First, a fresh log is selected & crosscut to the appropriate length
The log is then split into sections or ‘bolts’ using a sledgehammer & wedges
The bolts are then further split or ‘riven’ into pieces, carefully laying out each split and using the material as efficiently as possible. Finer riving is done using a tool known as a froe. The froe is a long, thin wedge with a perpendicular wooden handle. After pounding the froe into the end grain of the wood, it is levered back and forth along the split, providing the craftsperson with better control of the split.
Once split, the rivings (rough wooden parts) are hand shaped on a traditional European bench called a shaving horse. This simple and essential tool has likely been used for over four centuries. It is basically a foot operated vice that allows the craftsperson to conveniently hold and rotate their work while shaping it with a drawknife.
For an even more detailed look at the process of greenwood chairmaking, order Jennie Alexander’s excellent ‘Make a Chair From a Tree’ DVD
