Haying equipment

[Pitchy]

We made a hay rake and fork today and i ordered a scythe and plan on putting up some hay the old fashion way this summer.
That`s if i`m able ordered a walker today also.

[M. M. Wright]

Good lookin' tools Lenn. I've got a Hovaround in the shop. Got it for the gun shows but it saves my knees so that I can work longer. I'm overhauling an 8N Ford tractor so the height is about right to work from.

[Pitchy]

Thanks Ron, i`m hoping this hip gets better soon and i won`t need it.
I`m looking forward to trying the scythe never used one before and gotta try everything once, guess the key is getting it razor sharp.
Ya can make a wood hay baler too that ya feed by hand.
Good luck with the 8N, i`ve always wanted one of those, i think it would be handy with a brush hog and back blade.

[gamekeeper]

I hope your mobility improves so much you can adapt the walker into one of your amazing projects...
My old boss tried to get me into using a scythe, I didn't find it very easy and preferred my noisey brush cutter. I like the look of your haying tools, they look authentic and well made....

[Bill in Oregon]

Lenn, I think you would really enjoy this BBC series on Youtube -- I think one of the episodes deals with scythes, but the technology is right up your alley, bro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=4apIM4l0laY

[gamekeeper]

Lenn, I think you would really enjoy this BBC series on Youtube -- I think one of the episodes deals with scythes, but the technology is right up your alley, bro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=4apIM4l0laY

Believe it or not the video can't be viewed in the UK but I know this series it is very well done and enjoyable as well as informative......

[OldWin]

Great job, Lenn.
Hope the hip is better soon old buddy.

[Pitchy]

Great video Bill neat stuff there.
Thanks guys, we built this contraption today for raking up hay.

[piller]

With a Scythe, you must cut in a semi-circular motion. Close to the ground, or it won't just lay down. Long smooth swings are the mark of a seasoned user. My Dad and his Brothers could make a lot of wheat go down with those things. Of course, they used them an awful lot from about 1920 to 1945. I never did get very good with one, but I only used it while making hay for the cattle, and that was just doing it for the exercise more than anything. After a while, you do get your timing and speed worked out. Not too fast, but too slow just doesn't cut right.

[M. M. Wright]

Somewhere on the webb I've seen a video of a young woman using a scythe who is just awesome. The one of the girl pushing hay and loading a truck is good too.

[Old No7]

Great job, Lenn.
Hope the hip is better soon old buddy.

+1 on both comments Lenn -- hope you're feeling better soon!

Old No7

[Pitchy]

Thanks fellers, i`ve seen that girl you mentioned Ron she can really go.

Today we fired up the steamer and made a pitch fork, the gas can boiler has been washed out and sat around for years so danger there.







Bent it around this pipe.



Spread the tines and wedged open.



Finished fork.

[OldWin]

That's really neat, Lenn. Clever work.

[GunnyMack]

Pitchy as usual you are keeping us all in awe with your work. Glad you are feeling good enough to tinker!!

Everytime I get my steamer going I'm still amazed how easily wood bends. I've been making trout nets for years.

[Pitchy]

Thanks Jay and Gunny, when bending full circle it gets more interesting.
I need to make a new boiler with a water gauge on it so i can let it steam longer without worrying about running out of water, the one i have has rusted through and dripping water.

[Bill in Oregon]

Nice job, Lenn. I have always wanted to try some serious steam bending. All I ever did was pour boiling water on a towel-wrapped chine log when building a boat.

[Pitchy]

Thanks Bill, we don`t do it very often, a few years back we used it more when making toboggans.
I have a big boiler and long steam box we used for those but it`s handy having a small setup too.

[Bill in Oregon]

Lenn, I had forgotten about those lovely toboggans you made!

[Pitchy]

Made a peening anvil from a RR spike for the scythe.

[piller]

That should come in handy. Rocks and other hard objects seem to enjoy finding the sharp edge of a scythe.

[Pitchy]

Scythe came in today, now gotta wait for the grass to grow, kinda like waiting for paint to dry.

[Sixgun]

I find using a scythe a very useful tool........there always areas of tall weeds.....like around the pond......especially the prickly ones that grow several feet ......that the scythe does a better job than a regular sickle.......

You can knock out a fair amount of weeds in short order but....you know......is physically demanding.

I like the pitch fork Pitchy......I've seen a fair amount of originals around here and none were under $200.....hell, who knows if they were originals....some guy in Minnesota may have made them and stashed em outside for a season or two, then shipped em down here where people have more money than brains. always thought you had to add vinegar to the water when steaming....don't know, was told that.---6

[Pitchy]

Thanks Six, i`m new to this scythe thing i think i may have to bend the tang to get the blade to lay flatter to the ground this one the sharp edge is about two inches off the ground while holding in a cutting position.
The wood where the blade mech. attaches is a little rotten to so may have to re-design it too.
Got it pretty sharp just need some tall grass to try it on.
I`ve never heard of putting vinegar in the water wonder what that does?

[OldWin]

Nice one buddy. I have one like that somewhere around here.

[piller]

Looks good. For fixing rotten wood, Bob Vila on his TV show used to scrape it out with a wood rasp and then use Bondo. I have tried it, and it seems to work. The Bondo with fiberglass is strong.

[Pitchy]

Thanks guys, had to make a stone holder too.

[Bill in Oregon]

Nice accessory, Lenn. Hope you find some tall grass soon!

[OldWin]

Nice work bud. I think the last time I used our scythe I was about 10.

[Pitchy]

Thanks fellers.

[Pitchy]

Made a new scythe today with a straight handle, will try it if it stops raining.

[piller]

I like that handle. After you use it a little, you can decide if you want to keep it that way or make some adjustments. It might not be a bad idea to make some guards for your legs to use until you get good with it. A tiny miss can cut pretty bad with a scythe. Some cloth holding a few dowel rods can be made to fit and would stop an accident.

My worries that others have as many scars as I do are showing up again.

[Pitchy]

Thanks piller, don`t know if it works yet as the poly took all night to dry and its been raining.
Not sure its sharp enough either, time will tell.

[EdinCT]

Pitchy, My cousins grandfather who came from Ireland at the turn of the last century could really lay down the hay. He always had a stone in his side pocket and every few minutes he would stop draw on his pipe and make a pass on each side of the blade. It never looked like he was working hard but after a few hours things had happened if you know what I mean. I bought an aluminum goose neck 20 years ago and have to say its just not the same!

[Pitchy]

Pitchy, My cousins grandfather who came from Ireland at the turn of the last century could really lay down the hay. He always had a stone in his side pocket and every few minutes he would stop draw on his pipe and make a pass on each side of the blade. It never looked like he was working hard but after a few hours things had happened if you know what I mean. I bought an aluminum goose neck 20 years ago and have to say its just not the same!

Thanks, i`ve been working days trying to get a sharp edge with a stone so it would mow lawn grass about three inches high.
Tried the peening thing and made it worse so just now i broke out my number one shop tool the side grinder with a flapper in it.
Put a nice wide tapper on it and as sharp as a razor blade and yep it cut lawn grass so i betting it will cut tall hay grass well.