Does anyone use a froe and a brake for splitting staves?

[Strichev]

In the past I was tremendously disappointed by the way a nice straight ash log split into many useful (and as many useless) staves when I used wedges to split it. That's why I decided to use a froe this time - and it seems to work wonders. No more runoffs as one can split the wood in a very controlled manner, well, at least compared to the aforementioned wedge method.

Anyway, I've been wondering whether anyone else uses a froe plus brake and if so, is there is some advice or a nifty trick to make the whole thing even better?

[BowEd]

I think most of the trick is reading the longitudal grain correctly before splitting,but you may have something there using a froe.Good idea.

[osage outlaw]

A froe won't work on the logs that I split. 

[Strichev]

A froe won't work on the logs that I split.

Why not?  I guess the logs need to be at least somewhat straight for the froe to work, that's true.

[osage outlaw]

Because I split osage logs up to 24" diameter.  I use a lot of steel wedges.  It might work good on straight grained white woods but I don't split many of those. 

[willie]

Because I split osage logs up to 24" diameter.

I guess if you had a brake that could handle the stress of trying to bend a the log, you could direct the split.
two stumps and a comealong or winch?    Yarding a longer log to the brake would help.

[Pat B]

I have a froe I use occasionally for difficult staves that need reducing. It makes it easy to control the the direction of the split sometimes.

[Badger]

  I have assisted guys with splitting that were using a froe, it did seem to work well.

[Primortall]

Yep. Used froe on a few logs and it worked pretty well. I haven't ran into one that didn't work well with it yet, but also have a small sample size.

[Hamish]

 I have used a froe, it can work well depending on the wood, and how straight, and how dry it is. I don't use it often enough and often forget which side you are supposed to stress to redirect the split. I end up using wedges most of the time to break a log down.