Splitting Cedar

It all starts with splitting Cedar wood for the ribs, the sheathing and the gunwales. Tom shows us how its done. In fact of course, you first have to go in to the woods, find a cedar tree and split it, but Tom had already done that for us in preparation for our arrival.

Marc working on the shaving horse with a draw-knife modelling a rib.

After modelling Tom splits this piece of Cedar, now we have two ribs. Pictures below: Tom splitting cedar for the sheathing of the canoe, with his knees he guides the split.
When Tom does it it looks very easy but it surely takes some practice.