The Froe - My Favorite Farm Tool

[@matthewtaylor2185]

Sourwood handles. The woodwright shop was my favorite TV show growing up.

[@ciphercode2298]

Thank ya much Pa Mac. Always good information to be found here. Riving shakes is probably one of the most tedious jobs on the old homestead,but its near impossible to beat their beauty and simplicity. I couldn't imagine what an undertaking it would of been for my grandparents to roof their home,barn,and sheds.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Good morning Pa Mac, great video and you did an awesome job explaining about the froe and the most exciting part was the inclusion of the diagrams of splitting the shakes in different species of wood. I'm going to your website and check about your store and the book you talked about, Stay safe and keep up the great videos. Fred.

[@farmhandscompanion]

thanks as always, Fred. I sure appreciate you

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

@@farmhandscompanion It's awesome to be appreciated, thank you.

[@lorineidtinytoadplot744]

I had a chuckle when you included myself in your video about coveralls My name is actually Lori Neid, when you said lorinned tiny toad plot 😂 BUT I also was like - I got mentioned in Pa Mac's video 😀- 😂😎

[@farmhandscompanion]

Well I'll be doggone, I saw "Lorine" and didn't even question my assumption. I am elated that I got Tiny Toad Plot correct, though. Thank you for your grace, Lori (and forgiveness).

[@elizabethjohnson475]

Love your sense of humor! My husband saw me watching, and said I was "funny". Though I'd love to come to your area and store, we'll be far away at Siloam visiting my 92-yr-old dad; that's in about 2 weeks. I spent just a few years being raised in Arkansas. I love it.

[@debluetailfly]

When you say Siloam, we know you are from Arkansaw.

[@mountainwolf1]

I love arkansas what a beautiful state.

[@marcusm4271]

Love the traditional tools series.

[@mudweimer768]

Nice video I’ve spent countless hours of my life splitting cypress shakes at jazz fest and other festivals with a froe and using the y of a tree to hold them!!

[@newenglandyankeeliving5052]

I know I’ve been asking about the pocket knife but I’m genuinely interested in all the items you carry on you I noticed in one video you had a pair of pliers and a screw driver. It’d be interesting to see the little minutia everyday stuff you find useful on your farm

[@farmhandscompanion]

It's on the list to do, newenglandyankeeliving!

[@InMyPurview]

Great video sir! Unfortunately froes are a forgotten tool that most people have no idea how to or what it can be used for.

[@farmhandscompanion]

You're welcome!

[@scottmcintosh2988]

Northern Mane has the best eastern white Cedar !

[@BuffaloRidgeForge]

One of your older videos influenced me to buy a froe. I have some older cedar logs I plan to turn into shakes as soon as I get my chainsaw running again. I'm working on a 1/2 acre homestead, I've got my chickens and gardens working on a small barn and feedlot to raise a dairy steer for the freezer. I try to make the most of my limited resources and your videos help a lot. I drive a truck at night and blacksmith in my free time. I also travel to area events and do demonstrations on smithing. May you keep your videos coming and God bless you.

[@douglasvantassel8098]

Great episode, thank you for making these.

[@farmhandscompanion]

You betcha, Douglas

[@nicolem376]

Can you do a video over draw knives? Would you use one type/size to shave bark from logs and another for making tool handles? I’d love to know what to look for and how to sharpen and maintain the blade properly. What size is best for full size logs, smaller branches etc. And of course if you have any tips on using them. And as always, what is your favorite style? Do you have thoughts on the folding handles?I’d like to find an older quality one. This video series is a gem. Ty! (ps I'm tired of peeling bark with my hatchet but honestly it works pretty well as long as it's sharp 😂)

[@farmhandscompanion]

Sure will, Nicole-it's on the list. Thank you so much for watchin'!

[@MattLynch-x2z]

I like old tools I find them at sale keep up the good work

[@thomasc.pellicer1879]

Pa mac enjoy your show and tell on your tools but would like also to see more of you making something the old way of do things . Tool handles Planting ,canning food or making a smoke house. How adjust for green wood when making something out of it

[@peterheisig3503]

This video came at the perfect time! Iv been gearing up to make a froe out of leaf spring and just watched all your content on making shingles/shakes to put on my duck hut! You also answered the question Iv been searching for which was should I use green wood or seasoned wood! Thank you for all of this valuable information! Cheers from Vermont!

[@farmhandscompanion]

Glad to help, Peter. Thank YOU for watchin'

[@harlemsar]

this is the kind of guy i would like to have a cold one with and just listen to old stories.

[@farmhandscompanion]

We could sure do that...but it'd be an iced tea. Thank you for watchin', Harvison

[@linuxsdad]

I have been looking for one for years. I can never seem to find one at a sale. I did snag a cant hook a while back for a good price.

[@farmhandscompanion]

come on down and we'll find you one...

[@linuxsdad]

@@farmhandscompanion I have been meaning to come by there. We are up the hill from you in Paris.

[@farmhandscompanion]

if you plan a trip, email me and let me know when you're comin' and I'll try and be around...

[@debluetailfly]

Drew Langsner make a good un. Expensive but works really good.

[@EdwardVogel-op5dc]

Absolutely great video!❤

[@matthughes6955]

I have my great grandpas

[@jamesrochon2195]

Locust wood makes good handles?

[@jamesrochon2195]

Locust handles work well.

