Thread: making shakes from Tasmanian timber

I had a go at making shingles with the Urban Bush Carpentry guys at a workshop at CERES in Melbourne last weekend. One of the UBC guys had a froe a blacksmith had made a while back. We used some rounds from a farm and roadside windthrow in the Yarra Ranges. Stringybark, silver wattle and blackwood. Good to have a crack. I think with the right piece of timber and a bit more experience making usable shingles would be realistic.

We has some trouble with the shingles coming off a bit curved - even though I had tried to pick rounds (40cm or so in diameter) that were from nice straight bits of the tree with no obvious forks, branches etc.

Interesting to see inside the silver wattle. Some of it was beautiful wood whereas some had borers through it.

HI ALLISON,
There is a froe for sale at sherwood auctions in devonport this sunday23rd hope this helps if you ring mark on 0409796397 he can tell you all about it. john