[SEL] It's quiet!/Shingle Mill

[Germoamer at aol.com]

Jerry,
 
To answer one of your questions, the shingles are made with the grain  
running the length of the shingle.  Before powered mills came into  existence, 
they were split by hand.  A piece of log was cut, stood up on  end, and split 
off the log using a "Froe" which is a knife blade with handle at  a right 
angle to it.  The Froe was hammered into the log face and then  twisted back 
and forth so that the knife followed the grain rather than make its  own 
path as a saw blade would.  Wooden shingles were some of the first  methods of 
covering a roof.  As they were installed, they were double  lapped to cover 
all seams.  However, it was not unusual to look up thru a  roof and see 
daylight and the roof would not leak.  Having the grain run  the length made is 
very simple to split some off when you needed a smaller piece  to finish up 
a row, or to cover up the next lap, etc.  
 
One of the most common woods in the early days was American Chestnut, which 
 was virtually rot proof, but now extinct due to a blight in the early 
1900's.  Cedar and white oak also were commonly used.  The making and 
installation  of shingles in mostly a lost art, however some are occasionally used on 
siding  to give historic look.  No roofs are done to my knowledge.  
 
I may be able to find a picture of a froe.
 
Hope this helps.  

Tom  Schmutz
Concord,  Va.
germoamer at AOL.com