[@netpackrat]

I have my dad's froe around here somewhere. He made it from a leaf spring, probably used a torch to heat it and bend the eye, which he arc welded together. Then he used it to split enough cedar shakes for the roof of his house in Washington state back in the 70s. He moved us to Alaska a few years after that. Unfortunately there's not much local wood in our part of AK suitable for use making shakes.

[@pierreb03038]

Thanks for your videos!

[@farmhandscompanion]

You betcha, Pierre

[@manimagari]

Just wanted to add or mention, call it what you want, that if the eye of the froe is shaped like a cone, not only don´t you need a wedge but it lets you take apart the handle easily, so that you can transport the froe in your backpack etc.

[@youarenotme01]

How did I miss your store in Arkansas? I lived there for nine years, my family has owned a vacation cabin there since 1950. I drove probably every road in the state in an old Porsche for work. I really enjoy what you do as my dream is to be start a little farm. I’ve been collecting/restoring, and learning how to use tools for 20 years now. I’m getting close to actually being able to do this. Yeehaw!

[@DJ-uk5mm]

A goal is just a dream, with a deadline. Give yourself a deadline, and your dream will become reality😊

[@youarenotme01]

@@DJ-uk5mm in my particular case, it’s a little more complicated, but i sincerely appreciate your positive encouragement.

[@angelsrest]

Thank you for your videos! I really enjoy this series!

[@farmhandscompanion]

Thank you, Angel's Rest; please keep up the great work on your videos as well!

[@iansmith9762]

Great video

[@karlnewman2829]

Hi, bumped into your channel today, very much enjoyed your 20 favorite homestead tools .. and this one anout froes. I use a froe for making furniture parts. And then a shaving horse and drawknife and spokeshave. Etc Be well Karl

[@57WillysCJ]

A froe not the perm guys wore in the 1970s, are a good item to make like a pickaroon. I guess if you didn't have a leaf spring you could try a lawn mower blade although one from a brush hog might be better. I don't have a forge but my oxy acetylene does the job. It is a bit of a necessity in the rust belt for rusted bolts on vehicle repairs.

[@mrMacGoover]

Aren't shakes more narrow and split with the grain and used for siding and shingles typically having dimensions of four and a half inches wide, two feet long and split across the grain?

[@TheRedneckprepper]

TY

[@martinparmer]

Great video. When you are cutting you're bolts, is it wise to go a bit longer than the length of the finished shake you desire? That way you can just either cut it if it turns out a bit long? Also, I was wondering about using an old lawnmower blade to make a froe. Thank you sir!!

[@farmhandscompanion]

It wouldn't hurt anything to do that, but you'd be addin' a step. Since they can extend down a few inches past where they need to be, I just get 'em in the ballpark and don't worry about trimmin' 'em even. As for the lawnmower blade, I've had a few tough bolts that I feel would probably end up bendin' a lawnmower blade froe too much. Now a bushhog blade, that might be another story... Thanks for watchin', Martin.

[@moosiem60]

how much does you mallet weigh that you hit the froe with???

[@lisanowakow3688]

How long will a shake roof last?

[@OpossumPiper]

You're right, the cemetery people get really feisty when you try to cut down their cedars!

[@tobi-jv9qz]

Thank's a lot for this video that came at the perfect time for me! I recently buyed a froe and wanted to start doing shingles. Here in Quebec, we have a lot of white cedar as wood species. I was wondering if the trees had to have a minimum diameter to make shingles, I saw lot of documentation who say that it is better to use big trees, but I my trees barely do 16" of diameter. Do you think it is still good for making shingles? And second question, is it important to cut trees in winter or the time of the year doesn't matter? Have a nice day!

[@WesternPioneer]

I've got to get me one of these!

[@farmhandscompanion]

Yes, you sure need one, WesternPioneer

[@jeremiahordway9450]

Is the 15 degree bevel on both sides crucial? I forged one with a single bevel like a chisel and have not had a chance to use it. Thanks for another great video.

[@farmhandscompanion]

Just thinkin' about it I'd be afraid that it would put more pressure on one side and cause it to go thin on that side. But the only way to find out is to try it and see, Jeremiah. Please email me and let me know if it's convenient.

[@edwarddiekhoff859]

Use my froe for splitting kindling.

[@MarkWYoung-ky4uc]

Great video Pa. Many years ago, people around here used to use froes to rive out tobacco sticks to hang strung tobacco in the curing barn on.

[@thatcooldad8371]

What do you know about turkeys

[@ingeniai]

4:50 necessity is the mother of invention. Take a look at my logo 😂

[@farmhandscompanion]

That's what I'm talkin about!

[@BrandonZeek]

What's your opinion on ironwood or dogwood for handles?

[@farmhandscompanion]

I think they both would make fine froe handles; the dogwood has a fine grain and is a pleasure to carve or whittle down while retaining the tough characteristic of hardwoods

[@jamesrochon2195]

You are my muse.

[@tropifiori]

cool

[@douglastobin8996]

Gd channel

[@jeffreyjacobs6072]

👍🤠

[@wscanlon424]

wait, when did you start talking?

[@farmhandscompanion]

About one year ago. Where have you been all this time?

[@wscanlon424]

@@farmhandscompanion I thought I had watched em all but apparently I've got some catchin up to do!

[@dirtydogvideo]

i would like to just froe this out there....great video.