With a scythe you can easily cut grass or bushes. There are various variants and some criteria that you should pay attention to when buying. In our guide we deal with these aspects in detail. In addition, we provide you with specific recommendations for three good hand scythes based on customer reviews on Amazon.
In expert hands, a scythe can do wonders
Note: In this guide we will focus on hand scythes. We only mention electric and petrol-powered versions in passing, because we will deal with motorized models in detail in another article.
Our recommendations
our recommendation
SHW-FIRE 59168 scythe blade 65cm with tubular steel scythe 150 cm
EUR 79.90 To the product| Type | Grass/universal scythe |
|---|---|
| length of the sheet | 65 cm |
| length of the scythe | 150 cm |
| handles | 2 (adjustable) |
| Weight | 1.8kg |
The SHW-FIRE model is an extremely stable universal scythe. Made from a hand-forged and galvanized steel handle and a fully forged and hammered steel blade with a length of 65 centimetres, the design is extremely robust and powerful. This is confirmed by the positive reviews on Amazon. Due to the first-class quality and the good price-performance ratio, the scythe from SHW-FIRE is our comparison winner.
our recommendation
Schröckenfux wild growth scythe
EUR 107.90 To the product| Type | wild growth scythe |
|---|---|
| length of the sheet | 50 cm |
| length of the scythe | 153 cm |
| handles | 2 (adjustable, crutch) |
| Weight | 3.4kg |
The Schröckenfux wild growth scythe is specially designed for "wild grass growth". The Amazon reviewers are enthusiastic. They praise the ergonomics (despite the high weight!) and the enormous performance. A customer says: "This scythe cuts EVERYTHING".
our recommendation
Göbel folding scythe tree with scythe, 150 cm
EUR 29.90 To the product| Type | Grass/universal scythe |
|---|---|
| length of the sheet | 60 cm |
| length of the scythe | 150 cm |
| handles | 2 (adjustable) |
| Weight | 1.7kg |
The Grassense by Göbel acts as a cheaper alternative to our test winner. It has a foldable scythe blade and can therefore be stored compactly and safely. Most customers describe the scythe as good. However, some reviewers note that before each use (even the first one!) it is essential to sharpen and sharpen it in order to be able to work with it meaningfully.
Purchase Criteria
drive
Manually: Hand scythes are easy to use and quiet. In addition, they do not consume electricity and do not pollute the environment. And on top of that, the purchase price is comparatively cheap. The only disadvantage: the manual scythe requires physical strength. This makes it more strenuous than scything with motorized models.
Motorized: Motorized - i.e. electric, battery-powered or petrol-powered - scythes require less physical strength, but are also more complicated to use, louder and more expensive - both in terms of purchase and in relation to the follow-up costs (electricity, petrol). Gasoline scythes damage the environment through CO2 emissions.
Blade length/application
The length of the scythe blade determines to a large extent what exactly the respective scythe is best suited for:
- Release scythes have a short and slightly curved cutting edge (length of about 45 centimeters). They are particularly recommended for removing bushes and other annoying growths between trees.
- Heath and bush scythes usually have a short, thick scythe blade (between 45 and 50 centimeters in length). They are recommended for cutting rather solid plants such as bushes, shrubs and reeds.
- Wild growth scythes reveal an extra robust and tend to be short scythe blade (length of about 50 centimeters). They are recommended for mowing tougher grasses such as shrub seedlings and ferns.
- Grass and universal scythes are characterized by a long scythe blade (between 60 and 75 centimeters in length). They are mainly recommended for grass. Depending on how wide or narrow the cutting edge is, you can also use the device to cut denser and thicker grass (broad scythe blade) or only thinner, less densely growing stalks (narrow scythe blade).
tips
If you're short on space in your tool shed, your best bet is to look for a scythe with a folding blade. The folded variant also protects against accidents.
Ergonomics of the handles
The scythe should have two handles about an arm's length apart. This allows you to grip the garden tool firmly with both hands and guide it in a controlled manner.
It is practical if the lower handle comes along with a crutch. While without this extra you usually have to scythe in a slightly hunched position, the crutch allows you to do gardening in an upright position. This relieves your back. A crutch is usually only found on scythes with a wooden handle. However, the majority of the handles are made of steel. With these you often look in vain for a crutch.
But: You can often adjust the handles on steel handles. This allows the scythe to be used by different people. Always make sure that the locking mechanisms of the handles are of high quality so that they do not suddenly come loose when scything (risk of injury!).
Note: There are also scythes without a handle. However, working with such designs quickly gets on your back. That's why we strongly advise against choosing a handleless model.
Length of the scythe tree
scythe tree? This is what the handle of the scythe is called. Sometimes he is also called Sensenworb. In order for the scythe to actually be gentle on the back, the scythe handle must of course be sufficiently long, according to your height. The handle lengths are usually between 140 and 170 centimeters.
Guide values:
- Standing in front of your chest, the scythe tree ideally reaches slightly over your chin. Some manufacturers also state directly in their product descriptions which body sizes their devices are suitable for.
- The top handle of the scythe tree should be about 8 to 10 inches below your height. Example: If you are 1.80 meters tall, the top scythe handle ends at around 1.55 to 1.60 meters at best. By the way, the lower grip should be more or less at hip height.
tips
To find out whether the distances suit you, the only thing that usually helps is a practical test. Place the upper (i.e. “back”) handle under your armpit. If you can easily grasp the lower (i.e. “front”) handle with your outstretched arm, the length of the scythe tree and the distance between the handles are correct.
Shape of the scythe tree
There are scythes with a straight or S-shaped handle. Here your taste decides which variant is better for you.
frequently asked Questions
What is a scythe?
The scythe is a useful gardening tool that you can use to cut grass, bushes, shrubs, reeds and the like, depending on the blade. Each scythe consists of a scythe tree (stem) and a scythe blade. In most cases, the handle has two handles. In the case of motorized scythes, the motor as well
- a plug connection for the power cable (electric scythe),
- a battery holder (rechargeable battery sense) or
- a tank (petrol cutter)
added.
tips
Wet grass is easier to cut than dry grass.
Which brands offer good scythes?
The best-known brands for high-quality scythes include:
- SHW FIRE
- Schröckenfux
- Makita
- Stihl
- Gardena
- Fiskars
- Ryobi
- grohe
- builder
Where is the best place to buy a scythe?
You can choose from scythes in well-stocked hardware stores (OBI, toom, Bauhaus, Hornbach, hagebaumarkt) and on Amazon.
How can I sharpen my scythe?
A sharpened scythe blade is the basic requirement for scything as effortlessly and quickly as possible. You can use a sharpening stone to resharpen a blade that has become blunt.
Important: Before sharpening, you should also peen the scythe blade. If you are inexperienced with this, it is better to have this step done by a professional. Peening is essential to maintain the size of the cutting blade.
We recommend that you peal and sharpen the scythe before using it for the first time - even if it is pre-peened and pre-sharpened according to the manufacturer. As a rule, the manufacturer's measures do not yet achieve the optimum sharpness.
Note: If peening and sharpening no longer helps, you will have to replace the scythe blade, willy-nilly.
Is there a scythe comparison by Stiftung Warentest?
No, to date, Stiftung Warentest has not carried out a scythe comparison. We will inform you here as soon as anything changes.
What alternatives to the scythe are available?
Depending on the specific application, grass shears and lawn trimmers (€31.33) - whether manual or motorized - are potential alternatives to the scythe. The good old lawn mower is also an option, especially if you have a very large garden and enough parking space for such a bulky machine. Also keep in mind that a lawn mower is much more expensive and noisy than a hand scythe and is not the right helper for narrow areas in the garden.
equipment
Peening anvil, peening hammer and peening buck or peening hammer
In order to peen the scythe blade, a peening anvil, peening hammer and peening stand are required.
our recommendation
SHW-FIRE 59133 Peening set Peening hammer and peening anvil Sharpening scythes
EUR 56.90 To the productInexperienced people are better off using a peening tool so as not to damage the scythe while peening and thereby making it unusable.
our recommendation
percussion apparatus
65.30 EUR To the productwhetstone
Use a whetstone to sharpen the scythe blade.
our recommendation