How to Hone a Scythe Blade

How to hone a scythe blade in the field, with a whetstone.
www.OneScytheRevolution.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• scythe
• blade
• sharpening
• hone
• honing
• mowing
• sensen
• wetzen

[RockTheOcean4me]

Hello sir, excellent demo, best I found this far, very descriptive, thanks !

I have some questions:

I scythe some 4-5 months now, several days a week and I think it's an awesome tool. I have also seen ppl hammering to sharpen, is that possibly even better, harder cutting edge? Is two sided sharpening better than single sided ?

[Scythesman8]

@RockTheOcean4me Austrian scythe blades are sharpened by peening them on a scythe anvil with a hammer. Honing them keeps them sharp. All sharpening is only done on one side.

[monkeyboy4746]

Is it possible to "steel" a scythe blade in the same manner as one would with a kitchen knife using a rod of hardened steel?

[Scythesman8]

@monkeyboy4746 I haven't tried it myself, but I have heard that a steel does work.

[RonRay]

Very informative.

I really like your hat! Any pointers as where to purchase one like it?

[JuliaP777]

Should you sharpen it after every use if not about how often?

[AugustusLarch]

I cut about 7 acres on my spread. I have a left hand grass scythe and a right bush sycthe. I have a stone but use a file to sharpen the blades. I sharpen the blade on the top side. I push toward the spine like one would sharpen an axe instead of away like your technique. I go really slow and carefully in plenty of light. I burnish the back of the blade to dress the burr.

I was always told that toward the blade is honing and away from the blade is burnishing. I am using a file after all.

[catherder10to9th]

Interesting that the gentleman sharpens the scythe blade in the opposite manner one sharpens a knife. Honing or filing a blade against the sharp edge is generally considered the correct method as there will be no burr needing removal. The method applies to chisels, axes, hoes, and drill bits, as well as to good quality knives. But, to each his own.

[adamatova]

Thanks for the vid. Can you tell me if a scythe would be effective against tall weeds like milk-thistle?

[RockTheOcean4me]

@Scythesman8

Thanks for your answer.

Last line is nice, had a discussion with my colleage, he sharpens on two sides.