Has anybody on here used a ditch bank blade (dbb) ? Specifically Council Tool's dbb?

A scythe looks awesome to use but I am not sure it would work on the side of the hill where I am working. EDIT: It is not that I think the scythe won't work. I am not sure I could swing a scythe on a hill and keep the angle right. END EDIT This yard is terraced, for lack of a better word, and I am working on one of the thin 3-5 foot wide transitions between the flats. I would guesstimate that the grade varies from 50° to 35°. I am actually thinking about something like this tool: Briar hook
I will carry a machete or hatchet for anything bigger than what the hook can handle.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful, though. I will be adding a scythe to the list of this to look for at the flea market. There is a large flea market not far from me and I am fairly sure that somebody there will have a scythe blade at some point. Is there anywhere I can buy a new American style snath?

I also watched a bit of Sparrow92's video of Neils. That is what the brush I am clearing looks like, except that it is on the side of a hill. You might be able to walk through the brush but your feet would get entangled. In addition, I read your guide to American scythes. It was very informative. Especially the part about the different strokes.
 
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You're making sense, not sounding ungrateful. Sorry for turning your thread into another American vs continental European style scythe debate. :)
 
Squashfan said:
A scythe looks awesome to use but I am not sure it would work on the side of the hill where I am working. EDIT: It is not that I think the scythe won't work. I am not sure I could swing a scythe on a hill and keep the angle right. END EDIT This yard is terraced, for lack of a better word, and I am working on one of the thin 3-5 foot wide transitions between the flats. I would guesstimate that the grade varies from 50° to 35°. I am actually thinking about something like this tool: Briar hook
I will carry a machete or hatchet for anything bigger than what the hook can handle.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful, though. I will be adding a scythe to the list of this to look for at the flea market. There is a large flea market not far from me and I am fairly sure that somebody there will have a scythe blade at some point. Is there anywhere I can buy a new American style snath?

I also watched a bit of Sparrow92's video of Neils. That is what the brush I am clearing looks like, except that it is on the side of a hill. You might be able to walk through the brush but your feet would get entangled. In addition, I read your guide to American scythes. It was very informative. Especially the part about the different strokes.
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As mentioned above, you're not sounding ungrateful at all! Lots of ways to skin a cat and for your purpose you might find that Council will do a fine job. However, you might be amazed at what a good grass hook and a machete or saw could do for the spot. It's dividing the work amongst a few tools, but the grass hook (get a scythe-type one rather than sickle-type--I can provide pics if you need them to know the difference) will clear grasses and stemmy plants up to a bit above thumb thickness without trouble while the machete or saw will handle the larger work like saplings. If you need a one-tool solution the Council may be a good option but they're really best suited for clearing of brambles in rocky terrain. I own a nice vintage one but haven't used it more than a handful of times to be honest (though enough to know my way around it.)

As far as "new" American snaths go you can buy new ones made by Seymour Manufacturing, though they aren't of the same quality as vintage ones. I have about 30 of them hoarded right now waiting for restoration, and just finished up a beautiful old Derby & Ball with some spiffy embellishment. When you're ready to take the plunge let me know and I can hook you up with something nice--and can try to pair the snath nicely to whatever blade you end up with as well.

Sparrow92 said:
You're making sense, not sounding ungrateful. Sorry for turning your thread into another American vs continental European style scythe debate. :)
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Heeheehee. I wouldn't say it's so much a debate as much as comparison. Sometimes you need a flathead screwdriver, sometimes a phillips. ;):thumbup:

Square_peg said:
Squashfan, I think you might be best just working that slope with the machete.
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Actually that reminds me. The Imacasa Cane Tapanga could be a good tool for the purpose. I use one for that kind of work sometimes. The bend in the blade helps keep ya' from stooping as much and doesn't impede "normal" use in any significant way.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
As mentioned above, you're not sounding ungrateful at all! Lots of ways to skin a cat and for your purpose you might find that Council will do a fine job. However, you might be amazed at what a good grass hook and a machete or saw could do for the spot. It's dividing the work amongst a few tools, but the grass hook (get a scythe-type one rather than sickle-type--I can provide pics if you need them to know the difference) will clear grasses and stemmy plants up to a bit above thumb thickness without trouble while the machete or saw will handle the larger work like saplings.
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Something like this made by Ames True Temper? Or am I looking for a short handled version?

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That looks a lot like the tool I am looking for. Though I have a feeling that the Ames grass hook is poor quality. Now, I where do I find a good quality one of those? I think I will try my local hardware stores.

What about an Imacasa 20" Cazanga Slasher?

