Oxfordshire Woodland Group

On the hotest day of the year I was very fortunate to be presented with a new custom made froe where the ash handle had been turned and fitted by Derrick Dunthorne onto a 10" blade made by Ray Isles.

The 14" long ash handle was made from very fast grown 2 year air dried ash (4 rings per inch) that features a tapered end that secures and locks the internal taper on the froe shank firmly in place.

A froe is not really a cutting tool but is more of a wedge which is driven into the end grain with a few judicious blows from a maul causing to wood to pop apart. This froe has a 10" long blade and would be suitable for producing shingles and making timber-frame pegs.

Since the froe is hit by the maul along the top edge of the blade this is made from a substantial 3/8" thick spring steel to help stop the maul from being rapidly destroyed.

The froe is sitting on top of a couple of pieces of cherry wood split apart using the froe.

Ken Hume