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jamanda
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 12 12:09 am Post subject:
I'm sure that's not spelt right.

gil
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Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 12 12:11 am Post subject:
So am I.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 12 12:16 am Post subject:

gil wrote:

So am I.

Finsky

Joined: 10 Sep 2011
Posts: 847
Location: Notts.

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 12 8:41 am Post subject:

Have you got any agricultural tool suppliers around near you? I treated myself for a new scythe last summer. My old one is wooden shafted 'turk' scythe..although still in working order..I couldn't walk by when I saw modern version of the same but with metal shaft..

I paid around £70 for one with 'bramble' blade and £40(ish) extra for longer grass blade.
I've got telephone number for the wholesaller if you want...or you could try googling if they've got web site.
Its Tony Mitchell Limited..Country Hardware Wholesales.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 12 11:22 am Post subject:
Good exercise as well.

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 12 12:24 pm Post subject:

Cathryn wrote:

Good exercise as well.

That had occured to me.

Plenty of agricultural suppliers round here Finsky, but I will have a look at the website. Thanks.

arvo

Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 3321
Location: Somerset

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 12 7:46 pm Post subject:
I got the ones from gil's mate (whose name has gone from my head: v. tired) I believe is across the border in Devon? He does great kit (you definitely want a wooden Austrian scythe, English ones are heavy and 'orrible, as are metal ones) and has a great starter kit with everything in it you need for less than £100 as I remember (may be more now).

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 12 7:55 pm Post subject:
The Austrian scythes as Arvos says are light and easy to handle. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=austrian+scythe&mid=DD2609ACE467BBC4BE2DDD2609ACE467BBC4BE2D&FORM=LKVR

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 12 12:23 am Post subject:
Simon Fairlie at The Scythe Shop

Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9717
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 12 1:10 am Post subject:

we got ours from Simon Fairlie too -

you need to get the right size - based on your height - there is some adjustments, but different height people will probably need different scythes. then there are difference blades for different types of cutting.

for most smallholders would probably want a brush cutting blade - good enough to take out brambles etc, but grass mowing, ideally you would have a longer blade.

it is good - really you have sharpened, cut and put it away again long before you would have got the strimmer started

- and I personally think it is less effort and you dont have to wear as much gear.

robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 12 2:06 pm Post subject:
I joined in with Simon Fairlie's demo in Regent's Park the other week, and quite enjoyed it. So how practical would it be to use a scythe to mow a small (10 x 15 foot) lawn plus the paths and 'seating area' (6 x 20 foot) at the allotment?

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 12 4:12 pm Post subject:

Excellent - I'm glad Simon's demo included taster sessions.

Very practical / easy.

10x15' lawn is smaller than regular competition plots of 5m x 5m.
Even if you are mowing really slowly, that wouldn't take you more than half an hour, including stopping to sharpen the blade, having a rest, etc etc. Possibly even a cuppa. Might take you 4 rows/swathes to cut; maybe three.

6 x 20' is even smaller. You could almost do that in one pass / swathe, if you mowed a 2m swathe.

robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 12 7:59 am Post subject:

Thanks Gil. Taster sessions were good fun, and it's not every day you get to mow part of Regent's Park

I'm peasantly surprised by your timings - lawn takes me half hour with the electric mower, including raking up the clippings (no grass collecting box). As for the allotment, I've developed a real aversion to my petrol strimmer - too loud, too smelly and too messy - so I reckon a scythe could be the answer.

Time to start saving up!!

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 12 4:30 pm Post subject:
Oh, I didn;t include time for raking up and removing. Allow about the same amount of time again - say half an hour for the big bit; 20 mins for the strip. That's at full hay-style growth/height. Mmmmm ! Mowing Regents Park ! Am envious ! Glad you enjoyed it ! And your typo is rather good.

robkb

Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 4205
Location: SE London

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 12 8:59 am Post subject:

gil wrote:

Mmmmm ! Mowing Regents Park ! Am envious !

Glad you enjoyed it ! And your typo is rather good.

I didn't mow that much of it... as it was my first time with a scythe I was more concerned about not cutting my feet off!

As for the raking, the grass never gets to full hay height but I do leave it longer than my neighbours before cutting it (but that said, I'm sure soem of them actually comb their lawns after cutting).

Didn't notice the typo

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