Big thanks to you gals and guys for being patient with me. I really enjoyed learning about scythes and look forward to more sharp objects in the future!
 
pardon the poor capitalization but I'm on my phone right now. that True Temper doesn't look too bad for a modern one but obviously vintage is better. you can use either a short or a long handled one and a long one won't require you to bend over as much. however a short handled one is easier to manage when making it very precise trimming cuts. the cazanga won't cut as close to the ground but can chop heavier growth like a machete. sort of like a cross between a ditch bank blade and a grass hook. the secret to using a short grass hook is a broad low stance. this allows you to keep your back very straight so what you do not experience discomfort from bending over. I will respond in better detail when I. 'm in front of a computer again. :)
 
What's really unfortunate is that no one presently makes a good scythook anymore. Like a "lite" version of a scythe. The blades were larger than on grass hooks but only about as large as a bush blade (though thinner/lighter in build) and generally had a straight handle with a single nib. The blade was typically held by three stove bolts on a two-piece bracket arm.

At any rate, though, if it's within your ability to post a photograph of the site that needs to be cleared it would be easier to determine exactly which tool is most appropriate. The cazanga would do the best job if slashing larger amounts of shrubby woody stemmed plants and/or brambles and the like, with some small saplings and branches, while the grass hook/machete combo would be best for vegetation mostly consisting of grass and weeds interspersed with saplings.
 
You might check out a Japanese kama I think they are called. They come very sharp, are various sizes and work well. Years ago I bought an English made tool made for hedgerows. I don't know what they are called but they are similar in size to a brush axe but with both sides sharpened, one side straight and the other curved like US brush axes.
 
I don't think a kama would be a very good tool for the job, honestly. I think the English tool you're looking for the name of is a billhook, which would be potentially more suitable but still I'm guessing not quite the ideal choice for the circumstances. We'll see, though! :)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I don't think a kama would be a very good tool for the job, honestly. I think the English tool you're looking for the name of is a billhook, which would be potentially more suitable but still I'm guessing not quite the ideal choice for the circumstances. We'll see, though! :)
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Yeah I reread the OP and you are right a kama wouldn't be very good. I only found it handy cutting raspberry under my apple trees. I had to crouch down anyway. Billhook, that's it.
 
Kama are primarily reaping tools for harvesting rice or other similar crops, so they're a bit of a specialized tool. Wide stance! Wide stance! :)
 
Pics!

This are the start of the bank and the photo are in order. However, not all of the photos face the same way. For scale, the grass that is unmowed is about a foot tall on average not counting the height of the seed heads.

That tree you see at the very far left is on the bank but the ground has been mowed.
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The flat area at the base of the bank is on someone else property. I won't be clearing it.
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Where the trunk of this tree splits is 3 to 3.5 feet high.
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This is where it gets interesting:
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My enemy, the underbrush. Very dense. This is what inspired this thread.
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This stand of polk weed is well over my head.
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The growth under the polk.
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As I am looking at these photos, I have an idea of what I want to use. But, I am curious to see what you people think.
 
14" machete and an American scythe with a weed and/or bush blade on it. It'd sweep most of that stuff out of the way like it was hardly there. Anything too thick for the scythe feeds the machete. I often toss on my Mora #333 in its leather sheath and simple baldric since it's a light tool that chops outside its weight class and takes a very keen edge. Does a very nice job of chopping anything you're afraid to take the scythe to. But the scythe itself would be able to absolutely destroy that stuff. I'd use two blades--a medium sized weed blade for the lighter areas to speed the work along with its longer blade and the nice finish it would leave, and then bust out the bush blade once you start hitting those fingerling saplings.
 
For now, I think I am going to get a briar hook to pair with my machete. I know a scythe would be good but really would like to restore my own, cause I think it is fun to restore tools.

Thanks for all the help and all the learning!
 
Sounds like a plan! With the briar hook just get it thin and sharp and let it swing back and forth like a golf club. Should do the trick though the finish will be rough. :):thumbup:
 
The Buck diamond hones are made by Hewlett "Jewelstik", and will do fine for maintenance. For establishing the initial edge you can use a round or half-round file. :)

As far as (I presume you mean) Condor's carbon vs. stainless I would say your only disadvantage with the stainless is that it takes just a hair longer to sharpen it since it's more wear resistant. I own multiple stainless models by them and love 'em all. They're amongst the few manufacturers from whom I trust a stainless machete from.
 
Hah! Of all the files I have laying around, I don't seem to have a half round. I'll put it on the list to pick up.

Good to know that I can trust Imacasa's stainless too.
 
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