Ray Iles is a very clever man indeed and is steeped in tool making history. In relatively recent times Ray started making hand tools (as he didn't much care for a lot of the tools on the market place) and he now makes a fine range of drawknives, shaves, froes and the like as well a several replacement blades for your planes and spokeshaves.
Premium Froe
A froe is the best way to split out green wood for chairmaking, shinglemaking, fencemaking, and pretty much any operation that calls for splitting. The tool is also known as a rending ax, split ax, cleaving iron, pole ax, riving ax, divider, etc - to give you an idea of its function. The basic operation is whacking the froe into the end of the wood, which causes the wood to start to split. Pulling towards or against yourself on the end of the handle, which gives tons of leverage, and twists the blade in the cut, will extend the split. Depending on which direction you pull the handle, you can control the direction of the split. Sometimes a few more whacks on the blade with a mallet can speed up the process.
Ray Iles says he started making froes himself because the old ones were hard to get and too many of the new ones didn't have the right taper on the froe. Ray's froes are correctly tapered from top to bottom, so you get the additional leverage when you drive the froe into the wood and more control when you split out the timber.
- The premium froe possesses a 9 1/2" long x 1 7/8" wide blade
- The blade starts at a solid 3/8" at the top and tapers to 1/8" at the cutting edge where it is further ground to a double bevelled knife edge
- The premium froe's cannels have been gently curved, making it easier to use, particularly when first entering the wood
