i thought i would share this from hurstwic since i found it very informative about ''traditional'' axe haft making, i think it would be useful for some craftsmen who likes to do things historically accurate.

http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manu...riving.htm

Interesting!

And it's not only good for historical accuracy, either - as the article notes, it can actually produce stronger items with less inherent weak points.

Looks like an episode of the Woodwrights shop!

Here is a short film from the project of reconstructing Södra Råda gamla kyrka (the old church at Södra Råda) that was burned down in 2001. At ~2:00 min two of the carpenters involved in the project are splitting planks for the roof. The planks are 2" thick and 6,2 meters or little more than 20' long.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NuO49EQRQM

Even sawing can be performed this way, although the result doesn't follow the grain quite as closely as splitting. But then this usually becomes moot when it comes to the end product since the final shaping of a split log still often cuts through the outermost grain lines, producing a plank or bar with very little difference from a riftsawn product.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rift_sawing