Bladerunners in Glen Huon, Tasmania, Australia | Shopping & retail

Bladerunners

Locality: Glen Huon, Tasmania, Australia

Phone: +61 3 6266 0262

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25.01.2022 When I close my eyes I see the shiny imprint of hammered steel...

24.01.2022 Well, sheesh, obviously...

24.01.2022 Sometimes Chewy really surprises me.

24.01.2022 Hoping to convert this old tile cutter into a wet grinder. Wish me luck. Hopefully speed up the whetstone process and enable us to produce bench stones as well.

23.01.2022 Now available direct from our website.

22.01.2022 Ta daaa! Weve got ourselves a wet grinder.

22.01.2022 Oh, Chewie, it's been too long...

20.01.2022 *Sigh*. The next lot of competition.

19.01.2022 Hats off to Hitachi Power Tools Australia.

19.01.2022 Falci blades are in. Including a new model for us, the 128 in 65cm. It's been mowing my raspberry patch for a couple of years now and has proved itself. As seen here:

19.01.2022 More snaffs online. Weve lumped the SS rings with them too, now.

17.01.2022 First tranche up. Go get 'em.

17.01.2022 Fund raising for a scythe-related cause. I can vouch for the veracity of the projects discussed here since Peter Vido asked me if Id be interested in accompanying him to Cuba for scythe-evangelism purposes, and also because the Indian gentleman mentioned here has been in correspondence with me about producing whetstones locally in India. I also have one of the blades that was especially made for the Indian project. I have nonetheless suggested the inclusion of some links to external (i.e. independent) reporting on their project. Supporting these projects arguably does actually support your own access to blades as well; new, developing country markets for manufacturers are much more likely to keep their factories churning far more than our minuscule purchases in the West.

16.01.2022 Bummer. Busy getting gear ready for the expo this weekend, and the grinder has packed it in. Ive ordered another set of brushes. In the meantime, Ive got it running again with some aluminium foil and ingenuity.

16.01.2022 Finally got our whetstone grinder back up and running after a burnt out motor. Oh, you beautiful thing, you...

16.01.2022 Another day of explaining that yes, you really can do a lot with a scythe, and yes, there are still many tens of thousands sold each year globally. But once again we made a few converts - mostly people who have become disillusioned with their brush cutters - and gave out dozens of business cards to interested folks (which, based on past experience will result in a few more sales in the coming weeks), and sold a few of Steve Tomlins books to those wanting to learn what was in...volved before taking the plunge. As usual some of the whetstones found homes doing jobs wed never envisaged them doing. Now time to adjust the stock numbers... Thanks to everyone who expressed an interest, to those willing to take a punt on a crazy tool, and the couple of people who took us up on the offer of a blade service (youll be in for a nice surprise next time you use those blades!). There were three of us on deck today (myself, Tony, and Mrs. Tony) and there werent many times when we werent all talking or demonstrating something to different folks at the same time. So after a day of being on my feet except while sitting down to peen blades, Im on a post-trade show downer, with a house full of clutter waiting to be packed away properly, but nothing that a dip with my dog (who also had a long day home alone) couldnt fix.

15.01.2022 Should the Australian Govt declare a climate emergency? https://www.aph.gov.au/petition_list?id=EN1041

15.01.2022 They're in... we'll be working on getting a 'limited release' up on the site this week while we await parts to complete the others. Hoping to have some online by the weekend; watch this space.

14.01.2022 Some new stock has arrived. Falci blades are also in, but I need to hit the hay... watch this space.

14.01.2022 Oh, Chewie, its been too long...

14.01.2022 For those who haven't heard, we're winding up the business. I just boxed up what is likely the last Canadian white ash, Mennonite-made snath that will ever sell in this country. We're not ordering any more snaths, blades, or maintenance gear, but we do still have dozens of blades and a bit of maintenance gear in stock, so we'll be plugging away for a while yet. But if you've been holding off to place an order for another blade or another bit of maintenance gear, you might wan...t to jump in and do it sooner rather than later. We started this venture in 2012 in an effort to get some SHARP scythes into punters' hands at a good price, as a bit of a sideline hobby that might pay its way some day. Somewhere along the way we got a bit crazy; we've shifted thousands of units, we started manufacturing our own attachment rings when we weren't happy with what we could buy off the shelf, designed a ceramic whetstone in consultation with a local potter, and even started prospecting and making our own natural whetstones, which ended up being sought after across the globe, and just the local demand outstripped our ability to supply. The short story is that a hot season business isn't the best one to embark on when you're already farming. Despite taking some satisfaction in raising the bar on the products on offer in this country, and on influencing prices (e.g. we watched one competitor slash 40% off one product line after we came along), we've both had a lot of changes going on in the last few years and it's time to lift the white flag. We'll keep the website running as a resource, and we may even add some posts, or videos we wish we'd had when we were first starting out (like this one: https://youtu.be/9hfJKtrDCs0 ). And we'll never say never... times may change again. Especially if we have a hard time getting good gear :-) I won't miss having to say "...and I sell scythes. Scythes. No, scythes. S C Y T H E. Y'know, like the grim reaper" when people ask "what do you do?". I will say that if I ever find myself with spare time on my hands (which I can't see happening for a long time), I'd dearly love to start turning these out again...

