Splitting Shakes from Western Red Cedar Blocks by Hand

[@xGAMING-si5ig]

You can do all the hard work in the world. You are a strong man, my friend.

[@gchicalo]

I flip the block each time to maintain the taper of each shake; as the shake splits off it tapers thinner at the lower end. Flip the block and it tapers the other way. This way you get 2 half-inch shakes for every three-quarters of wood.

[@jackhorgan5909]

Gerry Chicalo your the man i wanna learn this

[@TheJavonplayer]

Wow, I wish you can teach how to do this.

[@Khamomil]

Hand-split is more waterproof than sawn because you're with the true grain, which is how the wood is waterproof. Such a roof can last 100 years. In bygone era pesnts used to make shingles after dinner in the winter time, because every year they replaced 10% of their roof surface.

[@maxwatkins5166]

that last sentence confused the granny out of me

[@ruthlessreid9172]

Wow interesting info I agree with grain same as bark side up.

[@JuliusFawcett]

This activity sings to the soul

[@bakheg6153]

the man works very easy job. we did very difficult task work before ,cutting firewood .I learnt it now👍👍👍

[@gchicalo]

It is therapeutic too. The splitting...

[@littlecabinoutdoors619]

I love how you let the froe edge hit the rocks... Awesome

[@ralphhooker6019]

I love how splitting shakes sounds like breaking glass.

[@anaputjato405]

Где можно купить инструмент для работы. Спасибо!

[@gchicalo]

Just trimming off the bad bits. I get the cedar blocks from the beach; driftwood.

[@zachcowan1322]

Gerry, Could siding shakes be made in a very similar manner? Also have you made siding shakes before?

[@gchicalo]

zach cowan Aye. I have made siding shakes. I usually use the lower grade shakes for walls.

[@NPTuttle]

Can't believe I watched the whole thing

[@anaputjato405]

Извините,а из какого дерева это делается? Подходит ли ольха или осина,а может ёлка. Напишите пожалуйста!

[@АндрейКвачинский]

Скоре всего это кедр

[@micheledauria9805]

Hi from Italy! I wonder if is possible to split out 1 inch thick boards from hardwood as walnut, chestnut, apple etc.....? Thanks for replies, Mike

[@gchicalo]

Hi Mike in Italy, it sounds like the hardwood you mention is knarly and hard to split. Better to saw?

[@micheledauria9805]

@@gchicalo hi Gerry! I used to give my hardwood logs, 10/12 inch diameter, to local sawmill but it closed so I have to find a way to make boards from log ...

[@brodyarmbar]

why is he making so many little diving boards?

[@matthurley921]

Just installed a shake roof..gonna need a lot more logs..😬🤣

[@jestnutz]

Awesome work it looks very relaxing and satisfying

[@angryrednecks9314]

awesome wood for the job

[@G.A.gigger]

Hi Gerry just watched your video and was doing this today but was making 18 tapers. Seems to be the most popular and easiest sales ... I will e-mail you a few pictures from a house I supplied for last fall. Although mine are top roof grade he wanted them for siding on a house in Lions Bay. He actually stained every shake . Dedication but the end result was good and I was impressed ..hope things are well and are you still doing the cedar? I just finished a month of mushroom picking and had a great season ...cheers

[@zandemen]

Can you split from both sides of the block before flipping it? I think that would reduce the amount of work to make each one.

[@gchicalo]

Aye. You can split from both sides of the block, if the grain and shape of the block allows for it. I usually do this on the larger (heavier) blocks.

[@drtisbeter]

Love the sounds, great vid

[@doirealyneed1]

Think maybe he did that once or twice before.

[@American4patriotism]

Made my share of these when i was a kid

[@gchicalo]

It is certainly a soothing pastime: the splitting sensation, the aromatherapy of cedar smells, the sense of accomplishment... Sweet!

[@American4patriotism]

@@gchicalo Thanks for posting this, I watched it several times as it brought back a lot of memories !

[@maxdecphoenix]

I'm interested to know how fresh those blocks were. Virtually all these shingles videos say 'green wood', but in my experience, splitting fresh cut woods has never been a productive exercise, but on the gulf coast, even leaving logs out a few months can result in Spalding and buggy wood. And if it becomes too dry, it doesn't want to split easily.

[@gchicalo]

I'd have to say that this wood is very not-green. No fresh sapwood, glowing in the sunlight. Easier to get the backs (bark and sapwood) off of non-green wood.

[@maxdecphoenix]

Gerry Chicalo thanks for reply. I think my issue is that I just don't have access to large, old growth material like you have here. I'm lucky to get my hands on 16" diameter rounds.

