Bark Harvesting

[bulldog]

How does one go about harvesting the bark of cottonwood. I'm sure no one goes out and just slams bark off the tree. Does this kill the tree ? Are there regulations on harvesting bark in forests ? Do termites and/or beetles or other bugs hitch a ride home ?

KEEP BARKIN

[Clifford_Parker]

Look for dead standing or downed cottonwood trees. The bark on dead trees will easily peel off in large sheets. I have harvested bark from logs cut by the tree service here in town and peeling "green bark" is MUCH harder than peeling it from a tree that has died and begun to dry out.

[BobT]

As Cliff said. Dead trees only. I would not want the task of getting it off of live trees anyway. I use a big screwdriver. Once you get it started, sometimes you can get a pretty big section off. I have had pieces 3 feet long.
BobT

[K Karver]

Hi Bulldog, in many cases cottonwoods are the tallest trees in a grove. You can spot the dead ones, since their branches will stick over the top of the other trees. Learn to spot cottonwoods as you are driving around. My family simples groans when I point out the next tree I want to check out. Take note of where cottonwoods might be. Watch for the "cotton" in season so you can look for dead ones. They use to be planted around farms or they are in the river bottoms. I stop in plenty of farm yards. I was blessed with a real find on one farm yard when I noticed a few cottonwoods. I knocked on the door and got permission to check them out. Most people are really neighborly about it. One of the trees on this particular farm was lightening struck. Half the bark was simply hanging on the tree with new growth forming underneath. I had to run home and get my sons pickup truck to be able to take home the sheets of bark that came off.

So much for rambling. I love looking for the bark

1. Learn to spot the trees in all seasons.
2. Ask permission to tromp groves and river bottoms.
3. Yes, bugs hitch rides. I leave it in a shed separate from the house and clean it there.
4. Public lands have all different kinds of rules. Know them.
5. Fresh cut trees - nearly live bark - is a real bear to harvest. In many cases hardly worth the effort. But I have struggled for some special pieces.
6. You will take home too much junk at first. Learn to sort in the field and take home less.

Anyway, enough. Enjoy the hunt and post a few of your carved finds.

John K Karver

[brian-bailey]

I made a statement on another thread about going out and knocking a piece of bark off a Cottenwood tree.

What I intend on doing since the trees that I have are still living is to take a #2/40 gouge & mallet and surgically remove a couple of pieces suitable (if 2" thick is suitable) for carving. I'm only going to remove the outer bark unless I slip Smile .

I hope I didn't cause any confusion in that statement. I'm not a tree hugger, but I do love trees.

[TreeWizard]

I've got a lot of cottonwood growing in several spots on my farm and I hope they die soon as they are filling my hay fields with seedlings. Maybe I'll have to go out and knock the bark off some of them and help the dying process.

[K Karver]

Two inches works for me. 8 would work better but .....Talking.

John K Karver

Originally Posted by brian bailey

I made a statement on another thread about going out and knocking a piece of bark off a Cottenwood tree.

What I intend on doing since the trees that I have are still living is to take a #2/40 gouge & mallet and surgically remove a couple of pieces suitable (if 2" thick is suitable) for carving. I'm only going to remove the outer bark unless I slip Smile .

I hope I didn't cause any confusion in that statement. I'm not a tree hugger, but I do love trees.

[Clifford_Parker]

Originally Posted by TreeWizard

I've got a lot of cottonwood growing in several spots on my farm and I hope they die soon as they are filling my hay fields with seedlings. Maybe I'll have to go out and knock the bark off some of them and help the dying process.

As long as you own the trees and want them gone then girdling them would probably work.

[K Karver]

Bulldog and the rest of you are going to find this hard to believe after my pontifcation above. I am driving home from a church visit to one of our elder church members and what do I see in a yard near my home? The biggest cottonwood in the whole area lying on the ground cut into a slew of pieces. Needless to say I had to turn around and investigate. The owner was home. He was looking to get rid of the tree. I could have as much bark as I wanted.

I raced home - only two hours of sun light and many meetings coming. My dear wife gave her blessing. The tree was cut into three to four foot rounds. I had a few cats paws and large screw drivers. I worked from both end and the followed the inner bark layer - Brian I am sure the correct term is in your book - and pulled off about 70 really nice pieces. Still lots left for anyone who wants to make it to Lansing, IL.

Now I have a load of really wet cottonwood bark in my garage. Any suggestions other than let it dry out for a year?

Oh, by the way. I went back with one of my bark carvings and my business card for the owner. His comment, "You can do that with bark?" Does that mean if art galleries won't take wood as real art they wouldn't take bark either, or is bark an even lower cut of art?


John K Karver

[bulldog]

Thank you everyone for the info. I'll keep my eyes open and see what I come up with.
KEEP BARKIN