Tools of the Trade
There are a variety of tailor made tools at the disposal of the thatcher. Some have not changed for many years.
Leggett/Legate
The Legate is used to hammer the butts of the reed to dress it into position. It is swung like an axe in the direction of the length of the reed. There are some variations on this theme, some with cuts in the face, metal rings, flattened horseshoe nails in the head, today most prefer cast aluminum.
Pin
Used to hold the edge of the thatch you are working on and as a temporary fastener - usually 4-6 are used. Can have a hole drilled into the sharp end and used as a stitching needle. Most common use is to locate the centre of rafters to apply fasteners and measure thickness by scribed marks.
Shearing Hook
Mainly a combed wheat reed tool, the blade has two compound curves on its sickle shape, one from point to handle, the other from back to front of the blade. It's use has the effect of shaving off the very end portion of the whole roof.
Spars
A tool we manufacture in our yard, from the same material as hurdles. Often used as a temporary fastening, a split quadrant of hazel sharpened at each end and twisted in the middle into a 'harepin' shape.
Eaves Knife
General purpose thatch cutting tool mainly for cutting the eave and gable on straw roof's. It is probably derived from a rick trimming knife. Some use an eaves hook, this has a curved blade.
Side Rake
Heavy duty rubbish removing rake from the face of long straw, also used to compact the roof.
Sheep Shears
Trimming odd little bits of material, just large scissors.
Spar Knife
Lighter than a billhook it is used to split hazel to the correct size and then point and trim spars, liggers etc.
Spike/Thatching Nail
Again used as a permanent fixing but frequently employed as a tool to temporally hold courses in place. 6 inches to even 18 inches long.
Most thatchers could operate with such a toolkit plus usual woodwork tools, the designs have stood the test of time with some variations to suit local styles of thatching.
