• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Timothy Norton
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • Jay Angler
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • paul wheaton
  • Tereza Okava
  • Andrés Bernal
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • M Ljin
  • Matt McSpadden

Peasant Hoes: Inside Bevel or Outside Bevel

 
Posts: 89
Location: Kalapuya Land, West of Cascades (600' elevation; 44°N. Lat.) Sandy/Silty Soil
20
forest garden fungi foraging food preservation bee wood heat
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hello,
I was putting together a new Eye Hoe I got, and trying to figure out where the bevel ought to be.  I know I ought to know, but I don't.
Specifically I have a couple Seymour heads (Grubbing, and American Pattern), also a Red Rooster Tools Planters Hoe.

There is no clear indication to me of a bevel from the factory.

If I do it the wrong way, work will be less efficient and soil will accumulate more on the blade, right?
The bevel side is where the blade will pull toward, yeah?  So I probably ought to have the bevel on the INSIDE of the hoe?
Perhaps someone knows what will work best?

Also, if anyone wants to wax poetically or pragmatically about Hoes they have loved, this might be a good place to start?
 
pollinator
Posts: 169
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
70
2
homeschooling kids homestead
  • Likes 7
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I've always kept my bevels on the down/out/away side of the hoe just for the simple fact that it makes it easy to maintain and sharpen. I can just plant the handle on the ground and file and sharpen at eye level very comfortably on the top side. If the bevel was on the inside/towards me during use it would be much more awkward to sharpen. I have never noticed any negative effects during use from this and I have definitely put a few hoes through their paces.
 
pollinator
Posts: 5520
Location: Canadian Prairies - Zone 3b
1518
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Every serious (expensive) hoe I have purchased has the factory-ground primary bevel on the side facing the user, and the side facing away completely flat. I suspect there is less resistance that way, cutting deeper with x amount of force.

So, I maintain the original primary bevel -- but like Ezra, I cheat a little while I'm working. A light touch up on the "facing away" side does no harm provided you keep the file/stone almost fully flat to the back of the hoe.

On a heavy blade, I think that's a good approach. If it's a thin blade, I doubt it makes much difference.
 
Fire me boy! Cool, soothing, shameless self promotion:
Learn Permaculture through a little hard work
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic