Can anyone recommend a good froe?

[Hammock Hamster]

As per the title I am looking for a reasonably priced froe to handle anything from 6" to 12" diameter logs though probably not longer than a meter at the very most.

I have had varied success with wedges as they tend to be a bit inconsistent (I am splitting out bowl and spoon blanks) and want to try to get the cleanest split I can without resorting to a rip saw or similar.

Any advice or recommendations would be welcome and if anyone on the off chance has one going spare and would consider a trade PM me (Mods please move if this is not the right place to post this).

Any general advise on this would also be appreciated, essentially I am looking to cleave out very thick shakes/shingles to be used for blanks and think a froe would be the best way to achieve this without sawing?

Cheer, Hamster

 

[Mesquite]

Gransfor Bruks do a good froe or you could twist Dave Budd's arm to make you one

 

[British Red]

I have heard good things about the Ray Iles froes

 

[Hammock Hamster]

Hi mesquite, I have drooled over the gb ones but they are slightly out of my prices range (and I do love gb stuff) Mr budd would also be a great option though I suspect a bit out of my price range, I guess it won't hurt to ask the question though.

Red, I have looked at the Ray iles ones which are a contender and can't work out the difference between the standard and premium apart from a couple of quid price difference.


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[ozzy1977]

I have the ray isles one and the mini, they are very well made and a hell of a lot cheaper than gransfors ones

 

[Hammock Hamster]

Thanks ozzy how do you find it for giving a good clean break on green wood? I know it will never be perfect but I'm fed up of using wedges and getting hugely irregular splits that take an ages to hew and square up with an axe.


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[British Red]

There is a real art to steering the split with a froe. By pushing and pulling on the handle you steer the split in different directions. Twisting can help but I never got the hang of it.

 

[Hammock Hamster]

Hi red, I have seen quite a few videos of people splitting of fairly flat and square sections (shakes) by setting the froe in as deep as the width of the blade then using the handle as a lever and pulling it through 45-90 degrees (like an old one arm bandit) to break off the piece. I assume this is the correct way but not sure how you would incorporate a twist in there? It all seems quite counter intuitive as I was always taught never to use an axe haft as a lever when it was imbedded in a piece of wood - still it is another technique to learn which is always good!


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[British Red]

You can indeed pull like a slot machine, but also push the handle away from you which sends the split a different way. Then it is possible (but tricky) to pull the handle straight towards you - a guy showed me this but I have never got the hang of that.

 

[ozzy1977]

I have nothad any problems splitting green or seasoned wood unless the tree grew twisted but then nothing would split that stuff well. I seem to recall that the more expensive one from ray has some gri ding to the blade to thin it a bit

 

[Gary Elson]

Gransfor Bruks do a good froe or you could twist Dave Budd's arm to make you one

I wouldn't twist his arm or he won't be able to make anything -sorry I'll get me coat !!

 

[Hammock Hamster]

Ok so following popular opinion I have just ordered a Ray iles large froe. Will try to have a play with it when it arrives next week and put together a mini review.

Cheers for all the input, Hamster


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