Honing a scythe with a whetstone

For easy mowing with a scythe, it is necessary to sharpen the scythe every few minutes with a whetstone.

Good to know before you start:

• Safety! To avoid ending up in an unstable position, hold the scythe steady while sharpening. Stand firmly next to the scythe and wear appropriate footwear, especially on uneven ground. Be alert and take your time. The secret to a sharp scythe is not in the speed of sharpening, but in the right technique.

• Always use a wet whetstone - a wet stone allows for smoother sharpening, and both the scythe and the whetstone will last much longer.
• Clean the scythe before sharpening - the easiest way is with a tuft of grass. Grass, clay, or small stones can damage the stone and reduce the quality of the sharpening.

Let's get started:

Before you start sharpening, take the scythe in your hand, place the whetstone against it and try to find the angle at which you should guide the whetstone along the blade. A logical aid is that it should be as sharp as possible, with the whetstone constantly touching the tip of the blade.

 When sharpening the top of the scythe, the whetstone should almost touch the rib of the scythe.

Finding the right angle on the underside is a little more difficult. It helps to look at the scythe from the side, as shown in the picture.

If you are new to scything, it is a good idea to start honing with the tip of the scythe stuck in the ground.
In this position, the scythe will not slip away, and you will also be able to control the whetstone on both sides of the scythe.

Hold the snath with your left hand and the whetstone with your right hand and, using overlapping strokes on both sides, gradually sharpen the scythe from the heel to the tip, as shown in the video.