Froes By Ray Iles

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.

Ray offers several different size options.

The XL Froecorrectly 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 froe’s 12” blade is made of EN45 spring steel. The handle is a substantial 17 ½” that fits snugly into its socket.

The next largest froes – the premium and the large – both possess 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 beveled knife edge. The difference between the premium and large froes is that the large froe comes with a ground edge, the premium froe’s cannels have been gently curved, making it easier to use, particularly when first entering the wood.

The small froe has a 6 1/2″ blade. The handle is turned beech and (unlike its larger cousins) is attached to the eye of the blade with wedges.

The micro froe has a 5″ blade and the handle is turned beech and wedged into the eye. The micro is a perfect froe for small work such as basket making.

All froes have handles made of air dried English beech that is finished in linseed oil for long wear and a good grip. No matter which size you choose, you’ll get a substantial tool designed for real work. Made in England.