Absolutely flawless presentation. Thank you for this video as I am chasing down a method for producing the finest edge possible on my scythe. I was lacking the fine version of the honing stone and I appreciate the example of proper edge location and how to properly see the materials when honed. Thank you!
Very helpful. I bought a vintage scythe today for $6. The snath is heavy and thick at the base, what I understand to be a later snath used in clearing for the railroads. It has a 30" grass blade, I believe to be American style. First step will be electrolysis for the blade to remove rust and then see what I have to work with. I guess I need to rebuild the stand for my grinding wheel now.
Great vodeo. I too have this Grizzly grinder. Thanks for the tips. I cannot imagine harvesting my crop of wheat with this gadget, but it certainly is sharp.
I have an old, rusty scythe blade that I was not able to get the first off on my own. Considering what seems to be the special nature of scythe blades, would it be advisable to send it to a place that sharpens blades? I have a local place but I'm not sure if they use this technique... I lack both the skill and tools to undertake this task right now
I recently got a batch of old (probably 80ish years old, could be older as there's a 1926 patent marker on one) scythes and as I've been removing the rust I've noticed that they mostly seem to only have a hollow grind on one side, straight bevel on the other (sorry if those are the right terms but basically one side is like a knife bevel and the other side is like a razor hollow grind). Is this typical for this era? I'm going to try hollow grinding both sides as in this and other videos I've seen.
Hi thanks for that. I got myself an American scythe for grass, but being tall I've switched the handles to the highest setting. Is it a problem that the edge is pointing up slightly now and may I need to adjust the tang? (I assuming if I was standing on a flat surface the flat of the blade would ideally be flat to the ground)
Is there ever a reason for the length of the blade to be bent? Should it be dead flat except for the tang? My estate sale find is somewhat curved downward along its length. I didn't know if this was possibly a modification for a taller user, a change in the terrain being mowed, or if he just tried to pry out a tree stump...
When you say euro blades I want to clarify it means continental europe, in the nordic countries we use scythes that are sharpened like an american scythe. If I had to guess, american scytches can probably trace their heritage to scandinavia.
Do you know where I can find information about how to forge a scythe blade? I'm trying to write a poem about an 18th-century blacksmith forging a scythe blade using some technical, or blacksmithing, terminology? I would like to get the process from start to finish right so that the poem could be enjoyed by the lay person and the blacksmith/scythe expert alike. In other words, would you know where I would be able to get a four- to five-sentence paragraph about how to take a piece of steel or iron (?) and forge it into a scythe blade? Thanks for any help you can give. So glad there are videos like yours out there.
Absolutely flawless presentation. Thank you for this video as I am chasing down a method for producing the finest edge possible on my scythe. I was lacking the fine version of the honing stone and I appreciate the example of proper edge location and how to properly see the materials when honed. Thank you!
Extremely helpful. Much thanks. Good to see specialized information about American blades.
Very helpful. I bought a vintage scythe today for $6. The snath is heavy and thick at the base, what I understand to be a later snath used in clearing for the railroads. It has a 30" grass blade, I believe to be American style. First step will be electrolysis for the blade to remove rust and then see what I have to work with. I guess I need to rebuild the stand for my grinding wheel now.
Great jig, I'll need to make one for my homemade slow speed grinder. Thanks for sharing.
Great vodeo. I too have this Grizzly grinder. Thanks for the tips. I cannot imagine harvesting my crop of wheat with this gadget, but it certainly is sharp.
Thanks for this video, Grizzly is no longer selling a wet grinder that I was able to find. WEN makes something similar.
I have an old, rusty scythe blade that I was not able to get the first off on my own. Considering what seems to be the special nature of scythe blades, would it be advisable to send it to a place that sharpens blades? I have a local place but I'm not sure if they use this technique... I lack both the skill and tools to undertake this task right now
I recently got a batch of old (probably 80ish years old, could be older as there's a 1926 patent marker on one) scythes and as I've been removing the rust I've noticed that they mostly seem to only have a hollow grind on one side, straight bevel on the other (sorry if those are the right terms but basically one side is like a knife bevel and the other side is like a razor hollow grind). Is this typical for this era? I'm going to try hollow grinding both sides as in this and other videos I've seen.
What would be the best type of wood to use for the whipping stick? I have mostly hardwoods here, but do have some maple, pine, and cedar.
Hi thanks for that. I got myself an American scythe for grass, but being tall I've switched the handles to the highest setting. Is it a problem that the edge is pointing up slightly now and may I need to adjust the tang? (I assuming if I was standing on a flat surface the flat of the blade would ideally be flat to the ground)
Is there ever a reason for the length of the blade to be bent? Should it be dead flat except for the tang? My estate sale find is somewhat curved downward along its length. I didn't know if this was possibly a modification for a taller user, a change in the terrain being mowed, or if he just tried to pry out a tree stump...
I don't have a grinding wheel, but I did recently purchase one of your "Manticore" continental stones. Could I simply use that to establish the edge?
When you say euro blades I want to clarify it means continental europe, in the nordic countries we use scythes that are sharpened like an american scythe. If I had to guess, american scytches can probably trace their heritage to scandinavia.
I bought a used American scythe, and it's very dull, do I need to sharpen both side or just the top?
a bit of a toothy edge seems to work well on most cutting tools eh
I'm getting closer lol
so is the whipping stick acting like a strop?
Does the idiom from heal to toe come from scything?
Do you know where I can find information about how to forge a scythe blade? I'm trying to write a poem about an 18th-century blacksmith forging a scythe blade using some technical, or blacksmithing, terminology? I would like to get the process from start to finish right so that the poem could be enjoyed by the lay person and the blacksmith/scythe expert alike. In other words, would you know where I would be able to get a four- to five-sentence paragraph about how to take a piece of steel or iron (?) and forge it into a scythe blade? Thanks for any help you can give. So glad there are videos like yours out there.
No hammering?