[@bluetoad2001]

LOL, you should try splitting some hickory sometime. whoaaa would be nice to have a supply of cedar handy all good buzz

[@AugustusLarch]

Yikes you are cutting an inch and a half off of half of them. That adds up on the roof. Othertwise it's pretty keen. Where do you get the cedar blocks?

[@linked1one]

Brown Bear: I wonder what that noise is, I'd better go check it out.

[@ultimatebanjo]

Very nice video! I'm wanting to do this exact thing. Why is it that you flip the log and what size is your froe. Thanks so much. Keep posting these great vids. Thanks!

[@McScope]

I'm a little worried you're gonna cut your foot when you drop the blade so casually. Would it cut you if it hit you?

[@thatilluminati_3421]

Its only "sharp" enough to act like a wedge, meaning that it's pretty dull

[@СергейЖуган-ц6ж]

Можно вопрос? какая порода дерева используется

[@АндрейКвачинский]

По структуре кедр. И в названии ролика.

[@s37d]

wish i could get red cedar blocks from my beach, none of that over here in boston lol

[@sethwarner2540]

wow, did you buy that wood pre-split? Its like it were waiting for you to touch it so it could pop off the shingle...

[@gchicalo]

That's the way it splits when splitting 'cream', the best of the best wood.

[@CheckInSapaHostelCoffee]

hey hello..this is Ben haha

[@gromusic5403]

Hello Ben. This is Gerry. I was in Sapa 8 months ago! Did I meet you?

[@kimchisholm700]

Your hired ! LOL , joking. But great job there with the way you make all those Shakes ! You'll have your house done in no time !

[@dirtydishes118]

it splits so easily. what did you use the shakes for in the end?

[@billcarli8839]

can you use freshly cut cedar rounds or does the wood need to be seasoned? We have some nice cedars on our property.

[@gchicalo]

Yes you can use freshly felled trees. As long as it splits a flat surface: not a corogated surface. We used freshly felled wood from new logging slashes all the time.

[@locusvsnimbus13]

where can i contact you Gerry? Im interested to visit the island

[@jeffsdavis]

I think I just got a splinter watching this video.

[@martinschla]

If I need more long tables, the procedure is the same?

[@gchicalo]

Long tables? What do you mean?

[@paddyc8200]

What are shakes ?

[@gchicalo]

Western Red cedar roof tiles

[@paddyc8200]

Gerry Chicalo oh ok,thanks for that 👍

[@edmacfarlane9483]

impressive but cringed every time you hit the rock!

[@MrRigmunkee1]

Ed Macfarlane Yes! First thing I noticed.

[@Toto-ko5on]

For sharpening...

[@dsstroyer]

What kind of froe are you using (brand)

[@AugustusLarch]

@gchicalo I want to find that driftwood.

[@nablo5208]

satisfying

[@franklinnolan]

how long will those last on a roof?

[@maxdecphoenix]

psh... i got cedar posts out on the property line that were just sunk in the mud. They looked old as shit when my parents bought this place 27~ years ago. That's easily over 30 years, direct soil contact, open to the elements in the humid, bio-active Gulf Coast of the United States. Still as stout as the day they were put in. And that's not even old growth red cedar. Those shingles will last 100 years. Easy.

[@NoahVonNoah]

Should you use fresh cut wood to work from or older stuff?

[@valentinocarvajal]

¡¡Master!!

[@ThePerpetualStudent]

what are these shakes used for?

[@maxdecphoenix]

siding and as roof shingles.

[@gchicalo]

You got that right. I also use the very low grade for gardening retaining walls.

[@banq0o]

respect! 8-)

[@richardmckrell4899]

Turn block over, hit mallet, shake in pile, ... tissue to nose, blow, booger in tissue.... hit mallet, shake..... repeat

[@gchicalo]

Ehh. Maybe not?

[@wolflahti412]

After the 1- second mark, you've seen it all.

[@milanhorvath4225]

Super.....;-];-];-];-]];];-]

[@MrMadazhell]

fucking bad ass!!!!

[@weemanling]

False advertising, you used a tool not your hand. Disappointed.

[@jessewalley1529]

Your an idiot if you're serious

[@granthubick8684]

Not very efficient. Pick up the log pick up the froe. split one shake drop the log drop the froe pick up the log pick up the froe split one shake drop the log etc

[@KennyRider137]

How many years will you have to go to work to pay off your mortgage? Not very efficient. Wake up. Drive to work. Deal with crap. Repeat. This guy has a roof over his head in a week and it's paid for.