Heart of the Log: The Riving Process
Looking for a safe and quick way to rip boards down to size? Forget the hand, band or table saw… think splitting!
More accurately called riving, the process uses hammers and wedges to break a whole log down to manageable sizes, then using a set of specialized tools called the beetle and froe for more control and accuracy. Hatchets and hand planes perfect the piece.
While it may seem crude and low tech, the process produces good looking boards with a small number of hand tools.
I tried it this Summer. There was a big thunderstorm, and a large poplar fell at a neighbors. After the arborist cut it to length, I attempted to split the logs. It was exhausting. It didn’t help that it was 97 degrees. I think it was more difficult then it needed to be, because there was a knot or two in the wood. I don’t really know (and i haven’t found a resource to educate myself), but I think you need to be able to “read” the log from the outside to make sure it is suitable for splitting.
“Saint Roy” can do that in like 2 seconds flat!
If you’re out in the middle of nowhere, OK.
Otherwise, I’ll keep my power tools thanks.
Thanks Tom.