How To Make An Inexpensive Froe With Easily Obtained Materials

Рет қаралды 7,912

3 жыл бұрын

How To Make An Inexpensive Froe With Easily Obtained Materials
I show how I made a froe from left over materials I had in my shop. All of these materials can be easily found in a hardware store or a big box home center.
A froe is a tool for splitting wood that is used primarily in green woodworking. Compared to other splitting tools, froes are more precise and give the woodworker more control over the way the wood splits. They do not however, work well, if at all, for large logs. Large logs still require a splitting wedge.
Tools & supplies used in the video:
Bessey 6” clamps
www.rockler.com/bessey-tg-pro...
Bessey 8” clamps
www.rockler.com/bessey-tg-pro...
Starrett Machinist’s Square
www.rockler.com/starrett-12-c...
3M 7500 respirator
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
3M/Peltor H10A ear muffs
www.amazon.com/3M-Earmuff-Con...
Makita brushless angle grinder kit
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
4.5” Abrasive cut-off wheel
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
24oz. ball pein hammer
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
Center punch
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
1/8” drill bit
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
13/32” drill bit
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
Metal cutting file
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
Bosch Top-Handle Jig Saw
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
Bosch Jig Saw Blades
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
Jorgensen Handscrew
www.amazon.com/Jorgensen-Size...
Lie-Nielsen tapered dovetail saw
www.highlandwoodworking.com/l...
Marble blue chip chisels
www.amazon.com/Marples-M444-S...
soft face hammer
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
4 in 1 wood rasp
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
Ratchet Wrench
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
9/16” 3/8 drive socket
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
9/16” Combination wrench
www.amazon.com/Combination-Wr...
Dead Blow hammer
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
LL Bean Fleece lined flannel shirt
www.llbean.com/llb/shop/90568...

Пікірлер: 12

@CleaveMountaineering 2 жыл бұрын

I made a similar froe from a junk lawnmower blade and elm handle, putting the handle on like you did. While it let me try the utility of a froe, I learned two important things - first, my handle soon failed. Secondly, the single bevel of the lawnmower blade was horrid as it was too blunt and steered to one side. The froe needs and eye type handle for any hope of durability, and the blade should have a gradual wedgelike taper across the blade's cross section. I'm working on one like this from some leaf spring.

@CroakyOak 2 жыл бұрын

This was one of my first videos. I agree that the design is less than ideal for long term/heavy use. The handle in the video also failed sooner than I would have liked. That said, the froe in the video was made from shop leftovers for zero added expense and it did/does work. Of course, it’s not a froe from Barr Tools either. I think there is still some utility in your lawnmower blade. Have you considered regrinding the edge so it was beveled on both sides and upgrading the handle design? A smaller, lighter froe could be useful for smaller wood where a heavier froe is just too big. A froe made from a leaf spring should be amazing. The quality of the steel is certainly better than what I had access to when the froe in the video was made. Good luck with your projects and thanks for commenting.

@naralas4737 Жыл бұрын

What kind of steel is that? Just the mild structural steel that you'd get at home depot? I have a bunch of that but assumed it would never be strong enough for this application.

@CroakyOak Жыл бұрын

This piece of metal came from a by-the-pound bin of scrap at a steel supply, so I don’t know the exact alloy. However, I think it’s safe to assume that this was some sort of mild steel. In this case mild steel works, it just doesn’t stay sharp very long. Fortunately splitting tools don’t need to be as sharp as cutting tools so mild steel is *adequate* for this task. Not excellent, but adequate. The handle on the froe in this video ended up being the weak point of the design, not the blade. If you have scraps of steel and wood you can make a workable froe. This enables you to try out some green woodworking techniques without spending a bunch of cash up front. Good luck and thanks for watching and commenting.

@uply5FOi 2 жыл бұрын

How well does this work for larger logs? Are there any drawbacks in general? What type of metal was it?

@CroakyOak 2 жыл бұрын

@Kokona, I got the steel out a scrap bin at a steel yard, so I don’t know the actual alloy of the steel. I suspect it is some sort of mild plate steel or hot rolled steel. Logs that are almost as wide as the froe or even wider can be tough. Once the tool has been sunk into the wood, there is little left to hit with a mallet or club. With wood that large, I use a splitting wedge to break down the wood in to smaller pieces first. Getting a froe stuck in a log isn’t fun. Drawbacks? Well . . . If I make another handle for this tool, I’ll be using a higher quality wood. The 2x lumber was what I had available at the time and it does work. However, the wood hasn’t held up as well as I would have liked. If I make another froe, I’d use thicker steel (this was 1/4” or just over 6mm). The steel I used in the video, was again what I had on hand and has been serviceable enough. Although it’s better suited to splitting smaller pieces of wood. If you’re really interested in froe technique and green woodworking, try searching here on KZfaq for Peter Follansbee of Jogge Sundqvist.

@uply5FOi 2 жыл бұрын

@@CroakyOak Thanks for the info! I'll keep this in mind if i ever try my hand at this tool

@montelott8570 5 ай бұрын

Now make a draw knife to make quick work of shaping your froe handle.😅

@CroakyOak 5 ай бұрын

Given the emoji at the end of your comment, I suspect you already know how different cutting tools and splitting tools are. 😀 A quality draw knife is at least an order of magnitude more complicated and challenging to make than the experimental froe in this video. Which is interesting when you consider the average person could easily find them to appear similar. 🤔 Thanks for watching and commenting.

@projectseventyone 9 ай бұрын

Use an axe for small wood. This wouldn't work for making cedar shakes most likely. Cool idea though

@CroakyOak 9 ай бұрын

I agree that this is not a froe for precisely splitting cedar shakes. The froe does work but is ultimately fabri-cobbled and not purpose built. Thanks for watching and commenting on this video.