 'your hafting angle is closed' Sir can you please explain this to me? I have bought an Austrian scythe and have it hafted at 3''. I'm waiting on some grass growing ;-)

[Scythesman8]

@dobe762 If the tip of the blade is 3" below in circle, it is closed. Most beginners instinctively whack away at the vegetation with the full edge all at once. This forces the tang to slip back into a fully open position. Which leads to more whacking, a very dull blade, and eventually big cracks. Austrian scythe blades are meant to shear the grass. They are not machetes at the end of a long stick. Where did you get your scythe? Quality and sharpness makes a big difference.

[dobe762]

@Scythesman8 Thank you ... I'm in Ireland and bought my scythe from Simon in the UK. I have not peened the blade yet, but its cutting great at the moment. I have the jig and will use it soon. Your vids are really good, you can tell when someone knows what they are doing ;-)

[mollyisagooddog]

Bought a scythe yesterday for €58 and €5 for the sharpening stone. It is the dog's bollox for effectively cutting scutch grass on the perimiter of your property. Areas you can't get at with a lawnmower or grass that is too tall for a mower too negotiate. I watched this video for technique and it's spot on. All hail to Scytheman8 for uploading.

[Crunchy68]

This is just lovely. Would it work on a steep hillside, though? Every video I've seen shows it being used on flat ground.

[mollyisagooddog]

@Crunchy68 Can be used on a hillside alright. Draw the blade in the direction of the downward slope for best effect.

[Scythesman8]

@mollyisagooddog see the youtube video of steep alpine haymaking: "Keeping Ancient Hay Making Tradition Alive"

[MrPlanesforever1]

@Scythesman8 Thank you for telling me about the ancient haymaking video. I have my own first video of using a scythe on youtube. See 'Scything Weeds'. Interesting about the use of crampons in the ancient haymaking video. Many thanks again. I'm going to stick with the scythe and the technique in youe video has been very helpful.

[Scythesman8]

@Crunchy68 Of course! They are from Austria. see the youtube video of steep alpine haymaking: "Keeping Ancient Hay Making Tradition Alive". It's actually in Switerland but you'll get the idea.

[fordtruxdad]

Puts me in mind of my childhood. We had a peg-legged tenant on our farm who cut all our wheat with a scythe and cradle. That man could really work. Thanks for posting!

[sierracuban]

THIS IS AN ART USED ALL OVER EUROPE......See the EXACT same thing in Northern Spain here on You Tube at : Segar con guadaña en Llanera....

[sierracuban]

SEE THE SAME TECHNIQUE IN SPAIN here on You Tube in :

SEGANDO CON GUADAÑA.......( Asturias, Spain ) Childhood memories ! ! !

Sierra Cuban, Miami, Florida

[sierracuban]

THIS IS AN ART.......My uncle in Northern Spain would take me to watch him do exactly this back in 1962, when I was a boy of 9........He would then stack the feed hay for his three Holstein cows......MEMORIES ! Hey, with the end of petroleum fuels, we may go back to this ART......WE MAY BE BETTER OFF......The old days were filled with BETTER HUMAN BEINGS.....GOD HELP OUR WORLD.....

Sierra Cuban, Miami, Florida

[gavinthegamekiller]

i live in wisconsin to. what county is this in.

[darmokandgalad]

Where is this located?? It's beautiful

[Scythesman8]

@darmokandgalad Wisconsin

[Shivasavasana]

Does the blade have to be kept razor sharp to work properly? What do you use to sharpen it?

[JonathanZeidman]

@Shivasavasana a whetstone is used for final sharpening and in the field for edge maintenance. an austrian style blade is also peened occassionally to keep the outside few mm of the edge thin. there are some videos here about peening and sharpening.

[strega42]

How do I determine what angle haft is best for me? Are there particular measurements one should take? Is there a particular stance one should be in when one takes those measurements?  I'm going to have to order a scythe blade on line and make a snath; I'd like to minimize my margin for error in that regard.

Thanks for some great videos!

[JonathanZeidman]

@strega42 check out scytheconnection (dot) com for details

[FatherOfTheParty]

Looks like a great core workout. Who needs a gym membership? Go get a scythe

[TheSchlaudt]

Thanks a ton for the video, i just got a scythe and this is very helpful.

[pumpSHO]

that looks like come good chigung

[mopbrothers]

Very helpful and beautiful. Is an acre too much to do by hand?  I wonder how often sharpening is needed.

[JonathanZeidman]

@mopbrothers i tend to touchup the blade every 5-20 minutes, depending. in theory, an acre could be done by an experienced, strong mower in good conditions in a (long) day.