Making planking the old fashioned way

[beaver]

Long before there were saws and jointers, the canoe builders did everything by hand using old fashioned tools. Here is a link to the old ways.http://gallery.me.com/beaverbarkcanoes#100027/Splitting Sheathing&bgcolor=black

Beaver

 

[Rob Stevens]

Wow, that's an amazing chronicle, Ferdy.
Thanks for sharing it with us.

Rob

 

[David McDaniel]

barkdude

Ferdy;
Way way way cool !
Thanks for sharing.
later Dave

 

[rakwetpaddle]

To be continued, I hope?
Ralph Kohn

 

[Howard Caplan]

Ferdy,
Thanks for the pics.
Question: Do you ever use a froe? If not, why?
howard

 

[beaver]

Ferdy,
Thanks for the pics.
Question: Do you ever use a froe? If not, why?
howard

I have never used a froe because I rarely split any wood that is wide enough to use one. When I do split out wider stock I just make a score the width of the split with my axe, drive in the axe with a mallet; then work it down with wedges. The grain does the rest. You just can't beat the versatility of the axe eh.
Froes are more for making shingles.

Ferdy Goode

 

[garypete]

Birchbark Canoe Universal Tool

Ferdy,
Seems one can't do much authentically on a birchbark canoe until a crooked knife has been made. If several people wanted to make these special knives for working on a birchbark canoe, where would they go for good instructions on making a crooked knife?

Gary

 

[Rob Stevens]

For a start, here's the thread about crooked knives.
http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=1098&highlight=crooked