Sod power tools - has anyone else used a scythe

[ARWadworth]

I have seen a old Wolf circular saw attatchment for a drill. It was still boxed and was sat next to the drill. My customer would not sell them to me.

Adam

[gilli]

Hi, Smallholder mag had an interesting article on scythes a few months back.

Was hefting a wooden one and aluminum one without blades in and still thought of the weight of the wooden one as an advantage in relative terms.

Both quite expensive it seems..saw them at Mole Valley agricultural suppliers.

I understand the satisfaction of using one.

Recently used a long handled bill hook.(.I know there is a more proper name, but it escapes me at the moment) to cut nettles, swinging it to take a wide swath...and that too, because of its weight, was both useful and satisfying for the purpose.

Horrifyingly dangerous, of course, should pets or people be near, but better with the use of the "grippy" gloves... I think I should drill a hole in the handle and fit a lanyard rope to go around my wrist should it slip, just as a safety measure. good luck and thanks for prompting a satisfying thread David

[ARWadworth]

My size 11 steel toe capped boots are up to the job, with a fist or two to help. No need for power tools.

Adam

[Andy Hall]

What about the Barnsley Chop? .. oh no, Kiss.....

[ARWadworth]

The chop is from the village I grew up in

Dodworth

Adam

[Dave Liquorice]

So instead of flying harmlessly away it gets pulled back and hits you? Hum...

[Peter Johnson]

I only recently threw out the circular saw attachment that had been my dad's. I'm sure I used it years ago, don't remember if he did.

[Huge]

You're not having mine. It's way too useful.

[The Medway Handyman]

Can you still buy them new?

[Cerberus .]

The proper name is 'Rawldrills' & according to this site (under D) they sell them.

[Bob Eager]

a) I always thought they were 'Rawltools' b) Rawlplug product lists have lots of Rawldrills - and they are just that - various kinds of drill bits...

I would like one too, though!

[Cicero]

==================================

with a slight rotary action - i.e. turn a quarter turn after each hammer stroke.

Cic.

[Huge]

I've never seen them, but I expect a proper tool shop would have them.

[Bob Eager]

Aha. I stand corrected!

Pity about the postage overhead...

[Huge]

They're brilliant for breeze-block walls. I carry mine in the toolbox, so if I need to put a screw in a wall, I don't need to go and get a drill.

[Cicero]

================================== Postage - the silent killer....

I must have bought something there quite recently because it's in my 'Bookmarks' list but I can't remember what would justify the postage.

Cic.

[Cicero]

================================== Limited use though, unless you can get other sizes, which I've never seen. Mine is about 1/4" diameter and that seems to correspond with the size of the fibre plugs for which it was designed, although Rawlplug also sold a kind of asbestos hole filler for larger holes.

Cic.

[Frank Erskine]

The original "Rawlplug Toolholder" did have interchangeable tips. In fact there were several different sizes of toolholder to take a wide range of "Rawldrills" (the tips).

[Cicero]

================================== That's interesting. Do you know anywhere still stocking them? They might still have a use in certain circumstances.

Cic.

[Frank Erskine]

Hmm - I have an advert for them in a Sunco trade catalogue dated

1936...

I can't say I've seen the original type for quite a while, but I bet some little ironmonger will have some in stock.

Incidentally, in 1936 the toolholder cost from 1/6d to 3/- each...

Rawldrills were available from 1/8" to 1" diameter.