Heart of the Wood
Specializing in reproductions of 17th century furniture and woodwork

Working-up stock from the log: the Riving Process

(continued)

When the log has been split into bolts of a manageable size, they can be brought into the shop, where riving is continued using a froe.

The froe is essentially a long narrow wedge fitted with a handle, so that leverage can be applied to the splitting process.  The riving of longer pieces of stock is assisted by the use of a holding tool called a 'break'.  Stock for shorter pieces is cut to length out of the bolt, and riven on a block.  The edge of the froe is driven into the top of the bolt with a 'beetle' or froe club.  Again, the bolts are always split in half.

Leverage is applied by working the froe handle back and forth, sliding it further into the cleft as the split advances.

When the piece is close to the desired size, the last waste-wood can be split off of one side of the piece.  The final roughing out of the the fresh, wet timber  is quickly achieved with the hewing hatchet.

The turner will at this point have dressed his stock into rough cylinders, slightly larger than his finished turnings will be.  He will now proceed directly to the work of turning on the lathe.

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