14.01.2022 Because scythes work.

13.01.2022 Mmmm... sparkly. Expensively sparkly. Diamonds are like that. Heres hoping this experiment works.

12.01.2022 I do get quite excited when someone orders a blade specifically with a lawn-ready edge. #readytomow

12.01.2022 Falci blades are in. Including a new model for us, the 128 in 65cm. Its been mowing my raspberry patch for a couple of years now and has proved itself. As seen here:

11.01.2022 Theyre in... well be working on getting a limited release up on the site this week while we await parts to complete the others. Hoping to have some online by the weekend; watch this space.

11.01.2022 For those who havent heard, were winding up the business. I just boxed up what is likely the last Canadian white ash, Mennonite-made snath that will ever sell in this country. Were not ordering any more snaths, blades, or maintenance gear, but we do still have dozens of blades and a bit of maintenance gear in stock, so well be plugging away for a while yet. But if youve been holding off to place an order for another blade or another bit of maintenance gear, you might wan...t to jump in and do it sooner rather than later. We started this venture in 2012 in an effort to get some SHARP scythes into punters hands at a good price, as a bit of a sideline hobby that might pay its way some day. Somewhere along the way we got a bit crazy; weve shifted thousands of units, we started manufacturing our own attachment rings when we werent happy with what we could buy off the shelf, designed a ceramic whetstone in consultation with a local potter, and even started prospecting and making our own natural whetstones, which ended up being sought after across the globe, and just the local demand outstripped our ability to supply. The short story is that a hot season business isnt the best one to embark on when youre already farming. Despite taking some satisfaction in raising the bar on the products on offer in this country, and on influencing prices (e.g. we watched one competitor slash 40% off one product line after we came along), weve both had a lot of changes going on in the last few years and its time to lift the white flag. Well keep the website running as a resource, and we may even add some posts, or videos we wish wed had when we were first starting out (like this one: https://youtu.be/9hfJKtrDCs0 ). And well never say never... times may change again. Especially if we have a hard time getting good gear :-) I wont miss having to say "...and I sell scythes. Scythes. No, scythes. S C Y T H E. Yknow, like the grim reaper" when people ask "what do you do?". I will say that if I ever find myself with spare time on my hands (which I cant see happening for a long time), Id dearly love to start turning these out again...

10.01.2022 After years of work, the Vido family have posted part 1 of their "Big Book of the Scythe" online. Free of charge.

09.01.2022 Perth City Farm are having an open day, which we're told includes a scything demo. Looks like a fun day:

09.01.2022 Rock, paper, scissors... Diamond grinds stone, stone grinds brass...

09.01.2022 Sharpened up, ready to mow the raspberries...

08.01.2022 Perth City Farm are having an open day, which were told includes a scything demo. Looks like a fun day:

07.01.2022 New Bladerunners logo stamp. Old school - thanks to linocut artist Sam Trafford.

06.01.2022 I just made the video I wish I had as a beginner. It took me two scythes and well over a year to process all the threads Id gathered over time about what I was doing wrong with my scythe... why wouldnt it mow like in the videos? Here are the four things I reckon are most likely to be wrong with a beginners rig (assuming it has a reasonable level of edge preparation), and how to test whether they apply to you - all without adjusting *anything* on the rig.

03.01.2022 "Making things gives you a certain joy that you cant get from much else," says 14-year-old Leila. Do you think its time more kids get their hands dirty?

03.01.2022 We will be at the Huon Small Farms Expo tomorrow, with scythes and accessories for sale, some of which weve made ourselves. We dont do show specials but we will service any European blade, if its serviceable on site, gratis - regardless of whether we sold it to you or not. Were also happy to talk you through real-world applications of this tool - we use them on our own places in a variety of terrains and conditions (spanning some 465 acres of the Upper Huon) including m...aking hay, mowing lawn, weed control, and pruning - well let you know what theyre good for, and what theyre not. Maintenance will be demonstrated as well - peening, honing, and repair. Well have credit card payment facilities (provided there are no unforeseen IT issues... what could possibly go wrong).

02.01.2022 First tranche up. Go get em.

02.01.2022 More snaffs online. We've lumped the SS rings with them too, now.