Manual grass braids: features and choices

An ordinary scythe can be found in the barn of every real owner. Currently, many types of universal grass mowing equipment are produced, but this tool with a respectable age still does not give up its positions. The braid is irreplaceable in small areas, as well as in hard-to-reach places.

The scythe for grass came to Russia from developed European countries thanks to Peter I. At first, even decrees were issued so that this tool began to be widely used. The base of the braid is a knife with a sharp and curved blade. Most often it is made of steel. The length of the mowing knife can be very diverse, from 30-50 cm. The mowing is often made of spruce, it is on it that the cutting element is attached. An even and long shaft is considered ideal, but its length should not exceed 2 meters.

There are usually two handles on the scythe. One of them is used for the hand that does the main work, and the other for the one that supports. Often, both handles are fixed in a fixed position on the string. However, practice has shown that braids with adjustable handles are the most comfortable. They are easily adjusted for different heights.

The fastening of a regular braid looks like a wedge and a ring. Most often, dry wood is taken to make a wedge. The ring allows you to securely connect the entire structure. Some tools are bolted. On small plots of gardeners, hand-castings No. 5 and No. 6 often come across.

There are many types of braids today. The following 3 types are distinguished on farms.

• Bagpipes or pink salmon. When you mow with it, you have to bend too much, since the shaft has a curved shape. The advantage of the tool is the long curved blade, which makes it easy to mow grass in areas overgrown with bushes or bumps.
• Litovka is in the greatest demand. This tool can be used with a completely flat back. The mantle of this species is long, and the blade of the knife can be of very different lengths. Often they say about this braid that it is a garden one.
• Serpanka is a fusion of a scythe with a sickle. The main advantage is that it is lightweight. This is due to the small size of the tool.

Also, different types of braids are distinguished based on the principle of their work and appearance.

• Manual, which makes to work not only the arms, but also the rest of the muscles.
• Mechanical or lawn mower looks like a block with knives on wheels. With this unit, one knife remains stationary, while the rest move, working on the principle of scissors.
• Spindle consists of spindle knives powered by rotating wheels. They are divided into 2 types. The disadvantage of such devices can be considered the need to constantly adjust the speed. Also, these units are not suitable for large areas.
  1. contact, in which the blades of the cutting elements intersect;
  2. non-contact, in which the blades are located at a certain distance, and mowing occurs by grabbing and feeding the grass to the knives.
• Foldable easy to transport and easy to store. The small size of the braid due to the shortened shaft is considered by many to be convenient.Some models of this type are produced with a handle, and some with a rubberized nozzle on the knife. Such a small braid is suitable for compact plots and is completely unsuitable for haymaking.
• The mini-braid resembles a sickle in the shape of a knife. However, its metal handle is more powerful, straight, and its length does not exceed 1 meter. The cutting element reaches a maximum length of 35 cm. Suitable if the area to be cut is small.

Choosing a braid is not an easy task, as there are many factors to consider. First of all, it is important to know for which area the tool is being selected. For example, a lithium is not suitable for uneven terrain, and a mini scythe will be good only for lawns or a small flower bed. It will be inconvenient for pink salmon to mow grass on a flat area, but serpanka will do an excellent job with plants that have a hard stem.

The quality of the cutting element, called the blade, is checked by impact. At the same time, a good ringing should be heard, which means that the metal is properly hardened. A kosovishche, like a knife, must be flexible enough for the tool to last as long as possible. Quality braids have a well-sharpened cutting edge.

Choose a mowing tool based on your height. It is important that the braid fits well in the hands and is comfortable. Tool weight also matters. Recently, there are often lightweight braids, more convenient to work with.

There are many popular methods to check how high-quality braid is. One is to take a piece of window glass and run it over the blade. If the glass goes well without clinging, then the braid is good. Otherwise, the canvas is made of soft metal and there will be many problems with it. It is best if the glass passes over the cutting element smoothly, without a single trace.

There is also a method for checking a high-quality braid using an ordinary match. It fits on the edge of the scythe knife across. Then it must be pushed from one side. If the match turns, then the instrument is good. Some use a nail to test it across the blade. It is believed that if there are no visible defects or chips are removed from the nail, then the braid is of high quality and will serve not just years, but decades.

There is also a method when the end of the braid is pressed against the board on the floor and pressed from above. With a good braid, the steel will bend evenly, and immediately after releasing it will return to its previous position. When choosing a braid, it is worth paying attention to such a moment as the presence of a brand from the manufacturer.

Choosing a braid is half the battle, it still needs to be prepared for work. It is good if the scythe was purchased already completely assembled and ready for use. If not, then it must still be beaten off, and then sharpened. Then you need to assemble the tool.

The preparation of the instrument begins with striking. It is not easy to beat off correctly, but it is important to be able to do this for every braid owner. For this process, you will need a headstock, a hammer, a stump or a log. Earlier, grandmothers were made independently from improvised means, but now they can be bought in special stores. The main thing is that they are made of solid steel and not punctured when struck.

The headstock must be driven into a stump or log, and the knife must be removed from the handle. You don't need to do this, but then you will have to make a stand for the handle. Beating begins with the fact that the cutting element is put in water for 30-40 minutes, then it lies on the headstock with a sharp edge towards itself.The blows are applied starting from the heel, without much effort. The hammer blow is completed with a pull-up movement.

As a result, the metal sheet is pulled in the desired direction. When beating, it is important not to rush and not to hit hard, so as not to bend the cutting edge. With each blow, you must move from the heel to the nose of the knife. When the thickness of the edge is nearly desired, the hammer blows should be even weaker. This is necessary to smooth out dents.

The easiest way to sharpen a braid is in two stages: scraping and straightening. The first stage is carried out with a scraper (triangular file with sharp edges). In this case, the knife can be sharpened from one or two sides, depending on the type. When scraping, the braid is held in the heel area and is guided with a scraper along the cutting element to the end of the blade. It is important to make the sharpening angle.

Scraping is completed as soon as burrs appear on the cutting edge. Now you need to sharpen it with an emery bar. They must be carried out with the same sharpening angle that was maintained when sharpening with a scraper. Otherwise, the braid will quickly become dull.

Good mowing depends on how well the tool is handled. The scythe should be held with the left hand for the braid higher than the handle, and with the right hand grab the handle itself. The right leg should be in front and the left leg should be behind. The torso should twist slightly to the left, then bend slightly. Mowing starts in a circular motion from the right to the left. When the scythe is on a hard object, the blade becomes dull.

For a long service life, the scythe requires simple maintenance. It is enough to beat off the scythe and sharpen in time. It is also important to pay attention to the reliability of the fastening. To store the tool, choose a dry room, preferably without direct sunlight. It is also important that the braid is out of reach of children.

For an overview of the hand scythe, see below.