Trip Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Hey everyone, Inspired by the work of John Neeman tools, I have been wanting to shift my iron work to wood working tools. Having some spare time in the shop, I decided to try my hand at forging a Froe. For those of you who do not know what a froe is, I'll explain. A froe is a tool used by old time frontiersmen to make wooden shingles, or short boards. The edge of the froe is set on top of a log sitting on it's end, and then the top edge of the froe is struck by a wooden mallet. When the wood starts to split, you can pull backwards or forwards on the wooden handle to control the direction of the split in the wood. I forged this froe out of a piece of leaf spring, and then hand carved the handle using a draw knife and spoke shave. The handle it's self is made of a piece of Cherry, harvested off of my farm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Greetings Trip, You made a super tool that will last forever... By the looks of the wood pile in the background you got some work to do with that tool... Love cherry. Forge on and make more cool tools Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Olivo Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 Good looking fro you have there. Too much leaf springs?or just wanted to work hard? First one I tried was out of leaf spring as well. To many problems so I went to mild steel. Easier to weld and faster/easier to form. They don't need a sharp edge and often are better with a rounded edge. The bevel ideally should go all the way to the back of the "blade" as this tool is just one large wedge. Think of it more as a splitting wedge then a knife. Got your maul all made up for it to? Oh and a good tool for making handles it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Very nice work. I've made a few of them out of leaf springs if only because the spring had the eye already formed! Josh Burrell did a really nice froe that I've been keen to try and duplicate even if it is a hair complex.... http://thenewhearth.blogspot.co.uk/2013_08_01_archive.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momatt Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Nice work. I have made some small basket froes from rasps. I cannot get leaf spring to forge weld. Do I see the tell tale signs of mr Lincoln on your weld? You may find you use it more than you think. I rive all my tool handles before heading to the shave horse or lathe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted December 16, 2013 Author Share Posted December 16, 2013 Nice work. I have made some small basket froes from rasps. I cannot get leaf spring to forge weld. Do I see the tell tale signs of mr Lincoln on your weld? You may find you use it more than you think. I rive all my tool handles before heading to the shave horse or lathe. Leaf spring is a little more difficult to forge weld, but I've done it when I make small hip hatchets. When I forge weld leaf spring, I use 40 mule team borax, it seems to work better than EZ weld or Iron Mountain flux. Actually Mr. Miller :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikecopXXX Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 Very nice work. I've made a few of them out of leaf springs if only because the spring had the eye already formed! Josh Burrell did a really nice froe that I've been keen to try and duplicate even if it is a hair complex.... http://thenewhearth.blogspot.co.uk/2013_08_01_archive.html Mr Burrell does nice work. with that much material in the fold, if the forge weld fails, just bolt it;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reitenger Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I think I have found a new project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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