Using scythe instead of a weed whacker

[Cowardly Toaster]

Going in deep Mustachian here, anyone have any experience using a scythe? Seems like it could handily replace the weedwacker. I want to eliminate as many tools with small motors as I can.

[lizzzi]

When I was a child we still had a scythe and a sickle in the shed. They worked fine, and even as a kid I remember hacking down a lot of weeds with those things. You need some space to swing the scythe though. If you're trying to edge along the side of your house or something like that...or along a fence...I think you'll do better with a sickle. Maybe hold the weeds in one hand and swing the sickle with the other.

[Dave1442397]

My grandfather used to cut the grass with a scythe, and it didn't take long. This was back in the mid '70s when they still cut fields of hay by hand.

A sickle or machete might be better for weeds just because you might need to get closer than you can with a scythe.

I bought this machete because I figure the Brazilians should know what they're doing - https://www.amazon.com/Tramontina-Machete-Wood-Handle/dp/B00367P3TC/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1497008206&sr=8-8&keywords=machete

I used it to cut down all the bamboo in our yard last year, and it comes in handy for weeds and minor tree trimming.

[lthenderson]

A sickle or scythe doesn't replace a weed eater unless all your weeds are out in the open. When weeds are up next to immovable objects that will hurt a inflexible steel blade if hit, a weed eater with flexible string is the proper tool.

The better way to remove the need for a weed eater/small motor is to do proper landscaping next to objects that you can't easily get with your lawn mower/lawn reel. All our landscaping is such that our entire lawn can be mowed with a riding lawnmower with no time spent push mowing or weed eating.

[NextTime]

When I'm in Colombia, I see workers cutting tall grass with machetes quite frequently.

[mtn]

I have an old rotary push mower. I also have a manual scythe/weedwacker thing. Been doing it that way for about a year on my very small lawn.

Tomorrow I'm going up to my parents to buy their old mower and weedwhacker from them. I got tired of dealing with the hassles of the old-ways. These will eventually be replaced with battery operated versions, but for now I can deal with rebuilding a carb once a year (45 minutes) to save the 20 minutes I have to spend picking up sticks (including the smallest twigs) every single time I mow the lawn.

[TaraB]

Sounds badass.

[trollwithamustache]

It sounds awesome until the neighbors call the cops on the guy swinging a big knife around outside!

[Clean Shaven]

Since you're in Alaska, I'm going to assume that you will be scything in (a) cold weather, and/or (b) buggy weather.  In either case, you should be prepared with appropriate scything clothing:

[Mgmny]

A sickle or scythe doesn't replace a weed eater unless all your weeds are out in the open. When weeds are up next to immovable objects that will hurt a inflexible steel blade if hit, a weed eater with flexible string is the proper tool.

My thoughts exactly. Hard to use a scythe against your mailbox, tree, rocks, etc

[Cowardly Toaster]

Since you're in Alaska, I'm going to assume that you will be scything in (a) cold weather, and/or (b) buggy weather.  In either case, you should be prepared with appropriate scything clothing:

Perfect

[cadillacmike]

Going in deep Mustachian here, anyone have any experience using a scythe? Seems like it could handily replace the weedwacker. I want to eliminate as many tools with small motors as I can.

Replace, yes. Handily replace, No.

Want to keep your mower & weed whacker operational for a LONG time?

Use Ethanol free gas ONLY, 90 octane or higher. Start it Every week to 10 days, even when its 10 below out. Replace the air filter regularly - these things can get incredibly clogged up, and replace the spark plugs every few years. FL is rough on everything and my last mower and weed whacker have several years on them with no ill effects on their operation. I've actually had to replace the cord magnet clutch, but no carb work on the engine.

Sharpen the blades as well Dremel makes a sharpener guide for their little rotary tools -very handy to keep the correct angle of the dangle while sharpening.

To cut down on multiple tools you can get a common motor with the interchangeable ends. I have a trimmer, heavy duty trimmer, edger and air blower that all fit the 4 stroke  gas powered motor end. Most of these brands are interchangeable with a 1/8 or so square drive shaft.

[triangle]

I agree that a nylon string weed whacker is a more versatile home tool. But as this video shows a Scythe can out perform in ideal conditions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsfIHiBB6xE

[Fishindude]

Did that crap growing up.  Used a scythe, hand grass clippers, a manual reel push mower, etc.
Modern weed eaters and mowing equipment are some of the finest time, labor, and back saving inventions ever.   
If you have much work to do, and modern tools are an option, you'd have to be nuts to want to use those old tools.

[paddedhat]

Did that crap growing up.  Used a scythe, hand grass clippers, a manual reel push mower, etc.
Modern weed eaters and mowing equipment are some of the finest time, labor, and back saving inventions ever.   
If you have much work to do, and modern tools are an option, you'd have to be nuts to want to use those old tools.

