Making a handle for a scythe

[Marc]

Hi there!
I have a garden enclosure with several veggie boxes and many fruit trees, enclosure mandatory due to cookies.
To cut the weeds from time to time I use a whipper snipper but the noise and the small space to move made me think in buying an old fashion scythe.

I looked up on ebay and all I could find was relics to hang on a wall not to be used so I bought a new one imported from Austria and hand forged. Wow! yet to receive it in the mail.
http://www.scythesaustralia.com.au/p...php?prod=P0027

When the tool itself was reasonably priced, the handle is a bit of a rip off so I decided to make it myself. Considering I have made a few when I was ... hum ... 15 or so, I should be successful in making one now. The reason for this long winded introduction is to ask you guys where can I find Hickory in Sydney to make this handle or if not Hickory what would you suggest.

[FenceFurniture]

Marc, I think you'll be pushing it to find Hickory here, particularly in the length required. At best I reckon you'd find an axe handle (and my father had to scour NSW hardwares to find a handle for his father's axe).

However, Spotted Gum is very plentiful and readily available in big sizes, and would be an excellent choice. Check the thread on Timber for Handles - in particular Bushmiller's posts will tell you all you need to know about Spotty.

Looking forward to a WIP with pics on this one

HTH
Brett

[Wood Collector]

A spotted gum shovel handle would do fine,as I used one for a Mc Leod tool(fire rake) and it is still holding up to the abuse that i have given it. Cheers WC

[BobL]

A scythe is not like axe or a shovel that experiences significant shock and torque so it's handle (snath) doesn't need to be made out of the materials used for these other tools.
If anything, given that snaths need to be waved around a fair bit, it may be worth considering using something relatively lighter than hickory or spotted gum.

In the scythe connection website they indicate that "Any hardwood will do" for handles.

[Marc]

Yes, yes and yes again, after posting this I got thinking what did I use (50 years ago) to make the few Scythe handles I had?... either Wiping Willow or Chinese broad leaf Privet. Forget willow, I should be able to find some decent size privet to make this handle. Failing that, Spotted gum would be fine...or even a long shovel handle I suppose ... The advantage of green wood (now is all coming back to me) Is that it can be bent easy by immersing in boiling water for a bit. The handle besides being some 1.5 m long, needs to have one end bent at 45 and a handle in the centre that needs to be mortised in and also bent at 90. The centre handle can be made out of a branch of hardwood that is already naturally bent. I'll see how I go finding a large privet branch. Not something you go looking for usually. By the way I remember that old timer chair makers used to turn privet to make chairs. Well enough said, I'll be out with an axe on the weekend.

[Toymaker Len]

Reckon I'd be looking for a spotty branch with just the right bend which could be brought to the right shape with a drawknife.

[Marc]

Scythe.jpg
So far so good, found a Jacaranda branch with the right bend in it.
The blade came with a very flat angle so I had to compensate with a bent in the handle.

Next is finding another branch to make the handle/s not sure if I really need a handle for the left hand

[FenceFurniture]

Looks like a Zyliss vise you're using there Marc?

[Marc]

Absolutely, such a good tool !
And green timber is so easy to work with.

[code4pay]

Hi Marc I've become a recent fan of the scythe lately too. Haven't purchased one yet though. Please post a pic of the final results

[Marc]

Sure will as soon as it is finished. I have actually already used it as it is with no right hand handle nor left hand one just the stick. Works a treat and it turned out very light. Well it is a small one at 400mm.

[Marc]

The storm brought down heaps of branches and so I found two suitable one to make the handles for my snath. They are eucalyptus of some description.
You notice that the left hand handle is rather long. This is so because of the angle of the scythe blade. The blade has to be flat on the ground when I hold both my arms stretched standing upright. This way I don't have to bend to use it. Works a treat
.guadaña1.jpg Guadaña2.jpg Guadaña3.jpg

[code4pay]

Nice job, and simple, I'll have to see if I can get a blade in !y Christmas stocking I think though I might go with a longer one to now the vacant block next door.