Is there a good substitute for a froe?
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I don’t really want to spend $60+ for such a specialized tool.
How about an axe?
If you use it and need it it is worth the cost. An axe or wedges and a sledge would do the deed but not as good as a froe. Mind I am thinking splitting shingles and short boards from firewood sized logs of very good grain structure. You would waste less wood with a froe, if that was a consideration. Kinda depends on the job you have planned.
A leaf spring off a vehicle.Cut it through where the eye for the hanger is and if you want weld the eye closed, fit handle and your good to go. Depending on the size of wood your splitting, you’ll only need the eye and 6″ to 10″ of blade/leaf, if longer length it might have a slight curve, but it’ll still work, mine does.
Get a leaf spring from a breakers or scrap yard. Hope this helps. cheers.You don’t need a froe if you want firewood. Froes are used for controlled splitting of (usually green) wood, to make blanks for turning for example.
Froes have a real long life span, so you should look for used ones. I paid around 10 Euro for mine, on ebay.
Not sure, if a leaf spring blade is suitable for the refined work a froe is intended for. It might need a lot of grinding. A froe is not just a flat piece of metal. It is thick on the back, thinner on the (blunt) edge, and sometimes even has a belly on one side (between edge and back) – not the typical shape of a leaf spring. If you simply grind a sharp bevelled edge, it will cut the fibres instead of separating them.
Dieter
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