Good Evening Everyone
My husband is interested in getting a scythe and is figuring out what size blade to get. Anyone out there use them and what do you cut with them?
__________________
"Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbs
"I'm not sure that man needs the help." Calvin
I got one at a auction just because... you know... I own a scythe.
I used it a few times to cut some grass or weeds. It's a LOT of work! And so, since it wasn't nearly as cool to sweat like a fiend while pulling just about every muscle in my poor abused body, I ended up giving it to my bro who loves it.
so true Wolfy. just about every muscle or so it seems. especially if a person has never done it before. I started when I was very young. I had a smaller one and I think dad or Gf must have made it. it's easy once you get the hang of it. course I got a ride-on now for my grass but every now and then I use it. I have Gfathers sythe. ~Georgia.
I bet! I've seen folks using them and it looks easy! Until you grab the big thing and start swinging. I'd never used one and frankly I'm happy I didn't manage to cut off my own head! LOL.
They are deceptively complex tools too. The angles and the curves all become the tool so that it works properly. It's kind of like a usable piece of art, truly.
I use one to cut the grass and weeds out of the irrigation ditch leading to my place. One neighbor brings his weedeater on these fun excursions but it bogs down when the water is in the ditch and the scythe goes through easily.
I have one. I don't use it anymore unless I have too. The goats take care of most of it. I cut my hay with a walk behind mower now. Mine is small and light with the short, thin, light blade. I have hand/shoulder/neck problems and they are not good when you have these problems....James
I sometimes use one to prop the barn door open. My Amish neighbors use one once in a while when they can't find someone with a bushog to do some work for them.
I do use mine a little about once a year, just to keep in practice.
I found one at an auction, and loving old tools, I bought it. Polished up the blade and sharpened it, but never really could get the hang of using it.
Worked out well though. It seems that it was made by a hardware company that was highly collectable. Since there was very little wear on it, and I had it all cleaned and polished.... Somone offered me big bucks for it.
got an oldie at a farm sale, and do use it to cut small amts of fresh alfalfa for daily feeding of the dairy goats. i wouldn't want to have to do much with it, but it does a nice job for what i'm using it for.
My dad used one to cut weeds out of ditches, and generally take control of high weeds. He used to say (like stanb above posted) that it was effortless. He did the hillside near the house, too.
Mine is from scythesupply too and I love it. I use it to hay the back field and orchard mostly. I don't find it any slower than the Stihl and it is so much quieter - swoosh, pause, swoosh. My hives are in the back field and I never think twice about cutting the grass right up in front of them with the scythe - I don't think I would do that with the Stihl.
33Likes
Scythes, Does anyone use them?
