How
to use the grass and weed Slasher
Slasher - Hardened and Ground
Taper Steel Mounted on Hickory Shaft by Steel
Rivets - made in Sheffield, England.
Technique for use of a slasher.
It is imperative anyone using
a slasher is fully aware of how to use the tool
and the potential dangers to both themselves and
those around them!
For clearance of scrub the slasher
should be held with one hand on the heel and the
other halfway along the shaft. The slasher should
be swung through a wide arc bringing the hand
along the shaft to meet the one at the heel towards
the end of the swing. The cutting relies on the
momentum of the swing rather than energy from
the user. Both hands should be kept on the shaft
at all times, do not end the swing hanging on
to the end of the shaft with one hand. This is
dangerous as the tool is not under control.
Conserve energy by using regular
swings as clearing is heavy work. If started swinging
wildly you will quickly tire. This could lead
to pulled muscles or injury through the slasher
not being under control.
Gloves should not be worn when
using a slasher as it reduces the grip on the
handle. Goggles or safety glasses should be worn
to protect your eyes from wood chips or thorns/branches.
Ensure you are AT LEAST 5m (16') away from anyone
working in the same area. Equally, do not work
on your own in case you have an accident. Stop
work if you begin to feel tired.
Do not use a slasher down hill,
and do not work if it is raining heavily or is
slippery underfoot. Slashers should be carried
beside you at an angle with the blade pointing
down in front of you.
It is very important the blade
is kept sharp as it is tiring to use when blunt
and can bounce off the woodrather than cutting
it, potentially causing an injury.
Sharpening - On site the slasher
blade should be touched up regularly using either
a Cigar Stone or preferably a Canoe Stone.The
canoe stone is finer than a cigar stone which
leaves a sharper edge to the blade required for
cutting woody vegetation.
Sharpening a blade requires concentration
and skill. If disturbed stop until your full concentration
can again be applied.
To sharpen the slasher blade you
should kneel holding the slasher firmly with the
blade downwards. One hand isused to hold the handle
while the other holds the stone. Wear a glove
on the hand holding the stone. The stone should
be wetted, and then used to grind the edge of
the blade in small circular movements. It is very
important the stone is held at the same angle
as when the blade was last sharpened. Once the
length of the slasher blade has been ground the
slasher should be turned over and the exercise
repeated. If the blade is ground with too sharp
an angle it will quickly blunt, but if you try
and grind the blade at too fine an angle you will
find it impossible to sharpen with a stone.
If the slasher blade is damaged
it will need grinding on a bench mounted grinding
machine. This should only be attempted if experienced
with the use of such a power tool.
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