Thread: froes, shingles splitters and wabits?

And will you pay for it or do you want one froe free

Originally Posted by soundman

I have had a hankering for a froe (shingle splitter)for ages, even to the point of making one from first principles.

Cheers

G'day Soundman,

Please forgive my ignorance, but what the divil is a "froe" whan it's at home? I know you say "shingle splitter", but I'm still not with it - or maybe it's just that time of night

Cheers!

A froe is a short handled long bladed hacking device.
used to cut split and otherwise bludgeon timber into submission.
The blade is at right angles to the handle.
& is often struck with a beatall. Which is a large crude mallet.
A true wood butchery device.
sorry If I had one I would show you a picture.

Originally Posted by soundman

A froe is a short handled long bladed hacking device.
used to cut split and otherwise bludgeon timber into submission.
The blade is at right angles to the handle.
& is often struck with a beatall. Which is a large crude mallet.
A true wood butchery device.
sorry If I had one I would show you a picture.

I'm not really sure if I want to ask this, but why do you want one, or is just another bludgeoning instrument to belt those who play off key with?

Cheers!

Originally Posted by soundman

I have had a hankering for a froe (shingle splitter)for ages, even to the point of making one from first principles.
Does any body have any idea if they can be easily obtained or wish to part with one.

You have a couple of choices. You can buy one ready made from Mik (part number GB-487) for $220 :eek: or you can make one. Here is a link to an article from Mother Earth News (FWIW, it isn't very informative) but put simply, the destructions are to use a leaf spring. The leaf with the eye, obviously, will make it easier. I remember Stan Ceglinksi saying exactly this at a woodworking show. If I recall correctly Stan's favourite source was from a Landcruiser spring.

Here is another link from Mother Earth News on making shakes with the Froe. Note the hippyish character in the hand drawn illustration, but then this is from a 1973 article.

Originally Posted by soundman

Does any body have any idea if they can be easily obtained or wish to part with one.

You could always go to the T&WWWS and while big Stan isn't looking.........? :eek:

Originally Posted by Tankstand

You could always go to the T&WWWS and while big Stan isn't looking.........? :eek:

Hmm, living dangerously. Wouldn't want to be caught by Stan or the kids.

Bassoon san, (sorry, been speaking wacky lingo all night...) here is a link to a froe.

Soundman, the same link will show you where to buy one and how much it will cost you.

Shingle froe link.

After all that Lee Valley comes to the rescue again.

And keep away from my Landcruiser, it's got coils anyway.
Try ARB, they should have heaps of old springs off LC's when the owners upgrade to a decent suspension.
Looked at the Veritas link, should be easy enough to make.
Surprised no sparkies have jumped in yet......Double Pole Shingle Froe, Shingle pole Double Froe, ho ho ho ho

I've got all the bits for three froes sitting in my garage at the moment, waiting for me to weld together.

I've posted under the arc-welding thread it the metalwork bit, but haven't progressed since that post.

Total cost was about $10 for 1m of mild steel, and 150mm of thick wall pipe cut into three.

I did weld one up (badly), so am practicing before trying again.

The vehicle spring does sound like a good option.

Cheers,
Andrew

How do you get the curve out of a spring though, they are as hard as nails, unless you want a slight curve on the shingle which would almost give it a tile like look.

Originally Posted by Schtoo

Bassoon san, (sorry, been speaking wacky lingo all night...) here is a link to a froe.

Soundman, the same link will show you where to buy one and how much it will cost you.

Shingle froe link.

Thanks Schtoo!

One learns something new every day; it's just that I have keep forgetting things to make room

Cheers!

I've got one, came from the days when men were men and shingle froes were used all the time. You can't have it though.
I've also got an adze, you can't have it either.

Bugger all help aren't I.