HANDSPLIT SHAKES are
split with the natural grain of the wood and have a highly textured
surface. They are produced in four types: Handsplit-and-Resawn,
Straight-split, Tapersplit and Tapersawn. Lengths are 18 inch
(455mm) and 24 inch (610mm).
No. 1 Handsplit-and-Resawn
Shakes
These shakes have split faces and sawn
backs. Cedar logs are first cut into desired lengths. Blanks or
boards of proper thickness are split and then run diagonally
through a bandsaw to produce two tapered shakes from each blank.
Thicker and heavier through the butt than other
shakes.
No. 1 Tapersplit Shakes
Produced largely by hand, using a
sharp-bladed steel froe and a wooden mallet. A natural taper is
achieved by reversing the block, end-for-end, with each split.
Straight-split shakes are produced by splitting from the same end
of the block.
