Before writing a technical inquiry, please read through the appropriate links in this section. Many common questions are answered there.
All prices are in Canadian dollars.
Blades
All blades (except #00) have had their edges cleaned of paint and lacquer, then hand-peened and honed ready to use.
To help you with choosing a blade please read this note.
For a page with descriptions of the blades, click here.
Bird's eye view of blade length sets.
#00
"The Hand-Powered Weed Whacker" - see the description page
40 cm - 425g - Tang steepness 25° - $ 36.00
45 cm - 455g - Tang steepness 25° - $ 40.00
The prices above are for blades with factory-prepared edges. If you’d like us to improve them (see Treatment of a New Blade) please add $5.00 per blade.
#0
"The Practicing Blade" - see the description page
80 cm - 790g - Tang angle 25° - $ 48.00
#1
70 cm - 510g - Tang steepness 25° - $ 80.00
#2
70 cm - 400g - Tang angle 25° - $ 78.00
75 cm - 460g - Tang angle 25° - $ 84.00
#3
50 cm - 530g - Tang angle 42° - $ 75.00
60 cm - 540g - Tang angle 42° - $ 84.00
70 cm - 660g - Tang angle 42° - $ 96.00
#4
60 cm - 440g - Tang angle 30° - $ 84.00
#5
40 cm - 330g - Tang angle 29° - $ 65.00
45 cm - 380g - Tang angle 26° - $ 68.00
#6
60 cm - 400g - Tang angle 25° - $ 64.00
70 cm - 475g - Tang angle 25° - $ 72.00
#7
55 cm - 400g - Tang angle 22° - $ 66.00
#8
65 cm - 480g - Tang angle 24° - $ 86.00
75 cm - 510g - Tang angle 24° - $ 92.00
#9
70 cm - 590g - Tang angle 26° - $ 74.00
#10
65 cm - 495g - Tang angle 22° - $ 90.00
#11
65 cm Left Handed - 565g - Tang angle 30° - $ 72.00
#12
50 cm - 450g - Tang angle 22° - $ 58.00
#13
55 cm - 550g - Tang angle 28° - $ 64.00
#15
60 cm - 420g - Tang angle 26° - $ 72.00
70 cm - 540g - Tang angle 26° - $ 84.00
#16
60 cm - 430g - Tang angle 24° - $ 88.00
65 cm - 440g - Tang angle 24° - $ 93.00
70 cm - 520g - Tang angle 30° - $ 98.00
#17
70 cm - 540g - Tang angle 27° - $ 76.00
#18
60 cm - 520g - Tang angle 22° - $ 68.00
70 cm - 620g - Tang angle 24° - $ 78.00
#19
85 cm - 735g - Tang angle 28° - $ 98.00
75 cm - 625g - Tang angle 22° - $ 88.00
#21
60 cm "A" - 440g - Tang angle 28° - $ 90.00
65 cm "A" - 470g - Tang angle 28° - $ 95.00
60 cm "B" - 450g - Tang angle 35° - $ 85.00
65 cm "B" - 450g - Tang angle 35° - $ 90.00
#22
65 cm - 375g - Tang angle 28° - $ 74.00
#23
16"/43 cm - 425g Tang angle 28° $ 70.00
18"/47 cm - 410g Tang angle 26° $ 74.00
20"/53 cm - 390g Tang angle 26° $ 78.00
22"/57 cm - 490g Tang angle 26° $ 82.00
#24
45 cm - 360g - Tang angle 25° - $ 75.00
#25
55 cm - 400g - Tang angle 24° - $ 82.00
60 cm - 465g - Tang angle 26° - $ 80.00
#28
30 Zoll/78 cm - 790g - Tang angle 38° - $ 125.00
#29
65 cm - 680g - Tang angle 28° - $ 105.00
#30
75 cm - 795g - Tang angle 25° - $ 98.00
#31
55 cm - 510g - Tang angle 25° - $ 84.00
60 cm - 490g - Tang angle 25° - $ 86.00
#32
57 cm - 650g - Tang angle 25° - $ 100.00
#33
22"/57 cm - 550g - Tang angle 32° - $ 122.00
Sickles
#01
Right or left-handed model - 240g - $ 24.00
Read more on sickles here.
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Snaths
Canadian-made steam-bent hickory or ash snaths with adjustable grips
"... I love the grips!... Anyone who uses the scythe for extended lengths of time would appreciate the craftmanship of this tool... Rebekah E." Otto, NC
These come in three sizes (152 to 173 cm) to accomodate mowers' hight. Features well shaped ergonomic grips and there is about a 6" range of grip adjustment within each size. Supplied with a Snath Saver.
$ 95.00
Swiss-made bent-sawn ash wood snath with adjustable grips
The ash snath is a bit lighter than the hickory one.
$ 90.00
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Accessories
Peening Jig
This item, we believe, ought to be in the possession of nearly everyone learning to use the scythe because, without good live instruction and considerable practice, few beginners manage to do a satisfactory job of edge beveling "freehand". Read a detailed article about using this jig here.
840g - $ 50.00
Austrian-made Anvil
With a special adjustable "table" for steadying the blade!
Read more and see photos here.
$ 64.00 - 850g - total length 6” with 2” prong
Quality Italian-made Anvil and Hammer Set
Read more.
As a set - $68.00
Anvil only - $40.00 - 1100g - total length 14” with 6” prong
Hammer only - $30.00 - 500g head
Cross-Peen Hammer
Not necessary unless you use the style of freehand peening with the "flat" or "wide" anvil. The "narrow" anvils above do not require any special hammer, and neither does the peening jig.
