So Dan asks about froes...

Well, I have one of the LV froes, and I have an old heavily abused model,
and I also have a Gransfors Bruks froe.  That last one is an anomaly.
Kathy
was at the LV store during one of their "garage sale" days, and she spotted
this GB froe.  She latched onto it immediately, noted the $39.95 price tag
and searched dilligently for more.  Alas, 'twas the only one.  She called
me
at work and asked if I wanted it - YES!   The smiths at GB are legendary,
but they know NOTHING about how a froe works.  It was literally razor sharp
when I got it.  A couple of minutes with a file got it dulled down to
where it
was safe to use.

This past Monday I decided I needed a new froe hammer.  Step one, find
that length of 2 1/2 inch copper pipe I picked up off the side of the
road.  Ah,
and a rusty hunk of rebar for a handle.  Then I dug into the scrap bin for
those pewter beer mugs.  You know the one, they say "19th Hole" or "Uncle
Bob" on them and have glass bottoms.  And they're almost free at yard
sales.
I pulled 3 of them out of the bin and chopped them up with a hatchet after
popping out the bottoms.

http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/thumb/c/c7/Pewter_scrap.jpg/450px-
Pewter_scrap.jpg

I went out to the garage and rooted though the camping gear for the coleman
stove (found at the dump, hosed out the chipmunk nest, and it works fine).
A coffee can for a crucible and I was ready to go.

http://galootopedia.com/old-
tools_wiki/images/thumb/7/77/Camp_stove_and_coffee_can.jpg/450px-
Camp_stove_and_coffee_can.jpg

Hacksawed off a short length of pipe, and filed the end reasonably smooth.
I did drill a hole across the end of the rebar using my post drill, and
stuck a
nail through the hole.  This will keep the head from flying off.  Lots of
masking tape went across the end of the pipe to keep the pewter in.
I suspended the handle inside the copper pipe, and it's ready to pour.

http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/thumb/4/48/Ready_to_pour.jpg
/450px-Ready_to_pour.jpg

There was one burp when I poured, but nothing really dangerous or
exciting.
I now have a 2.5 kg froe hammer that's soft and squishy compared to the
steel
of the froe.

http://galootopedia.com/old-tools_wiki/images/thumb/b/b8/New_froe_hammer.jpg
/450px-New_froe_hammer.jpg

A nice coincidence was that this week's topic on Bench Talk 101 was
"Crude Tools You have Made"  so I showed this off.  Not sure if you guys
know about Bench Talk, it's a Zoom call hosted by a group in the UK at
20:30
UK time on Thursdays.  That's 3:30 PM here for me.  Last week Ron Hock
was on talking about his work and sharpening and such.  A couple weeks
back Karl Holtey was the guest speaker.  Nice group, interesting talks.
I can set individual Galoots up with an invite if you want.

And of course I join the Galoot Zoom every saturday night.
See you round, Galoots!

--
Oakville ON
Wood Hoarder, Blade Sharpener, and Occasional Tool User