Zero Emission Mowing Transylvanian style - Part 1

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

During my 10-day tour of Transylvania last year I saw workers in the fields effortlessly cut grass, hay, and whatever else needs cutting, with a scythe. So, before coming back, I bought a couple of locally mass produced scythe blades at a market for a few bucks each. I also bought a couple of clamps, used to attach the blade to the handle, and sharpening stones. I did not buy the specially shaped handles because they are made of wood, so I would not be allowed to bring them into the country legally. I figured I could make my own anyway. Well it's been over a year, and I finally got around to it.

Last w/e I worked through making a handle ('snath'), planning the design as I went, constantly checking for fit. I treated the wood (hardwood) with boiled linseed oil and this w/e I re-assembled the whole thing, and sharpened the shorter of the two blades using the sharpening stones.

It took very little time to get used to mowing with the scythe (following what I've read/seen at www.scythesupply.com and at www.scytheconnection.com, even if the people running the latter site seem a bit loopy ).

I am very pleased with the results, and having such a huge back yard I can say the scythe is much easier on the human anatomy than the vibrations from 4-stroke Victa, which usually persist for a couple of days as a sort of electric shocks running up and down my arms.

As it is now, the blade is sharp and strong, and works best on tough weeds. It slices through them like butter. But for mowing fine grass, I will need to work the edge of the blade with a hammer, to a paper-thin razor. Not being a blacksmith, I will just get the peening jig from www.scythesupply.com. I am glad I bought two blades (one longer than the other), as I will be able to have one for the tough stuff and one for the smooth finish.

I have attached some piccies taken with my Kraptacular Kodak Kam. Two pics of the equipment, and two pics showing the back yard before & after mowing (the back half was already mowed with a petrol powered mower last week).

PS. Part 2 will follow after I get the peening jig and put it to good use.

[acropolite (Phil)]

Steve will be addressed from now on as Mr Reaper.... Nice to see some old fashioned environmentally sound methods being kept alive.

[Striker (Tony)]

lol...Yeah Steve...throw a black sheet over you and take a photo while holding the scythe.....scary

Look's like it would do some serious damage.

If it was me.....I would just concrete it...easy fixed.....lol

yeah, I got a neighbor that mows his concrete, at least that is what it sounds like with these metal grindings going on.

[Stu]

That is just so cool. I thought using a flymo instead of the victor was enviro frendly but you just took the cake.

Now you can sell your abswing!

Beats my solar powered down lights.

[beren]

Im surprised that cactus survived , thats the first thing I would have gone for

[astro_south (Andrew)]

Zero Emissions..?????.....depends what you had for dinner the night before

Kudos to ya Steve!

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I wonder what the effort x time equation looks like for this vs a well sharpened rotary blade push mower

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Originally Posted by astro_south

Zero Emissions..?????.....depends what you had for dinner the night before

Very good point, Andrew!

Originally Posted by Starkler

I wonder what the effort x time equation looks like for this vs a well sharpened rotary blade push mower

Push mower, or even a 4-stroke mower, would have been useless on the worst of the weeds in my yard. The thing is that the scythe is not much good as a mower for a better maintained lawn without having peened blade, because the heavy blade just cannot cut through the shorter lighter stuff. That's why I'm getting a peening jig, so I can hammer the longer of the two blades down to a thin razor for fine work. Once the blades are sharp, mowing with the scythe is effortless and very quick.

[h0ughy (David)]

I want to see you dressed in a dark cloak doing the lawn, that would make an awesome image. also wear a skeletal glove, should make the neighbours look twice, then threaten them if they turn the lights on! Brave move, way to go!

[Striker (Tony)]

Word of warning...dont go to Steve's place if he plan's on mowing that day.

Thats just to scary for me.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Cool Steve!!!

The handle looks like a work of art.

Speaking of enviromentally cautious we got our weekly lot of junk mail on Friday and in one of the brochures is a battery powered lawn-mower. And only $199.

Available at Dimmeys/Forges and they have shops in lots of places. If you want one here is the store locations: http://www.dimmeys.com.au/location.html

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

I want to see you dressed in a dark cloak doing the lawn, that would make an awesome image. also wear a skeletal glove, should make the neighbours look twice, then threaten them if they turn the lights on! Brave move, way to go!

Yes, yes, that might make a nice postcard, Houghy. And scaring the neighbours is always fun. Where I bought the blades, the scythe is a commonplace tool. Just about every household has at least one. And every morning you see workers walking out to the fields with them, over their shoulders; same in the evening when they're coming back home. I've attached some photos to give you some idea of the context. These are from the village of Torockó (that's the Hungarian name, I forget what it is in Romanian).