[Mr McGregor]

Hi
I've just ordered a scythette from Amazon, my plot is a small field with lots of grass and I thought using one of these would be better than buying a pertrol strimmer and help with the fitness
Has anyone any advice or suggestions about using one of these??




Edit spelling for search purposes.

[arugula]

Yes. Mind your legs! If you're not sure or confident you could do with watching a demonstration film or get someone to show you.

[smud6ie]

Has anyone any advice or suggestions about using one of these??

They are only as good as the man sharpening it,if the one you are buying is the type with a long shaft and no lower handle then the drag on the blade can twist it around and ends up inches into the soil.If you don't resharpen straight away there will be more drag and......................
smud6ie

[Living in Hope]

I use a scythe for my field. I learnt a lot by going on a course.

The key thing is to go slowly, nibbling into the grass rather that trying to cut too wide a swathe at one go, slow and relaxed movements mean you shouldn't get too tired.

Aim to sharpen the scythe about every 10 imns - this sound v. frequent, but the differece a sharp blade makes is enourmous and the break help to prevent you getting tired.

I've done over 6 hours of mowing in the last week - my next purchases wil be a hay rake and pitch fork, collecting up the 'hay' is as big a job as the mowing.

[compostqueen]

There is an art to scything which has to be learned, and it's like anything else, practice makes perfect

I recently saw an old lady scything in a huge field on the Staffs/Derbys border and she looked completely relaxed.  It was a hot day too.  I wondered if she was tackling the entire field 

Like you say, great exercise.  Use leg guards though. 

[Living in Hope]

Practice makes permenant - watch YouTube clibs of using an Austrian scythe to set you off with good technique

[smud6ie]

Perhaps the OP could post a link as to the type purchased,the sythette in this link requires a different technique to a proper scythe
http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&cp=8&gs_id=n&xhr=t&q=scythette&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1024&bih=610&wrapid=tljp1338792983429014&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=13226811778408376314&sa=X&ei=HVzMT6vGBciu8gPk743hDw&sqi=2&ved=0CHMQ8wIwAA
smud6ie