View source for Froe

[[image:froe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Antique froe.]]
A '''froe''' (also ''riving axe'' and [[17th century]]: ''lath axe'') is a [[woodworking]] [[tool]] that in profile looks like the letter L. One arm of the L shape is a [[wood|wooden]] handle, the other a [[metal]] [[blade]] upon which the bottom edge is sharpened. 

Froes are used for the splitting of [[wood]], usually in conjunction with a [[maul]] or [[mallet]]. The are used by placing the [[blade]] at the required section of a piece of [[wood]] and striking the back or inside edge. This drives the [[blade]] into the [[wood]] and then is levered to open up the wood and then pushed further forward or froeward. The direction of the split maybe controlled and the froe is used to create [[shingles]].

The froe is now considered obsolete by modern builders and are difficult to find except in antique shops. There are a limited number of companies that produce new froes, most notably [[Gransfors Bruks]].

[[category:tool]]