Great Question!

Grass Blades: Are primarily used on soft grassed in lawns and paddocks. The blade is light and thin and often comes in a variety of lengths to suit the space you are cutting. They are not recommended for cutting anything thicker that grass

Grass blades Snaths: Timber Snaths and Metal Snaths are both suitable options. With grass blades its personal preference.

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Ditch Blades: Are the in between Blade, slightly thicker metal and often only going up to medium lengths. These Blades are ideal for cutting up to the Thickness of your pinky finger Eg. things like small thistles, juicy weeds and small clumping grasses.

Ditch Blade Snaths: We recommend Metal Snaths. This is due to the fact that the force when hitting weeds with any resistance can twist the blade socket in timber snaths and result in cracks and your timber snath splitting.

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Bush Blades: Are the most robust solid blade. These are the thickest and the shortest. Designed for cutting through small saplings, blackberries, Large thistles and clumping grasses, Can cut up to the thickness of your thumb as a guide.

Bush Blade Snaths: We recommend Metal Snaths ONLY. This is due to the fact that the force when hitting weeds with any resistance can twist the blade socket in timber snaths and result in cracks and your timber snath splitting.

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First you will need to determine the most primary area you want to be scything and determine the terrain:

****NOTE: ITS best to determine if you are needing a Grass, Ditch or Bush Blade first, Then choose the most suitable length for your terrain.

Is it flat smooth open ground?

Yes - You can go with a long blade to cut a wider circumference with a big swing

No - Is it hilly or lumpy, or limited with swing space? - Then its best to choose a medium to short blade so you have better maneuverability.

For Snath lengths check out this guide for the timber snaths which is also suitable for the Metal Snaths, although they are only available in limited sizes at the moment:

• If you are between 155 cm to 170 cm  tall, choose the #2 snath (150 cm)
• If you are between 170 cm and 185 cm tall, choose the #3 snath (160 cm)
• If you are between 185 cm to 200 cm  tall, choose the #4 snath (170 cm)
• If you are taller than 196 cm choose the #5 Extra Large snath (180 cm)

Yes! All the blades and snaths have the same connection type and can be mixed & matched. All snaths come with with a bracket to attach you blades.

***NOTE: if you are choosing a Timber Snath just remember that they are only recommended to be fitted with a grass blade, this to avoid damaging your snath with the heavy duty blades and impact with each swing.

Peening: In short, is a hammering method of the metal on the blade's edge to extend the blades life or repair any dints or bumps to the cutting edge.

The best way to describe it would be like rolling out dough, and the hammering is the rolling pin and the blade edge is the dough.

But why you ask? Creating a thinner cutting edge creates a superior cut. Making cutting through you plant materials less laboursome and more time and energy efficient.

After each sharpening with a whetstone you are essentially taking small amounts of metal off, similar to what a pencil sharpener does to a pencil.

When will I need to peen my blade? There is no set time, as each situation is very varied. You will be the best judge of your blades condition, and how far down the original peen you have sharpened up to. I find its best to hunt some videos down on youtube and really get an idea of what it all looks like. Good Luck!