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I Forge Iron

Leaf spring splitting froe


DUNSTAN

From the category:

Other sharp or pointy things

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Real nice! I've had the steel  and handle for a year and just can't get the time. This might set me off. Hope mine turns out so well.

Edited by RogueRugger
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That is a nice looking froe. How does it work?

Frosty The Lucky.

​Are you wanting to know how well that particular froe does its job? 

Or are you asking how one uses froes in general?

Alan

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Very nice job on the froe.  I've been wanting to make one from a leaf spring as well...glad it worked out OK for you.  Did you heat treat it or just go with the natural hardness of the spring?

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Are you wanting to know how well that particular froe does its job? 

Or are you asking how one uses froes in general?

Alan

A little dated here. I was asking about Dunstan's froe. I've used a froe enough to know how they function.

Frosty The Lucky.

Edited by Frosty
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looks nice, is it wrapped and welded or is it an open eye? 

wrap and weld is so hard to do on spring I had to ask. If it is welded I want to pick your brain.  even though I think an open eye is strong enough. 

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A little dated here. I was asking about Dunstan's froe. I've used a froe enough to know how they function.

Frosty The Lucky.

You say that now...

Though I suppose as you do live in the froezen north you would have come across them once or twice...

Alan

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You say that now...

Though I suppose as you do live in the froezen north you would have come across them once or twice...

Alan

Is that a misspelled pun Alan!? :o I'm proud of you, really I am.

Were shakes reasonably popular here it could be called the Froezone north!

Unfortunately this part of the state doesn't have cedar so shakes have to be shipped in. Comparing the pertinents: cost, longevity, fire resistance and snow shedding, cost of installation and maintenance we went with steel.

How I learned to use a froe. Back in the 70's I had friends who believed in all natural . . . everything and could rationalize most anything as proof. Two such friends spent the money to buy froes and have them shipped up before finding out if there were any natural woods suitable for shakes. Being an uncouth tool using industrial child of a machine shop and a professional welder/fabricator they asked if I could "fix" their froes so they'd work.

I pointed out the text on the packaging saying you needed cedar or red wood to make shakes and they assured me they believed nature provided the RIGHT materials for whatever you wanted to do where ever you lived. Being true believers no amount of logic or empirical examples could shake their beliefs. We actually had to go through all the local wood to finally convince them they'd bought the WRONG froes! :o

I still have one of them somewhere in the Connex and maybe both. See, tools are made by humans so the tools were obviously to blame! Humans aren't flawless you know. <smug expression>

Sorry, I know that was a long back story but the whole thread brought back the memories. Thinking about it I think it was the Froezone thing that triggered the memories. And no, I've never actually made anything useful with a froe though they are pretty slick for splitting kindling. Wait a second, kindling IS useful!

Frosty The Lucky.

Edited by Frosty
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My wife owned a froe when I met here in Arkansas; used it for splitting kindling for the woodstove. (I've got more use out of the 17# crosspeen sledge she owned too)

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My wife owned a froe when I met here in Arkansas; used it for splitting kindling for the woodstove. (I've got more use out of the 17# crosspeen sledge she owned too)

Useful dowry. Less maintenance than three camels as well.

Alan

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I'd be driving a more recent truck if she owned 3 camels!  She could spin the winter under coat and crochet some scarves and mufflers.  Now to talk her into milking them...why did my life just flash past my eyes???

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I saw Andrew Zimmern on an episode of "Bizarre Foods" try to milk a mare in, I believe, Mongolia. It didn't work out so well for him, lol. Back on topic - nice froe.

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Sad to say Ive milked goats, cows and horses. Saved a foal, when the vets milker bellied up, his wife had the nearve to charge me for milking my mare and me bottle feeding the foal. That went over real well. 

Pine and oak have been used as shingles as well, but i don't imagine pine holds up well, i think Birch bark and sod are gods gifts to roffing in the subartic climes...

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Birch bark is natures tar paper under a sod roof. I like putting about 3-4" of gravel between the sod and bark to let water flow out. Just remember to drill skuppers in the sill boards and you can plant strawberries in them. It's really hard to beat a snack growing out of your roof.

Anyone know how camel tastes? Wait a second, Deb came with a herd of goats. . . Nevermind.

Frosty The Lucky.

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