SCUTCHING 



135 



illustrated at Figs. 88 and 89 respectively. The Irish scutch 

 wheel is constructed with an iron rim 3, usually about 3 ft., in 

 diameter and mounted on a steel driving shaft 1 about 2J to 

 3 in. in diameter. A series of five, six or seven strong and 





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FIG. 88 



hard wooden blades of sycamore or birch 4 are bolted to the rim 

 3, at such an angle as suits the idea of the scutcher. These 

 blades are about 30 to 32 in. in length, and are generally 

 adjusted to project from 18 to 20 in. beyond the periphery 

 of the rim, hence the full diameter of the Irish scutch wheel 

 is about 6ft. The blades are f to IJin. in thickness, but 



