Have some Col. Spruce Logs ..

[Drew87]

Good 3ft X 18-25'' .. and was wandering if anyone has a good tip or advice on, How to 'Debark' the logs without using a Saw.?

 

(Looking for a Better looking log, Before actually Carving.)

 

Haven't got any fancy bits of gear to do it with, So a better way would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks:thumbup1:

Edited November 13, 2013 by Drew87

[agg221]

With a spade, shearing the bark away down the length of the log. Really, it works well enough in the absence of anything else.

 

Alec

[abercarver]

Barking Iron,

 

Or low cost method like Alec said

[thewoodwizard]

I use a blunt axe and a hammer, to brea axe down the back of the bark. Save damaging the trunk, the greener the tree the harder the work.

 

hope this is of some help.

[Drew87]

I use a blunt axe and a hammer, to brea axe down the back of the bark. Save damaging the trunk, the greener the tree the harder the work.

 

hope this is of some help.

 

Felled it in September dude, kept in a Semi Damp Shed to keep it about 20% Moisture .. Is this long enough or should i leave it longer.? (Newbie to carving you see)

 

All Advice helps .. Will proberly try all suggestions n find the best way for me/different timbers. Another Question for you all ..

I heard about this ''Swelling'' technique (Soaking the logs in an old bath .. Then Stood Up in the Drying room, to dry slowly .. but quicker than outdoor drying) ..

 

Surely this could only work on Hardwood as im thinking this would make my logs 'Crack'., Am i right thinking this.???

[thewoodwizard]

The spruce I used was about a year old so bark come off easy, I dont't debark much now because you lose most of the bark when u block out , apart from the stump normally .Ray

[Drew87]

The spruce I used was about a year old so bark come off easy, I dont't debark much now because you lose most of the bark when u block out , apart from the stump normally .Ray

 

Ah, Thanks Ray. All tips and advice welcome as stated i am a Newbie to Carving and will put next attempt at a log on here for people to see. Im looking at Face Carvings lately and saw someones Skulls that i was very impressed with .. Missing the Halloween period im looking into the Festive type carvs.

 

Ive had a request for a Smoothed log and was struggling to get bark off without damaging the log itself.

 

Thanks again Woodwizard, Will try your way 1st aswell as any other peoples tips too. Thankyou to you both for your advice .. Very much Welcomed:thumbup1:

[Drew87]

Told you I'll update this & try all your suggestions so ..

 

Ive finally got round to Strippin my Wood.!!

 

In the end I used everyone's methods that commented .. End result was Exactly what I asked for. , So thanks for your suggestions Arbtalkers;

 

Tried & Tested (Yesterday, 4th March) Best methods without Any damage to the Timber:

 

Started by using (Arbercarver's Bar) .. 'well a bird named bar' At each of the log to reduce any damage, aswell as to have starting points ready for..

 

(Alec's Shovel) Worked Surprisingly Well Thanks Fella.!! .. Got every single bit of the scaled bark off & straight through to the softer, inner skin ..

 

Then found that a seriously sharp Hatchet (WoodWizard's Axe) .. Used like a plane, took it the rest of the way to fresh timber, without any damage what so ever & came off like onion skins,

 

Whole process took about an hour (Maybe too slow to you guys) but im Well pleased with how looking, ready to go now .. First Carv better end up looking half decent or ima look abit red .. after all that. HAHA.!!

 

LOL, Thanks you 3 .. Absolute Gents

 

[dervishcarving]

nice log you have there. I must admit i never bother de-barking before i carve unless its a very deep bark (eg mature Douglas fir). by the time i have finished blocking out its pretty bark-free. It is easier to mark out without the bark though so if you are of the 'mark out then cut' school then at least you now know how to do it quickly and cleanly

[Aicchalmers]

With a spade, shearing the bark away down the length of the log. Really, it works well enough in the absence of anything else.

 

Alec

 

It's really funny the looks you get when you're sharpening a spade