hand riving with froe

[PineHill4488]

A query for the wise men and women on The Forestry Forum, which tactic to use for riving which species?

Are some best at being rived radially?
And others best at being rived tangentially?

Thanks for advice,
Greg

[robmelby]

 Greg,
I don't know the answer. I've read a few books by Drew Langsner And he covers riving in depth. He has lists of which specie rives good, but doesn't cover radially or tangentially. I've had good luck with Oak and Ash, but I'm a neophyte when it comes to riving.

Rob M.

[woodworker9]

It's actually good for both.  I use a froe for perfect, straight grained stock (think quartersawn) and I also will it to split a piece of lumber to a lesser width.  Most North American hardwoods behave well this way, except species with undulating and gnarly grain, like elm, for instance.  Any timber species that doesn't split well isn't going to be one that you're going to want to use a froe for.

I'll split white oak radially, and then take that piece and whack it into smaller sections for chair parts, dowels, pegs, etc.....

Maple, cherry, oaks, honey locust, walnut all work well this way.  The harder the species, the harder they are sometimes to split.  I don't use much hickory in my work, but I have riven it for tool handles, and it goes well.....just a little extra oooooommmph!

[PineHill4488]

Rob and WW9,
Thanks for going down the rabbithole with me. Your comments have helped!

Greg