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Can a scythe handle hardy weeds?

 
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Question:  Can a scythe handle hardier weeds? or is it only good for cutting wheat, grass, clover, etc. I live in southern Mexico and we have some pretty woody and or sticky weeds that pop up quickly. We usually use a machete or an sickle but my back what it used to be...
 
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I've never used a western style scythe. But my Japanese scythe-like tool can chop small trees down when it's sharp.

Maybe someone with experience with the standard western style one will chime in.
 
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what thickness of woody material are you thinking about? i keep a pretty heavy ‘brush blade’ on my scythe. i feel like when young trees get over three quarters of an inch is when it gets annoying to scythe them. it’s still doable, but requires frequent resharpening and loses a lot of efficiency.
 
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I've got both a European style blade and the heavier antique American style.  In general I use the European style as it is much lighter weight and works well.  I do use it on some pretty hefty weeds or even small tree seedlings popping up.  Though when I'm really going into an area that is dominated by thicker weeds with woody stems and the like, such as zones where grape vines and bramble canes have over run it, I usually switch to the heavier bladed American style.
 
Melissa Ferrin
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Thanks!
Nothing thicker than a pencil, but some are really sappy and sticky.  I will look into the American style.
 
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Hello,

I use a bush hook, for anything under around 100mm for hard woods and 200mm for soft woods.

I could do thicker but I do not want to damage my blade.

Scythes have more razor blade like edges, and brush hooks have more axe like edges. (apex).

The reason for the razor like blade is clean sharp cuts.

the reason for the axe like blade is strength and durability.

Once your understand how the apex on a blade works in regards to differing cutts, and attibutes it becomes more about applying the right tool for the right job!




 
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Depends on the blade you have on it. I have a brush blade on mine and it handles hardier weeds just fine.
 
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