$ 18.00
Sandflex Rust Erase by Klingspor
These abrasive blocks are used prior to free-hand peening using the narrow-faced anvil. More here.
$ 8.50
Whetstones:
These whetstones should be kept in water between uses, therefore we strongly recommend having a watertight whetstone holder to carry to the field with you. If used dry, the stone will not only wear faster but the surface will clog with dust and with metal particles, rendering it much less effective.
Standard Synthetic
120 grit. For use following peening with the jig, for whetting bush blades,
and for repairing minor edge damage.
23 cm - $ 8.00
Natural "Bregenzer"
Our best all-purpose stone for in-the-field whetting. These came from a once-famous quarry that ceased operations prior to WWII. In Austria long classified as "fine grit", it is about 300 grit.
Regular size - 22 cm - $ 10.00
Slimmer size - 20 cm - $ 7.00
Natural "Rozsutec"
Extra fine grit (600-800?) and very long-wearing. Hand-quarried in Slovakia. Not recommended as the only whetstone for most mowers.
22 cm - $ 14.00
Synthetic "Silicar"
Long considered the "Cadillac" of synthetic scythe stones; made in Germany.
Coarse grit for edge treatment after jig peening and for repairs.
Medium for the above and/or field use for the less edge-fussy folks.
26 cm - Medium $ 14.00
Synthetic "American"
Made by the same company as the Silicar stone above.
As a result of recent trials, we have come to feel that if an “average beginner” is to have only one whetstone, we’d recommend this one.
It's good for the rough shaping of many other edge tools as well.
This is one of the synthetic stones, that can be used wet or dry.
Read more.
25 cm - $ 14.00
Synthetic "Large Stone"
Carborundum of remarkable durability suited as a general purpose abrasive for shaping (not honing proper) the edges of knives, axes, hoes etc. -- and yes, also for the post-peening-on-the-jig treatment of scythe blades.
Read more.
23 cm plus handle - $ 18.00
Watertight Whetstone Holders
Solid Copper - 145 g - $ 15.00 (pictured)
Aluminum - 45g - $ 8.00
Standard Sharpening Kit
For most beginners wanting better blade-edge maintenance we offer the standard sharpening kit and it includes:
- Peening jig
- Standard synthetic stone (to upgrade to Silicar or "American", add $6.00)
- Natural stone "Bregenzer"
- Copper or Aluminum Whetstone Holder
Package price - $77.00 with copper holder, $70.00 with aluminum
Blade Attachment Rings ("Ring Clamps")
All the ring clamps we sell hold the blade in place considerably better than many on the international market (the set screws have finer threads, are placed on a diagonal in the base plate, and the high-quality hex wrench/Allen key provided with each won't twist off or strip as do many cheap versions.) The seams of all but #2 are welded (not riveted), and with thicker steel walls, are probably the most "indestructible" ones anywhere on the market. All but #2 are galvanized. The #4 and #5 are probably the best for anyone making their own snath, particularly from "wild wood" i.e. not sawn lumber.
#1 (35x35mm, 105g) $7.00
#2 (32x40mm, 135g) $9.00
#3 (32x45mm, 145g) $9.00
#4 (40x40mm, 150g) $9.00
#5 (40x45mm, 160g) $9.00
All rings come with the standard mild steel wrench.
Extra set screws - $0.75 each
Extra long wrench of better quality $2.25
I do not sell The Scythe Book. Instead, the chapters from The Scythe Must Dance (the practical "Addendum" by Peter Vido) are posted for the reading and printing for free here. Most have been revised, as should be, from time to time, any instructional text written by one who is still learning. Normally this would be accomplished in co-operation with the publisher whenever another printing of the original book is made. However, we were not given the opportunity to do so, even though other printings have been made since the second edition's publication in 2001, and we have therefore opted to make the improved material accessible free of charge for anyone.
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Ordering Info
- Orders can by made by email or phone. After you let me know what you've selected, I'll send you a quote including the postage.
- Prices are in Canadian dollars.
- Approximate postage and handling rates:
Within Canada: $50.00 for a complete scythe (the snath, one or two blades, and sharpening accessories), $38.00 for one or two blades with accessories.
To the US: $63 for a complete scythe, $48 for one or two blades with accessories.
Some customers from the United States might be wondering about higher shipping and handling fees, than those of US suppliers. Well, Canada Post charges more for their services, than its US counterpart.
I still need to pack the package and take it to the Post office. When I'm taking just one package only, I ride my bicycle with the box under my armpit to the local outlet.
I decided, I'll do "the Handling For a Good Cause". This means, that all of the profits, above my expenses, from shipping and handling charges will directly support a family in Nepal or India (places I've visited) or a related charity supporting sustainable practices in developing countries.
- I usually ship as Regular / "Expedited" Parcel by Canada Post.
- I am not set up to deal with credit cards or other forms of electronic payment.
- The payment can be made by a personal cheque or a money order (postal order or bank draft).
- Please note, if paying with US funds I will use the exchange rate set by my bank, where I deposit the payment. This rate will vary from the Mid-market rate found on the Currency Exchange Rates Calculator's sites.
- Please make the cheque or money order payable to Scythe Works.
Mailing address:
Alexander Vido
71 Linden Avenue
Victoria, BC, V8V 4C9
Canada
scytheworks@shaw.ca
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© 2008 Alexander Vido | Original design by Andreas Viklund