looking for a slean

heno55

hi all, i have been looking for a slean for about a year now with no luck surely there must be someone out there that has one rusting away in a shed that they would be willing to give away/sell. i got two acres of bog when i bought my house and in these times it would be a waste not to make use of it.

johngalway

Surely you'd get one in a General Merchants or Co Op?

It's all that good land ye have, the ruination of ye

I can have a look around up here if you're real stuck.

the bolt

heno55 wrote: »

hi all, i have been looking for a slean for about a year now with no luck surely there must be someone out there that has one rusting away in a shed that they would be willing to give away/sell. i got two acres of bog when i bought my house and in these times it would be a waste not to make use of it.

i thought there was a machine for that in this day and age

Sam Kade

heno55 wrote: »

hi all, i have been looking for a slean for about a year now with no luck surely there must be someone out there that has one rusting away in a shed that they would be willing to give away/sell. i got two acres of bog when i bought my house and in these times it would be a waste not to make use of it.

Where in Cork are you?

heno55

to johngalway i have tried all the co-ops and hardware shops in north cork and most of kerry, i found one hardware shop in kerry that supplies new handles but no blades/heads.
to thebolt the machinery would be a bit on the expensive side unless i was cutting commercialy, not realistic on two acres.
to sam kade i am in banteer, bog is in nad

masse5455

get a ladin with a turf machine hed have it cut and itd b nearly dry ta come home before youd have a few sods cut with the slane

Sam Kade

heno55 wrote: »

to johngalway i have tried all the co-ops and hardware shops in north cork and most of kerry, i found one hardware shop in kerry that supplies new handles but no blades/heads.
to thebolt the machinery would be a bit on the expensive side unless i was cutting commercialy, not realistic on two acres.
to sam kade i am in banteer, bog is in nad

The Mossy in Nadd. We used to use a hayknife years ago and spread the turf with a bale pike it's harded on the back but it still gets the job done.

reilig

They don't manufacture the slean anymore. Best thing to do would be to go to a local Forge/welding/engineering workshop with a drawing of what you want. Shouldn't cost too much.

Have a slean at home in a shed, but its well rusted and would break with the first sod.

heno55

heno55 wrote: »

not realistic on two acres.

It is not realistic to go cutting two acres of bog with a Slean either.
Hire a contractor.

heno55

Moonbaby wrote: »

It is not realistic to go cutting two acres of bog with a Slean either.
Hire a contractor.

i wouldnt be cutting the whole 2 acres just enough for myself,and as it is a long narrow strip it would be too awkward for a machine

kevin37

heno55 wrote: »

hi all, i have been looking for a slean for about a year now with no luck surely there must be someone out there that has one rusting away in a shed that they would be willing to give away/sell. i got two acres of bog when i bought my house and in these times it would be a waste not to make use of it.

There is a place in The North that still makes them I was at the Ulster folk and transport museum and they had them there, it could be ballycastle they call the place a Spade Mill i have it written down somewhere if i find it i will let you know.

JohnBoy

this place?

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-pattersonsspademill

kevin37

JohnBoy wrote: »

this place?

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-pattersonsspademill

yes
i think thats it, they are probably a bit expensive since they only make 155 per anum but on the other hand it would save alot on heating bills and Gym membership.

Emoyeni

OP

Just came across your thread (not sure how ).

Any joy on this?

PM me. I can give you the name of somebody who can help you out.

Emoyeni.

jb22

any luck with the turf spade

goat2

heno55 wrote: »

hi all, i have been looking for a slean for about a year now with no luck surely there must be someone out there that has one rusting away in a shed that they would be willing to give away/sell. i got two acres of bog when i bought my house and in these times it would be a waste not to make use of it.

slean abhaile

reilig

goat2 wrote: »

slean abhaile

Tora Bora

I know plenty of people with sleans in the shed! What they need is a man to operate it
Maybe you need to change your aproach, and advertise in the dondeal "man available to operate slean" :rolleyes: I figure you could make a fortune.

Remember to stick the handle in the boghole overnight :cool: "the poll marbh" in my neck of the woods :P

goat2

Tora Bora wrote: »

I know plenty of people with sleans in the shed! What they need is a man to operate it
Maybe you need to change your aproach, and advertise in the dondeal "man available to operate slean" :rolleyes: I figure you could make a fortune.

