Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Tool Forum de-barking tool?

What do you folks use to de-bark your logs prior to milling? Drawknife? Any power tools? Anybody tried this thing:

http://www.loghomestore.com/tools-chainsaw.shtml#Log%20Wizard

The drawknife is going through the Oak bark VERY reluctantly. Man, that is some THICK bark!

thanks

Hi Paul,

I debarked a 100 foot larch last week using nothing more than a garden spade. This took me about one hour however I confess that the tree did come down about a year ago and the log has had time to shrink away from its bark. The easist time to debark a fresh felled log is now when the tree has loosened its bark ready for the onset of the growth process.

People like Stihl manufacture and sell barking "spuds" which have a blunt round nose and long handle.

Regards

Ken Hume

I've got plenty of time on a Log Wizard. Works well if you set the blades out far enough. I've also used a barking spud, a long handled roofing stripper tool, and an axe. I usually just cleaned up the area where the band was going to enter the log.

Soaking in a pond, most likely not an option.

Debarker on the saw mill, it cuts a path just in front of the band.

Axe.

Big draw knife.

Spud, Yup, best used in the spring or on old logs that just need a little persuading.

Are they dirty? If yes, why? On a small scale it is best to keep the logs as clean as possible. If they are not dirty why remove the bark?

I gave up on my Log Wizard.

Tim

We are using the logs as round posts and need to remove the bark to keep the insects out and to expose the pretty wood. The trees are coming down this week prior to leafing out although there may be some sap running already. The bark is REALLY tight and very thick. All of my tools are as sharp as I can get them, but it's a tough go. I may end up trying the log wizard. I have heard good and bad. What was your experience Tim? thanks.

The log wizard is going to chew up the logs pretty badly. Not an option if you are going to be using the logs in the round, I would think.

yes, that was my worry, but I have read accounts of people using it for log homes without too much damage.