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T H E H A N D C A R V E D B O W L

Chapter 2 | T O O L S

FROE

This L-shaped tool is used for

riving, or splitting, wood along its

grain to use the inherent strength

within, such as with chairmaking.

Essentially a long wedge, but truly

more of a leverage tool, a froe has

a long blade with a double-beveled

edge (not sharpened) that is at-

tached to a perpendicular handle.

The blade of this tool may be

welded onto a ferrule to accept a

wooden handle or the blade may

continue as a piece that wraps

around the handle. The han-

dle’s perpendicular position to

the blade affords a considerable

amount of leverage to pry logs

apart; when the handle is brought

toward or pushed away from

the user it turns the steel blade

sideways in the log, driving the two

pieces apart.

It is struck with a wooden maul,

not a metal-headed mallet or

hammer, which would damage the

soft steel (because it doesn’t need

to be sharpened, it doesn’t need

to hold an edge, which requires

harder steel). It can also score the

line along which a log is split into

two bowl blanks, or to quickly split

off large portions of waste wood

from a blank. It can also assist oth-

er tools, such as when a split has

been started by wedges but needs

extra help.

Antique models have relative-

ly wide blades, which can make

levering more difficult. The Drew

Langsner-designed model made

by Lie-Nielsen is narrower (among

other improvements), allowing for

easier levering and less weight.

RECOMMENDED MAKERS

Lie-Nielsen Toolworks (get the longer

one)