Post by FrostyTurnip on May 26, 2023 10:20:27 GMT -6
I love it I don’t know why. It’s tedious, slow and HOT, but it doesn’t usually phase me. Sometimes procrastination hits, but not usually.
I attribute much of my gardening and landscaping inspiration from videos including Jim Kovaleski. Because of his experience, I purchased my European scythe kit from Scythe Supply a few years ago.
Ultimately, it’s a curved blade on the end of a stick. Mine is not a professional scythe - a simple blade more for beginners - but it is a good one, sufficient to complete the tasks needed.
Different landscapes require different blades. Ultimately, different grasses require different blade edges making peening and honing in a mandatory requirement.
I’ve gotten to the point of crudely drawing out the edge of the scythe blade and lightly peening it flat for a sharper edge, but I really struggle with having a steady hand. After a few cracked blade edges, I can see the seasons grow different grasses and Forbes and require the different blade edges. Although I know this, my ability to provide the edge isn’t happening very well. Late winter and early spring provide the Forbes, the mints and the small growies as well as some Johnson grass for which a standard blunt edge is sufficient and, actually required as the base of a lambsquarter plant can be slightly woody and damage a finer edge.
But then comes summer with the Bermuda grass and also the wild rye - both of which are my nemesis with the Bermuda being the mainstay of the entire landscape. How frustrating to spend so much on a scythe kit only to find it won’t work on the primary landscape grass!
At this point, I’m assuming the blade edge required for Bermuda (to mow as a lawn) should be super duper sharp or “stupid sharp” as my husband calls it. To this date I am unable to provide this without tearing up the blade edge from peening alone. When I draw the edge out long in order to sharpen, I create weak spots that tend to crack easily.
I just ordered the Schroeckenfux Anvil. The standard peening jig just isn’t giving the edge I need, but I haven’t the skills to free hand. Perhaps this anvil will help. I’ve read others who claim they finally achieved the edge they were looking for after using the Schroeckenfux Anvil.
If this doesn’t work, I may resort to using a serrated edge which would use up the steel very quickly. Ultimately, I may need a better blade. A scythe is for harvesting tall grasses and Forbes, but mowing a lawn is a tad more difficult.
Technique is important. Keeping the toe at an angle very near the base of the grass is helpful as well as insuring appropriate stride so as to keep the entire blade 1/8 or less above the grade. In some cases, I find keeping the blade flush with grade most effective. This gets messy when the grade is uneven. Even so, I wonder when I should just come in with a sharp sickle?
I still have many different things to try for the summer grasses. It’s tempting to pull out the lawnmower, but I wouldn’t learn anything. The mower isn’t running right now anyway.
I attribute much of my gardening and landscaping inspiration from videos including Jim Kovaleski. Because of his experience, I purchased my European scythe kit from Scythe Supply a few years ago.
Ultimately, it’s a curved blade on the end of a stick. Mine is not a professional scythe - a simple blade more for beginners - but it is a good one, sufficient to complete the tasks needed.
Different landscapes require different blades. Ultimately, different grasses require different blade edges making peening and honing in a mandatory requirement.
I’ve gotten to the point of crudely drawing out the edge of the scythe blade and lightly peening it flat for a sharper edge, but I really struggle with having a steady hand. After a few cracked blade edges, I can see the seasons grow different grasses and Forbes and require the different blade edges. Although I know this, my ability to provide the edge isn’t happening very well. Late winter and early spring provide the Forbes, the mints and the small growies as well as some Johnson grass for which a standard blunt edge is sufficient and, actually required as the base of a lambsquarter plant can be slightly woody and damage a finer edge.
But then comes summer with the Bermuda grass and also the wild rye - both of which are my nemesis with the Bermuda being the mainstay of the entire landscape. How frustrating to spend so much on a scythe kit only to find it won’t work on the primary landscape grass!
At this point, I’m assuming the blade edge required for Bermuda (to mow as a lawn) should be super duper sharp or “stupid sharp” as my husband calls it. To this date I am unable to provide this without tearing up the blade edge from peening alone. When I draw the edge out long in order to sharpen, I create weak spots that tend to crack easily.
I just ordered the Schroeckenfux Anvil. The standard peening jig just isn’t giving the edge I need, but I haven’t the skills to free hand. Perhaps this anvil will help. I’ve read others who claim they finally achieved the edge they were looking for after using the Schroeckenfux Anvil.
If this doesn’t work, I may resort to using a serrated edge which would use up the steel very quickly. Ultimately, I may need a better blade. A scythe is for harvesting tall grasses and Forbes, but mowing a lawn is a tad more difficult.
Technique is important. Keeping the toe at an angle very near the base of the grass is helpful as well as insuring appropriate stride so as to keep the entire blade 1/8 or less above the grade. In some cases, I find keeping the blade flush with grade most effective. This gets messy when the grade is uneven. Even so, I wonder when I should just come in with a sharp sickle?
I still have many different things to try for the summer grasses. It’s tempting to pull out the lawnmower, but I wouldn’t learn anything. The mower isn’t running right now anyway.
