Bark Removal

#1 07-30-2003, 08:52 PM

Yesterday I found the most efficient method of stripping bark from a sapling and thought I'd share. Use a linoleum knife, you can get one at about any hardware store for a few bucks and its worth its weight in gold. Use it like any other knife.

I didn't take time to sharpen it. I just took it out of my tool drawer, nicked and dinged as it was, and it worked like a charm, even for getting around knots (a new one might need to have a rudimentary edge ground on it, I don't know). I can't say how well it will sharpen or if it will hold an edge; but if it does then it might work as a general shaping tool. I only started using it yesterday so I haven't found out yet.

Try it, you'll like it.

AlArchie · #2 07-30-2003, 09:48 PM

Munchkin, I'll have to try that....got one down in the basement somewhere! One I've used for just that, though is one of those kitchen utensils...an OXO clam knife. They are not sharpened very well, but have a good sturdy blade, with a rounded tip. I sharpened it up, including the round tip and it's great for stripping diamond willow. The tip can work right into the diamonds!

Found this one while 'touring' with Karen in the kitchen dept of one of the department stores. Never know where, you'll find a good tool!

Al

#3 07-31-2003, 05:06 AM

Never leave home without a credit card!

AlArchie · #4 07-31-2003, 06:40 AM

Ed.

Never tried carvin with a credit card.....do thgey need honing or are the rates sharp enough??

Al

#5 07-31-2003, 08:55 AM

The are more like a gouge!

#6 07-31-2003, 10:41 AM

Hey Mr. Munchkin,
I just added a linoleum knife to my tool box about 6 months ago, and I used it the same way you did. It worked great! I was going through my old junk drawer looking for something else (of course LOL) and there it was. I sharpened it on my diamond hone and stropped it and it just did wonders. I don't know if the edge will hold, but for the price, I don't mind wearing it out with stropping!
Thanks for the reminder!

Donna

#7 07-31-2003, 04:29 PM

I kind of wonder, in the debarking application if maybe a little dull might be better. Sharp enough to cut the bark but not sharp enough to dig into the wood? Never tried it so don't know. Anybody?

AlArchie · #8 07-31-2003, 06:15 PM

That's what the guys in our club that do a lot of sticks claim. Not really sharp and they work better that way. I don't do enough of them to venture a quallified statement on that issue, though.

Al

#9 08-01-2003, 01:59 AM

Boy, I sure don't know either, so I really have no business even replying to this post.

However, I thought I'd at least mention that I AM a bona fide Master Credit Carder :-)

Teri

#10 08-01-2003, 11:11 AM

I use a potato peeler to de-bark walking sticks. They are cheap, not too sharp that they dig in, and safe (relatively speaking). They seem to work fine but are a little tricky around knots, etc.