Metal sculptor crossing over/Large wood Question

[Pres10]

Hi wood workers... New to the forum, new to the medium. I have worked with metal my whole life... but I've had some large wood call me lately. I've done metal sculpture now for about 15 years. Mostly abstract, but some figurative work too. My neighbors, had a guy make an offer on a bunch off walnut burls in his orchard. So last year they took about 60 walnut trees. They payed x amount for the good ones and said they would be back for some others, and clean up the mess. That's the last they saw of them. So... there were these 10 lesser grade burls been laying there for about the last 6 months... and they been callin me... He gave me 3 and I might get the others too. Got them standing on end 2-3' diameter and about 5-6' high. Black walnut with some english walnut tops. So here's my question. What works the best for removing the bark? I could chainsaw them into basic shapes and work it from there... but a couple of them have such cool texture (knots and lumps etc.) (there's probably real words to describe those... metal worker remember...) Would one of the chainsaw blade attachments that go on a 4 inch grinder, just take off the bark without gouging the wood? Suggestions or comments appreciated. Crossing over to wood is quite odd for me. Thanks, Preston

[wade clark]

Preston,
Welcome!
If it was me, i'd use a "Log Spud", a tool designed for peeling logs. It's a blade on the end of a long (2 1/2 ft to 4 ft) handle. There was one on ebay the other day. A hatchet or axe will work pretty well too. You can slab the sides off with a chainsaw for that matter, but I'd save the slabs because they'll have some beautiful wood you can use for something later...bases for other carvings maybe.
The angle grinder chainsaw by King Arthur Tools is a great tool; I love mine! Bark generally accumulates a lot of grit and will dull your tool fast, so I save my Lancelot (King Arthur Tools) for working on the actual wood.
Grab the rest of those burls while you have a chance!!!Great find!!!
They'll be hard for carving, but very carvable and very beautiful! You'll love it!
Have fun!
Wade

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I would use some large chisels(as a pry) and a drawknife...I don't think you want to mess up the log with a lot of grinding, sawing gouging etc....imho ...if the bark is dry, on some trees, the bark will come off fairly easy leaving a clean wood surface...but I said on "some",,others stick like glue LOL

[Clifford_Parker]

Welcome to the wonderful world of woodcarving.

I have to agree with Wade. A spud bar is great for de-barking logs.

[Colin-Partridge]

Hi I agree with everything said here I too have a Lancelot and all the others put out by King Arthur tools but none will remove the bark without some scaring. I use a Spud or Prybar to remove bark if you can get it really wet before removing it it will come off a whole lot easier. Bark will come off easy as well if the tree is cut down in any month that does not have an R in it.Just my two cents worth
Colin