De-barking

[gobbypunk]

Hi we have a yard near us that only does fence posts and rails and he has a big de-barking machine and they come out nice and smooth you may find one in a yard near you ,good luck as hand de-barking can be a ball-ache

Cheers Mark

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

I've been going at it with a bill hook and a sharpened spade today - ball ache, yes complete! Shoulders and arms work out, yes complete! Cider time now, oh yes!!

[timbernut]

Gransfors Bruks make a heavy duty curved drawknife for debarking log cabin timbers (woodsmith store sells em), windy smithy also make one the same but a tad dearer I recall. Bought a Gr Br one and it's excellent! I also have 2 Morris bark peelers as in Gnomes link ( one large one small ) but they are more for debarking for tannery bark. Hope this is helpful,

John

[digga]

could buy a old grass swap and make shave like in the pics .need to bend it as shown in 2nd pic will take off a wide strip than a draw knife make it easier by taking off the knots with a bill hook or chainsaw first

[Brushcutter]

I've recently debarked some big old chestnut using the cranes grapple.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

 

Great advice and links to tools fellas! Much appreciated. It's a funny old task, not something you'd want to spend all day doing but strangely addictive - amongst doing other jobs, I just can't help stopping and smashing an hour out each time I pass the log pile. The dogs having been mucking in for what it's worth!

 

The dogs

[gobbypunk]

Hi have a look at the link to a tool supplier on the thread above the planer/de barker attatchments they have are ace Rob D has planer very similar and its a good bit of kit so take a look at the link

Cheers Mark

[Climbingmagnus]

There's a roundwood framing place near me that use a jet washer for de-barking. It's a pretty big one (3phase from memory) but worth a try if you've got access to such a thing.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

I've done it by hand, sharpened garden spade, bill hook & angle grinder to get down to a working finish. It's been hard, back breaking work. Not sure I'd want to do it again if it wasn't for my girl. I don't think the hours of labour would make it cost effective unless there was a mechanical method.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

And the hard work is finally starting to take shape: