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  • From: Clansgian AT wmconnect.com
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Tools for homesteading
  • Date: Sun, 2 Mar 2008 11:55:25 EST



> For a practical tool avoid an old, antique American scythe- its a
> different animal from a European scythe. A European-style scythe is
> a truly wonderful thing

Right. The main difference is that the American scythes are stamped steel
and the European types are damasked steel, that is, a soft layer and a hard
layer are annealed together, often several layers. The hard layer can take a
razor keen edge and the soft layers can be reworked without heating the
blade.
That is, if the American type blade gets a nick, there's little you can do.
But
if the European blade gets one, you peen the steel back out even with the
rest of the blade and it's as good as new. The ability to peen (flatten out
and
draw out) the metal allows you to rework the entire edge from time to time so
that the metal is very thin and takes a much sharper edge.

For a brush blade, ditch blade, or short blade to replace the string trimmer,
I would use an old drop forged or stamped blade until I got the area very
free from debris and large stems. Then I'd use a short damasked blade.

James </HTML>




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