I live deep in Amish country, literally 35K+ of them in my 'hood.  They embrace any modern convenience with a great deal of thought and deliberation. All field work is done with mules and work horses.  Reel push mowers are common, and seeing a very elderly woman out pushing one is common. OTOH, I seriously doubt that you could find a single Amish farm in these parts without at least one Stihl brand string trimmer. I have seen them used hundreds of times for everything from general trimming around the house, to clearing high grass. I have yet to see a single scythe, sickle, or machete in use here.  The other interesting sight is how much love they have for backpack style leaf blowers. They might not be up for the tractor just yet,but give an Amish woman a big backpack style blower, and they will blow the entire farm into the next township, LOL.

[Chris22]

Assuming you want to replace GAS motors?  There are plenty of electric weedwhackers powered by cordless drill batteries out there for not a lot of money and they work way better than anything else will.  I have a Craftsman one (since I got a Craftsman cordless drill years and years ago and have bought into the C3 battery "system") but if I was starting from scratch today I'd probably go Ryobi One+ from Home Depot.


http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-ONE-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-String-Trimmer-Edger-Battery-and-Charger-Not-Included-P2008A/206542633?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cTHD%7cG%7c0%7cG-BASE-PLA-D28I-PortableOutdoorPower%7c&gclid=CjwKEAjwvYPKBRCYr5GLgNCJ_jsSJABqwfw7rZWFxNICASzbrX6fuXOlQ8BUpnccDGeav6YQK76aZBoCFL7w_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Chris22]

Did that crap growing up.  Used a scythe, hand grass clippers, a manual reel push mower, etc.
Modern weed eaters and mowing equipment are some of the finest time, labor, and back saving inventions ever.   
If you have much work to do, and modern tools are an option, you'd have to be nuts to want to use those old tools.

I live deep in Amish country, literally 35K+ of them in my 'hood.  They embrace any modern convenience with a great deal of thought and deliberation. All field work is done with mules and work horses.  Reel push mowers are common, and seeing a very elderly woman out pushing one is common. OTOH, I seriously doubt that you could find a single Amish farm in these parts without at least one Stihl brand string trimmer. I have seen them used hundreds of times for everything from general trimming around the house, to clearing high grass. I have yet to see a single scythe, sickle, or machete in use here.  The other interesting sight is how much love they have for backpack style leaf blowers. They might not be up for the tractor just yet,but give an Amish woman a big backpack style blower, and they will blow the entire farm into the next township, LOL.

I know all the MMM denizens hate leafblowers, but there is no better tool for blowing off the patio, driveway, sidewalk, etc after mowing the lawn or just to get the leaves and crap off of it.  And also for blowing leaves out of plant beds, away from fences, etc.  I use a rake for the majority of raking duties, but for cleaning out all my beds, clearing the patio, etc, I use the backpack blower.

[Syonyk]

Use Ethanol free gas ONLY, 90 octane or higher. Start it Every week to 10 days, even when its 10 below out. Replace the air filter regularly - these things can get incredibly clogged up, and replace the spark plugs every few years. FL is rough on everything and my last mower and weed whacker have several years on them with no ill effects on their operation. I've actually had to replace the cord magnet clutch, but no carb work on the engine.

I agree about ethanol free high octane (I personally put some Seafoam and Stabil in all my "tool fuel" containers), and maintenance, but I'm not sure about the "start it every 10 days, even below zero."  Cold starts on engines cause a lot of wear, and asking something designed for hot weather use to start below zero, run for a bit, and shut down, repeatedly, will foul out the oil with water and corrosion, and do a lot of damage to the rubbing surfaces during the start.

If it's only a few months, Stabil does a great job of helping keep things fresh, and draining carbs on small engines usually isn't that difficult anyway.

[jacksonvasey]

I have an electric string trimmer that I use probably once a year, for cutting weeds in my brick walkway.

The bulk of my weed trimming is done with old-fashioned hedge-clippers, just giant scissors really.  I have a small sickle that I got from the re-store, and it works okay.  But for me the hedge-clippers work great, especially considering that my gas mower can reach almost every place where weeds would grow.  I actually double-edged a stone wall in front of my house with about an 8 inch warning track of crushed stone so that the mower can get right up to all the edges on my yard.

[lthenderson]

Use Ethanol free gas ONLY, 90 octane or higher. Start it Every week to 10 days, even when its 10 below out. Replace the air filter regularly - these things can get incredibly clogged up, and replace the spark plugs every few years. FL is rough on everything and my last mower and weed whacker have several years on them with no ill effects on their operation. I've actually had to replace the cord magnet clutch, but no carb work on the engine.

I agree about ethanol free high octane (I personally put some Seafoam and Stabil in all my "tool fuel" containers), and maintenance, but I'm not sure about the "start it every 10 days, even below zero."  Cold starts on engines cause a lot of wear, and asking something designed for hot weather use to start below zero, run for a bit, and shut down, repeatedly, will foul out the oil with water and corrosion, and do a lot of damage to the rubbing surfaces during the start.

I much prefer to run the engine completely empty of fuel and store it that way for long periods of time. I've never had trouble restarting them with fresh ethanol free gas even after a couple years of never running.

If it's only a few months, Stabil does a great job of helping keep things fresh, and draining carbs on small engines usually isn't that difficult anyway.