Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

AXEMANSHIP 209apart with the froe (Fig. 49). Take one of thesehalves and rive it similarly into two equal parts.At this stage (more surely at the next one) youmust learn a new trick—the difference betweenriving and mere splitting, and how to govern the rift.The wood has a tendency to "run out" more towardone side than the other. If you went on just fore-Fig. 50.—"Run-out" Rifting the froe down, the result would be a botch(asin Fig. 50). To prevent this, turn the block sothat the thicker side is down, lay its lower end inthe brake, open the cleft until you can insert yourflat left hand (the froe will prevent pinching), andthen bear down hard on the bottom {thicker) sectionwhile you work the froe gently up and down.Fig. 51.—^Springing the RiftThis will make your split run back again into thethiclcer section.Having quartered the bolt, now carefully riveeach quarter into two clapboards or shingles (Fig.51). You may have to turn the piece three or fourtimes in order to get boards of uniform thickness.It is right here that judgment and skill are calledfor.