Remember to stick the handle in the boghole overnight :cool: "the poll marbh" in my neck of the woods :P

the way the green party are going stopping or trying to stop turfcutting, there will be plenty idle slans,
they allowed tyres to be buried in bogs,
yet they dont want people doing what they have been doing for hundreds years, with no effect of planet,

haybob

anyone have anything new on this

Bizzum

haybob wrote: »

anyone have anything new on this

Isn't there a turf cutting festival in Ticknevin every year?
If I was looking for a slean that's where I'd be off to!
I wonder what types of slean are/were about the country, We used to have Breast slean and Wing slean, left and right handed. The horn top used to be the icing on the cake too!

what happen

kevin37 wrote: »

There is a place in The North that still makes them I was at the Ulster folk and transport museum and they had them there, it could be ballycastle they call the place a Spade Mill i have it written down somewhere if i find it i will let you know.

i saw it on telly the countryfile programme i think it is in antrim.it showed them making spades.

Butcher Boy

do you want a right or a left hand one ?

the bolt

if you allowed anything for your time it wouldnt be enomical by the time you cut,turn,fitt and drag it.

reilig

the bolt wrote: »

if you allowed anything for your time it wouldnt be enomical by the time you cut,turn,fitt and drag it.

Some people have free time and they feel good about not having to spend money on fuel when they can cut turf from their own land like their forefathers have done for thousands of years.

Richie185

I bought a turf spade this year in the place ye were on about which is pattersons spade mill, it was 120 pounds. We have a different type of turf spade in sligo which is similarly to ones in Offaly and Longford. The one I bought is quite heavy and has a t handle in the direction of the wing. also there is a bróg type spade as well here in sligo ", but I know a fella that has one in good nick but I'd wud be afraid I cud break it. I'd like to get the normal type slèan if possible

invicta

You should get a good blacksmith to make one !
They can be made from disused bandsaw blades- I got one made in the mid 80's,one rub of a flat file and it would shave you.Its all in the tempering of the steel,so get a good smith!!

mayota

Richie185 wrote: »

I bought a turf spade this year in the place ye were on about which is pattersons spade mill, it was 120 pounds. We have a different type of turf spade in sligo which is similarly to ones in Offaly and Longford. The one I bought is quite heavy and has a t handle in the direction of the wing. also there is a bróg type spade as well here in sligo ", but I know a fella that has one in good nick but I'd wud be afraid I cud break it. I'd like to get the normal type slèan if possible

I think Stanley Jackson Engineering in Castlebar make them.

Richie185

Ya ur right I think
Pattersons one is quite heavy and people I have spoken that were used to cutting with the sléan said they wudnt be able to work it with the t handle and it is also quite heavy.

Richie185

Thanks for that. I bought a Hayknife in Charlestown Expert diy Hardware store - its a good store, they still have the sligo darby spade made by true temper.

Kovu

We have a couple here but I have no idea if they're the ones you're on about. My Uncle made one & other was made for my father. Also got a wooden turf barrow made last Christmas too.

Richie185

cool, where were they made? I got an old turf barrow that a old man had, it has a tyre wheel which was impressive as its fairly old 1960's possibly earlier. I replaced some lathes of timber across the its floor and replaced the front of it. It will be a bitch to try and replace the tube id say, cause the tyre is low. Was the turf barrow hard to make? I will have to make one to.

Richie185

cool, where were they made? I got an old turf barrow that a old man had, it has a tyre wheel which was impressive as its fairly old 1960's possibly earlier. I replaced some lathes of timber across its floor and replaced the front of it. It will be a bitch to try and replace the tube id say, cause the tyre is low. Was the turf barrow hard to make? I will have to make one to.

Kovu

The turf barrow was made near enough to me here in S. Leitrim, I think the same for the sléan. I'll actually have to ask the man in the know tomorrow.

Richie185

sound job fairplay was a car wheel used?

Kovu

Richie185 wrote: »

sound job fairplay was a car wheel used?

Nope, handmade wooden one. It's being used in the shed to move dry bedding around now!

jobseek

i think the best bet would be to make one like others have said, made one here,
as for the ones i seen for sale, and im not certain on this, but im nearly sure they were made by jacksons,which to be honest werent that tidy, two bits of steel welded together, the wing not even folded around

mikefoxo

Any luck on the slean front? If the only option is to make your own would people like to post pics of their old ones to get measurements/design right?

marzic

https://breisebreiseleighgoleire1969.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/slec3a1n.jpg

theres the head of one around at home somewhere. This pic shows two types with the wing on different sides. In west clare the wing would be on the left of the slean, which meant cuttting left handed (left at top), or otherwise switching hands when you were up against the bank for the last sad.