I buy shake blocks of western red cedar for carving. 24" long x 12" x 8", more-or-less. $5 each at the mill.
I had a blacksmith make a froe for me. 12" bevel and 3/8" stock metal. The mallet is a chunk of alder log.
The first strike has to be a big one to set the froe otherwise it bounces.
A knife just won't work at all = not enough of a wedge to be useful.
Some blocks are tougher than others, I have a bunch of WRC wedges that won't dent the wood for splitting .
I had a blacksmith make a froe for me. 12" bevel and 3/8" stock metal. The mallet is a chunk of alder log.
The first strike has to be a big one to set the froe otherwise it bounces.
A knife just won't work at all = not enough of a wedge to be useful.
Some blocks are tougher than others, I have a bunch of WRC wedges that won't dent the wood for splitting .