Thread: To Scythe or not to scythe...

Originally Posted by Alembic

Hmmm - I don't think I, or anybody I have seen, chop straight into a tree. It is always at an angle to create a wedge shaped cut.

This is the problem with describing the scything stroke. It's difficult to make clear which axis of the 3D plane is being described. Yes the axe hit is at alternating angles to produce a wedge cut, but no slicing motion is done. That was the "straight" chop that I meant.

I have yet 2 c how this works exactly

There is a very good video on youtube somewhere where a barber is showing a student how to shave a client with a person in the chair. He goes on to explain how to stroke the razor on their face explaining the scything motion and how the razor was designed to use this stroke. He goes on to explain that you should slice with the razor moving downward (Wtg) while moving the razor forward with the toe leading.

Been working for me since and it gives a better shave than just moving straight through the hair.