At the peening workshop, I discussed the importance of having a good peening station for your work.
For consistent, accurate peening everything needs to be stable and solid with the force of the hammer blows being transmitted down to the ground. If you, the blade or the anvil are unsteady the whole process becomes a problem. Either set a good block of wood on the ground and bed it in well or, preferably, set it into the ground about 18″ so it’s not going anywhere. A more portable option is a peening bench which is held steady by the user’s weight. Whichever you choose, set the height so that the blade can be supported by your legs when it’s on the anvil.
I have been travelling to Austria to learn about mowing and this year had peening instruction from two experts
Here is the peening bench of Gerhard Wagner who was Chief Engineer at the Schroeckenfux scythe factory in Austria. Note how the anvil is turned so the scythe edge is aligned with his hammering arm. Also that the seat is comfortable; an important consideration if you’re going to be peening the blade regularly.
Adolf Staufer, who worked his whole life at the Pieslinger scythe factory before it closed, has a bench simply made from sawn softwood. See how he narrowed the top so the scythe tang doesn’t foul on the block. Adolf has two anvils here, one for peening and one for making repairs – more on that in another post.
Finally, an old peening bench similar to Gerhard’s. This design is very commonly seen in museums.
The last time I was visiting my girlfriend in Austria we found a hewing axe blade rusting away outside in a chopping block. It was in a pretty sorry state with no handle, rust and some horrendous dents and nicks in the blade. The owner told us he used it for splitting kindling and cutting bones and had no idea what it’s real purpose was. My enthusiasm must have won him over because in the end he said I could have it if I thought it would actually be any use to me.
As a greenwood worker from working-class stock, I wasn’t too familiar with working with gold leaf but some advice from John Meadows of Habberley Meadows made it seem easy enough to have a go. Each coil was wound up flat to make the job easier and the edge covered in ‘size’- a PVA gilder’s glue. The gold leaf, which is attached to a sheet of tissue paper, is then simply rubbed onto the surface like a posh transfer. We’re cautious not to spoil the 
natural beauty of the wood with too much gold so hopefully a 2mm line will be enough to catch the light without being too ‘bling’.
Everyone was soon set up with their own station looking out over the reserve to the glorious autumn colours of woodland opposite. Then the noise begins; 8 people all hammering metal, each working to a consistent rhythm but nicely out of time with each other so that the overall effect is some kind of experimental techno dance track. I worked my way round the group making minor adjustments to angles and technique, answering questions and observing 
progress. Once peening was complete I took the group through the process of using a progression of whetstones to sharpen the newly formed edge. I had noticed that this was being neglected leading to a steady deterioration in people’s mowing efficiency and the belief that their peening attempts were only making things worse. By the end of the day the most common comment was “My scythe is sharper now than it’s ever been since I bought it.” and everyone went home with more confidence to continue the process of practicing and learning.
This week I’ve been working with 
Yesterday a small group of the North-West mowers met up at Sprint Mill, just north of Kendal. Edward and Romola, our hosts, have been working their unique smallholding together almost entirely by hand for nearly 20 years. Deeply connected to the land, they are committed to making the most of the natural resources and developing it and its place in the community.
Awareness, judgement, musing, meditation are all present but, for the beginner, also a certain amount of frustration. It’s a brilliant learning experience and one I try to encourage people to see as fun. As the day went on we all got used to seeing the lay and adjusting our style from short trimming cuts to wider sweeping swaths in response to the grass. There’s a satisfaction in this work, knowing that you and the scythe are working together not just between yourselves but with the grass as well.
On a beautiful autumn day with good company it’s hard to think of a better way to spend your time. Edward’s comment that “it’s wonderful to pause and listen to the sounds of the scythes and people chatting away as they work” summed it all up.
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