I’ve treated myself for a future project.

[Cabinetman]

In preparation for a Windsor style bench seat there were a couple of tools I needed and I fancied a bit of retail therapy, ( most unlike me to spend money ).
So I was looking for a Froe and a Scorp or inshave, and I ended up on a site called Sharky Forged Steel Tools, I was impressed by what I saw and the prices were right, it was only after ordering that I realised they weren’t in the States but in Ukraine— no problem supporting them.
After 5 days travelling they arrived and I really can’t wait to get stuck in with them.
The Froe isn’t very sharp, but then it really doesn’t want to be for splitting, the Scorp is very sharp.
Prices, the 10” Froe on sale reduced from $170 to 121 and as I’d bought one tool there was an extra 10% off the Scorp down from $140 to 94. Also these prices were with free delivery. I’m very impressed all round. Jfyi the cost for the two in Pounds is about £165.

 

[duke]

Nice Ian, good addition to your hand tool collection. Now you need a big chunk of wood for a mallet to set the froe.

 

[Mike G]

Excellent Ian, well done. And it's good to know that Ukraine is still making stuff not related to the war. I've been looking out for a froe for years, second hand. It's never crossed my mind to buy a new one......as much as anything because I didn't know people were still making them.

So, chairs. What have you got in mind?

 

[MattS]

Quite a few people making froes Mike, the green woodworing scene is alive and growing! I suspect they might fall outside your usual tool budget though

 

[Doug]

Ray Iles isn’t that expensive for froes, he’s over in Horncastle or if that’s too far classic hand tools sell his gear https://www.classichandtools.com/shop-by-brand/ray-iles/c723
I bought his inshave & was impressed with it

 

[Doug]

There’s a Ukrainian/American tool making company on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/strong_way_tools?igsh=ZDlnbDF1dm9rN3p
I wonder if they are one & the same Ian.

 

[Woodbloke]

I've been looking out for a froe for years, second hand.

I have a Ray Iles froe from Workshop Heaven that's only been used a few times when I was playing around a few years ago with green wood stuff. Thinking about selling it on; one of these if memory serves - Rob

 

[Mike G]

Well that's kind of you Rob, but I'm after a £5 or £10 bargain for restoration.

 

[Pete Maddex]

I have a Ray Iles froe from Workshop Heaven that's only been used a few times when I was playing around a few years ago with green wood stuff. Thinking about selling it on; one of these if memory serves - Rob

How much are you thinking of?

Pete

 

[Blackswanwood]

They look good Ian.

Are you going down the US or UK style route for the Windsor bench?

 

[Cabinetman]

Excellent Ian, well done. And it's good to know that Ukraine is still making stuff not related to the war. I've been looking out for a froe for years, second hand. It's never crossed my mind to buy a new one......as much as anything because I didn't know people were still making them.

So, chairs. What have you got in mind?

Madame has said she would like something along the lines of this, but I’ve a hankering to have the two bent parts out of one piece of wood, ie 3d bending on a former. Early days on the design yet.

There’s a Ukrainian/American tool making company on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/strong_way_tools?igsh=ZDlnbDF1dm9rN3p
I wonder if they are one & the same Ian.

Well there are similarities in the websites, but I don’t think their the same company

They look good Ian.

Are you going down the US or UK style route for the Windsor bench?

The seat shape will be more US-ish with a sculpted underside, from there on it will be pure Ian! Can’t say I’m all that keen on the USstyle of the turned legs with a lot of fancy shapes, I’m more into the wood flowing to a wider part because it needs to be larger to accept a cross rail, so I guess it’s function over style really.

 

[Woodbloke]

How much are you thinking of?

Pete

Sorry Pete, been a bit of a numpty here and quoted the wrong item. It's actually this one from CHT with a blade a full 300mm and a black leather sheath thingy:



I do recollect that I paid about £100 for it so it's yours for half that plus whatever the p&p amounts to. Good for extreme abuse (blade 10mm thick spring steel!!) with a very heavy maul. Apologies again for the poor info - Rob

 

[Blackswanwood]

The seat shape will be more US-ish with a sculpted underside, from there on it will be pure Ian! Can’t say I’m all that keen on the USstyle of the turned legs with a lot of fancy shapes, I’m more into the wood flowing to a wider part because it needs to be larger to accept a cross rail, so I guess it’s function over style really.

I agree with you on the US style Ian (which I think is known as “Colonial”) legs. It does always surprise me though that despite everything being less “chunky” than a traditional English Windsor they tend to be surprisingly robust.

In case it’s of help you can download Chris Schwartz’s Stick Chair book for free on the Lost Art Press website. I appreciate it’s not a stick chair you are making but it has some useful tips on the principles of design and techniques for drilling/ assembly etc.

Cheers

 

[Cabinetman]

I agree with you on the US style Ian (which I think is known as “Colonial”) legs. It does always surprise me though that despite everything being less “chunky” than a traditional English Windsor they tend to be surprisingly robust.

In case it’s of help you can download Chris Schwartz’s Stick Chair book for free on the Lost Art Press website. I appreciate it’s not a stick chair you are making but it has some useful tips on the principles of design and techniques for drilling/ assembly etc.

Cheers

Yes great, I knew about the benches but not the chairs, good tip thanks.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I'd love to make make a Windsor.
I don't know much about them, but a few years ago I went to Maine. We visited the Thos. Moser shop, which was wonderful. But we also visited another shop, with a few different chairs, which we were invited to try out.
The feature they stessed was that their chairs had an EVEN number of back sticks, rather than an odd number. That meant that there was nothing in the centre where one's spine is - they go either side. Much more comfortable.
Also the legs are deliberately slender and flexible so that they sit nicely on an uneven floor, such a a stone slab floor.
That's all I know.
S

 

[Cabinetman]

I'd love to make make a Windsor.
I don't know much about them, but a few years ago I went to Maine. We visited the Thos. Moser shop, which was wonderful. But we also visited another shop, with a few different chairs, which we were invited to try out.
The feature they stessed was that their chairs had an EVEN number of back sticks, rather than an odd number. That meant that there was nothing in the centre where one's spine is - they go either side. Much more comfortable.
Also the legs are deliberately slender and flexible so that they sit nicely on an uneven floor, such a a stone slab floor.
That's all I know.
S

I hadn’t heard of Thos Moser, so thank you, not too far from our new place either. I had a quick look and came across this not very good pic of this incredible chair.


Agree about the back spindles entirely! And I’m not sure really that they should even be evenly spaced, more a case of comfort than aesthetics.

 

[fiveeyes]

Ian..also check out, Brian Boggs.

 

[Cabinetman]

Ian..also check out, Brian Boggs.

Oh yes, now I had heard of him but didn’t know he made such a range of different types and styles of chairs, he’s certainly not restricted by convention which I like.
AND, we are visiting Asheville in N Carolina where he is in Nov for a wedding. Pam has said we should call in and see his work, so really looking forward to that.