The Big Book of the Scythe

From Chapter 4, The Big Book of the Scythe - Part 1
by Peter Vido and Family

It's May Day 2018, and Peter Vido and his family have released a new book on scythes, titled "The Big Book of the Scythe, Part 1". This comprehensive instructional book is being provided at no charge, as a free download from their Scythe Connection website and related sites. It's still a work in progress, but the information is there, even if it's currently a little "rough around the edges".

The book's contents are based on the Vido family's decades of scythe usage as an integral part of their full-time homesteading and livestock farming. The Vidos have been working on this book during the past few years, and the project will be ongoing, with occasional releases of improved versions of Part 1, along with the future development of the subsequent Parts 2, 3, and 4 (with each part having a different focus, as outlined here).

A paperback version is also being produced as a fundraiser for scythe introduction to small farmers in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

Below are links where the book can be downloaded as a PDF file:

http://scytheconnection.com/the-big-book-of-the-scythe-a-brief-outline/

http://scytheconnection.com/scwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Part-1-Version-1.0-2018-05-01-1.pdf

Here are links for viewing and downloading individual chapters and sections:

The Big Book of the Scythe, Part 1 -- Practical User Guidelines

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1. Clarification of Terms – as used in these guidelines

Chapter 2. Blade Selection

Chapter 3. Brief Notes on Snaths

Chapter 4. Preparing the Blade’s Edge

Chapter 5. The Elements of Scythe Fitting

Chapter 6. Honing in the Field

Chapter 7. Mowing Techniques

Chapter 8. Identifying and Correcting the Causes of Common Mowing Problems

Chapter 9. Repairing Minor Edge Damage

Chapter 10. Care of the Scythe, with a few Notes on “Safety”

Chapter 11. The Homemade ‘Eastern’ Snath