How to mow the grass with a scythe?

In a private house, a hand scythe can become an indispensable assistant to tidy up the adjacent territories. The assortment of shops has many modifications of modern lawn mowers, brushcutters, trimmers and other equipment. But the point is that their use requires fuel and suitable conditions, such as a perfectly flat soil surface or low grass.

For an ordinary hand scythe, which our grandfathers used on the farm, there are no impossible tasks. She easily copes with tall, overgrown grass, ideally mowing it both on bumps and in holes. However, the braid itself will not work, so the person who takes it in hand must be able to use it.

Anyone can learn to mow the grass with a scythe, both a man and a woman. The main thing is to find an experienced, easily explaining mower. The purchase of a quality tool also plays an important role.

The most common and popular version of the tool is a scythe-casting or stand. It consists of the following parts:

• cutting blade;
• braids (handle-holder);
• connection fasteners;
• handles-bow (handles in the middle of the string) and its ties;
• wedge.

The canvas, in turn, is divided into the following components:

• blade;
• butt;
• heel;
• Thorn;
• spout.

Each product contains a marking and a number from 3 to 9. The length of the cutting element, expressed in decimeters, depends on the number. This means that the higher the number, the more grip the scythe blade makes.

Before mowing the grass, the tool must be sharpened or beaten off. Experienced craftsmen do it quickly and efficiently, and beginners in this business will have to sweat. The scythe is beaten with the help of a special device called the scythe. This is a metal structure that, when hammered, gives the blade strength and slightly serrates it.

During intensive work with a scythe, you need to beat it about once every 2 weeks. However, in parallel with this, you will have to repeatedly sharpen the tool with a touchstone. For this you need:

• lift the scythe with the blade up, clean it from the remnants of the grass;
• fix the tool by sticking the sharpened edge of the string into the ground;
• sharpen the cutting blade, acting on the blade alternately on both sides.

In order for the scythe to perform its function to the maximum, it is best to start mowing at dawn, when there is dew on the grass, or after rain. You also need to take into account the direction of the wind and become so that it blows in the back. If the grass tilts forward, it is much more convenient to cut it off with a scythe than it will tilt towards the mower.

So, the tool is ready to work, let's go to mow. To do this, you need to perform the following steps step by step:

1. Stand straight, put your right leg forward. The distance between the feet is about 35 cm.
2. The body should be straight, you should not bend forward.
3. Grip the handle with your right hand, the hand should be slightly bent.
4. Put the end of the string into the left palm and hold it firmly with your fingers, the hand is bent at the elbow.
5. The heel of the braid should touch the ground, while the tip should be slightly upward.
6. The most important point: movements are made not by hands, but by the whole body of the body. Hands only hold the instrument firmly.
7. After each swing, you need to take a small step, thereby moving forward.

There are times when it is necessary to mow young grass, and under it lies a pillow made of uncut last year or even the year before last dry forest. If you use the above method, then green grass will be mixed with dry. Therefore, for this option, you need to make a special braid with an additional long holder for the left hand.

With this grip, the mowing technique changes slightly. In the process, the arms are more involved than the body, and the heel of the scythe is no longer on the ground. The tool is kept in weight and only green grass is mowed, and the dry one remains in its place.

There is an opinion that men do the best with a scythe, but this is not so. A woman can also learn how to mow. Having gained a little experience, female representatives use a braid for its intended purpose no worse than men.

For the first time, it is better to use a tool with a short blade length, since the oblique with a small grip is easier to mow. The number 5 or 6 should be indicated on the canvas - this option will be the most optimal. The grass for the first mowing should be young and medium in size.

It should not be forgotten that a scythe is a very sharp object, and its safe use requires taking precautions. During the mowing process, you must not:

• be distracted and look away;
• swing the tool or use it for other purposes;
• use a loose or improperly fitted braid.

For information on how to properly mow the grass with a hand scythe, see the next video.