easy wood projects - Froe Handle From Scratch

easy wood projects

This is a small personal project that I needed to do. I had purchased an old froe said to be black smith made. In his book "Green Woodworking" Drew Langsner talks about and has plans for a froe and handle. It seems that the blade can be made of mild steel so some day I will need to make my own but for now all I needed was the handle. I have this downed apple tree that is seasoned and I plan to make spoons out of and I previously made a root club with (Root Club) so why not use some of this wood to make a nice handle for my froe. I have many older hand saws that have apple wood handles and they feel nice. In fact the saw you see in some of the pictures is not a toy but an older cabinet makers saw. Small but effective quite controllable and fits in my Dutch tool chest (Dutch Tool Chest).

I cut the branch to length which I determined to be about 50% larger than my fro blade. I took my small axe and removed the bark and branch nubs. I then shaped the handle shoulder to fit the blade socket and left a shoulder for the handle to sit on. I then drilled a hole in the handle 1/16" smaller than the lag screw used to secure the handle to the froe blade. I placed a couple of washers one about the diameter of the froe blade socket  and one larger to draw in the handle to the blade. This system unlike using wedges will secure the froe blade and prevent the handle from coming off.

Branch of apple tree used to make froe handle.

Cabinet makers saw with apple wood handle.

Make handle 50% longer than the froe blade.

Measure diameter of froe blade socket for washers and to fit handle.

Trim off bark and branch nibs with sharp axe.

Trimmed and ready to shave on the shave horse.

Measure to put step in handle for blade socket.

Using a draw knife to put step in and trim handle.

Fitting handle.

Left a quarter inch of room to draw handle in tight.

Auger hole for lag screw 1/4" smaller than lag screw.

Screw in lag and secure handle.

Handle finished.

Froe club to use with froe.

Now on to split some wood.

Do you find information about easy wood projects are you looking for? If not, below may help you find more information about the easy wood projects. Thank you for visiting, have a nice day.

Related Posts by Categories