I started splitting shingles with a froe and wooden club about ten years ago. After a couple years spent in research, trial and error, and ultimate success, replacing the roofs of historic buildings has become a regular part of my job. All together, I’ve split and dressed about ten thousand shingles and I expect to split twenty or thirty thousand more before I’m through.

White oak shingles were a common roofing material over a century ago. Unfortunately, we've been conditioned to not question the accepted norms: Western Red Cedar is the ONLY choice for a long lasting roofing material. That is simply not true and, after my recent observations, I'm beginning to think that red cedar is complete and total garbage. I wouldn't use the stuff to cover a dog house, unless I had a particular dislike for the dog who domiciled in said house.

I could go on and on and on about how strongly I love one thing and hate another but that's more suitable as a subject for another presentation.

I believe I said something about where to purchase a froe and cheap hewing axe. Maybe I'll get a commission from this. Four percent, I think, if Etsy ultimately approves my application. If not, I'll not lose any sleep over it. It's probably being reviewed by a team of yuppies, a class of people I abhor. Gee, I hope they don't read this. No one else will, most likely.

White oak good. Red cedar bad. End of description. Money grubbing links below. Thanks for watching! And a very special thanks to anyone that bothered to read these silly ramblings of mine.


The Etsy shop for the fellow who made this wonderfully effectient froe:

https://creatoriq.cc/3T5Oepr

The Etsy listing for the cheap little hewing axe. Like I said, not bad for light work and an unbeatable price:

https://creatoriq.cc/4bM2F9K

Thanks for your support, ladies and gentlemen!