Grass/weed/light brush scythe/grass hook

T

thunderstick

Joined
Jan 15, 2007
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I know there is an extensive scythe thread going ... but I have a more narrowly focused question ...
Where can I get a simple straight handled scythe/grass hook cutter similar to this one that is of good quality?

http://www.amazon.com/True-Temper-2...sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=true+temper+bush+scythe

The usage is to keep the edges of my 1/4 mile lane, edge of yard, and edge of woodpile cut back from the surrounding woods -- this involves a mixture of grass, weeds, poison, and light underbrush. Some of the weeds are hollow stemmed water weeds. I use a machete for the branches off the ground. I have used a weed-whacker to date but it struggles with the light brush and I get covered head to toe with slime from the water weeds and I can get poison ivy when I hit it with the whacker.

Using a machete to mow is back-breaking. So I want to do this work with a machete on the higher branches and use small straight handled scythe like the attached for mowing along the ground. The typical bent scythe handle is too unwieldy for trimming in tighter corners and at various angles.

I purchased the Ames true Temper scythe/grass hook already from the link above and have experimented enough to know this basic design is what I want for edge trimming. However the cheap Chinese steel is limited in the edge it will take. Does anyone know of a better quality straight handled scythe/grass hook available ... for around a $100 if possible? Maybe I can retrofit a good blade on the Ames True Temper handle.
Thanks
 
Angled snaths aren't unwieldy for cutting in tight spaces at all, and an American grass blade would be able to handle all of that without issue, though you might want to use a short one or a weed blade instead. However, if married to the idea of a long-handled grass hook, Arti of Russia makes some nice ones. No distribution in the USA yet (I'm working on that) but the steel quality is excellent and they're very affordable. Shipping from Russia can be more expensive than the tool, though!
 
It'd do very well for the overhead work and passably for ground-level but the lay of the edge would be high and you'd have an uneven stubble compared to an actual long-handled grass hook. If cosmetics aren't important and length just needs to be kept reasonably low then it'd be a good choice. Slap a scythe nib on the handle and it'd make it very similar to the old "scythook" tool that the North Wayne Tool Co. used to make.
 
Yes I like the rake/broom handle idea. What's the best attachment then for a small scythe blade to a straight handle like that? I trimmed quite a bit last night and want the basic Ames style tool ... but I want a longer handle like a broom/rake and better steel so I can get a sharper edge for grass. The Chinese steel is OK for weeds and light brush but its not cutting grass well.
 
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depends on the scythe really, the one I linked would just need a head tapered down with some 60 grit paper, then fitted on the pole, and a hole drilled and a 16 penny nail peened over thru it. '

on other types, you may have to drill the end of the pole, epoxy the blade in if it has a stick tang, and then reinforce with a couple of hose clamps to keep the wood shaft from splitting out if you hit a rock or something....perhaps a PVC head collar to keep weight down and add impact resistance to the connection points... just a 4 inch long piece of 1 or 1.5 inch PVC heated with a hair dryer or heat gun till barely pliable, slipped over the head end of the handle and let to cool, perhaps with a touch of epoxy or gorilla glue between the wood and pvc.

Really, its just gonna be more an issue of which head you pick and how it can be attached
 
Here's my Russian Arti weed cutter.

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If you really insist on having it be straight you'd be better off with a slasher or pole-mounted billhook than trying to use a grass hook blade. Grass hooks are for grass. Wood, not so much.
 
That Russian Arti weedcutter is exactly what I'm interested in ... but you said it's very salty to ship them here
 
Which is why I suggest ordering other stuff at the same time if you go that route. But the stuff is so inexpensive that it's still worth it. I got 2x 100cm scythe blades, a 40cm blade, a couple peening jigs, a folding scythe set, the weed cutter, a couple machetes, and some misc. hardware for about under $300 shipped and with as much stuff as I grabbed it worked out reasonably well on the shipping even though the shipping itself cost more than the items did.
 
Have you considered a longer machete, like a 26"? If you switch up the work between the left and right hands it's much easier on the body and the back.
 
It's a handy tool, for sure! The area in front of the house there is the dog area and using the weed cutter lets me cut high on purpose so I don't run the blade into any "surprises". I like to keep my blades clean. :D
 
Well I went to a flee market this morning and found an excellent condition Seymour 18" brush scythe with an aluminum snath for $20. So that's going to be my rig for now.
 
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