Froe
A froe, sometimes spelled as frow, is a shaking axe that is used to split freshly cut wood along the grain, and they are used for finer cutting applications where detailed hand making work is needed, such as chair spindles. The blade thickness is used to control the splitting of the wood into thinner or thicker pieces. The tool is an "L"-shaped assembly consisting of a wooden shaft and a metal blade.
What materials are froes made from?- Hardwood: The handle of a froe is made from a hardwood. The available options include beech, oak, birch, and cherry.
- Steel: Spring, forged, and stainless steel are available materials for a froe's cutting end. On some of the tools, the steel is hand-forged. On others, it is heat-forged.
- Linseed oil: Linseed oil is used to moisturize the wood handle of the froe.
- Beveled head: The beveled head of the cutting end allows it to penetrate into the wood evenly, ensuring that the upper and lower pieces are of an equal thickness.
- Finished shaft: The shaft of a froe is sanded in order to create a smooth surface for grasping. The bottom and top sides of the shaft are flat so that the tool can be placed with its cutting end up or down for storage.
- Tapered sides and rolled edge: Some froes have a blade that is tapered on the top and bottom sides. This provides swift entry into the hardwood in order to form a shingle. The rolled edge of the cutting piece prevents a split of the wood upon the entry of the cutting edge.
- Tempering: The steel cutting piece is tempered for use in a full range of humidity and temperature conditions. The tempered steel cuts green and aged logs.
- Select a blade length and width: The cutting edge is measured from the end that penetrates the wood to the point of attachment to the shaft. Cutting pieces are available in lengths ranging from 5 to 12 inches and widths of 2 to 4 inches.
- Choose a shaft length and diameter: The handle or shaft is measured from end to end. Handles are available in lengths of 10 to 18 inches and diameters from 1.5 to 3 inches.
- Select the assembly style: Select a tapered shaft and cutting edge assembly or a one-piece assembly.
- Choose the materials: Select a metal-only froe handle and blade unit or a tool with a wooden handle and a metal blade.