Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Strichev on October 01, 2017, 11:28:13 am

Title: Does anyone use a froe and a brake for splitting staves?
Post by: Strichev on October 01, 2017, 11:28:13 am
In the past I was tremendously disappointed by the way a nice straight ash log split into many useful (and as many useless) staves when I used wedges to split it. That's why I decided to use a froe this time - and it seems to work wonders. No more runoffs as one can split the wood in a very controlled manner, well, at least compared to the aforementioned wedge method.

Anyway, I've been wondering whether anyone else uses a froe plus brake and if so, is there is some advice or a nifty trick to make the whole thing even better?
Title: Re: Does anyone use a froe and a brake for splitting staves?
Post by: BowEd on October 01, 2017, 11:36:00 am
I think most of the trick is reading the longitudal grain correctly before splitting,but you may have something there using a froe.Good idea.
Title: Re: Does anyone use a froe and a brake for splitting staves?
Post by: osage outlaw on October 01, 2017, 11:41:38 am
A froe won't work on the logs that I split. 
Title: Re: Does anyone use a froe and a brake for splitting staves?
Post by: Strichev on October 01, 2017, 11:46:09 am
A froe won't work on the logs that I split.

Why not?  :) I guess the logs need to be at least somewhat straight for the froe to work, that's true.
Title: Re: Does anyone use a froe and a brake for splitting staves?
Post by: osage outlaw on October 01, 2017, 12:28:39 pm
Because I split osage logs up to 24" diameter.  I use a lot of steel wedges.  It might work good on straight grained white woods but I don't split many of those. 
Title: Re: Does anyone use a froe and a brake for splitting staves?
Post by: willie on October 01, 2017, 01:29:33 pm
Quote
Because I split osage logs up to 24" diameter.

I guess if you had a brake that could handle the stress of trying to bend a the log, you could direct the split.
two stumps and a comealong or winch?    Yarding a longer log to the brake would help.
Title: Re: Does anyone use a froe and a brake for splitting staves?
Post by: Pat B on October 01, 2017, 01:38:29 pm
I have a froe I use occasionally for difficult staves that need reducing. It makes it easy to control the the direction of the split sometimes.
Title: Re: Does anyone use a froe and a brake for splitting staves?
Post by: Badger on October 01, 2017, 01:51:53 pm
  I have assisted guys with splitting that were using a froe, it did seem to work well.
Title: Re: Does anyone use a froe and a brake for splitting staves?
Post by: Primortall on October 01, 2017, 05:12:58 pm
Yep. Used froe on a few logs and it worked pretty well. I haven't ran into one that didn't work well with it yet, but also have a small sample size.
Title: Re: Does anyone use a froe and a brake for splitting staves?
Post by: Hamish on October 01, 2017, 09:46:57 pm
 I have used a froe, it can work well depending on the wood, and how straight, and how dry it is. I don't use it often enough and often forget which side you are supposed to stress to redirect the split. I end up using wedges most of the time to break a log down.