Removing bark?

[Magnum22]

how do you get good pieces consistently? selection? dry or wet? peel? pry? bang? here's a good size piece, about five inches wide. i got lucky.

 

[Brian Jones]

Selection first, of course, then I usually score the edges, and work my knife in gently to peel - like skinning a deer. Birch and cedar tend to come off in sheets more readily then some others. Your choice depends on intended use. Juniper comes off and shears off into into tinder-size bundles when you work it in your hands.

Knife selection is key, too. A thick blade can be harder to slide behind the bark without tearing it. Thin works better.

 

[aceofblades]

Where did you get that camo sheath?

 

[k_estela]

Find standing dead trees or those laying on the ground that have been dead for a while. Use your knife to score around the section you want to remove and carefully wedge your hand, knife or stick between the inner bark and the outer bark layer. Don't pry with your knife, just use it to help break the bond between the two and have your hands to the rest of the work. The piece that is scored should remove easily.

Here is a picture or two of a shelter I made in January. I used shingled pieces of bark and removed them in this manner. Some pieces were in excess of 3' long and 1' wide.

 

[Magnum22]

pretty good lookin bark, there. kinda papery lookin, though. doesn't look up to pan/dish duty.

 

[Brian Jones]

Magnum22, you're barking up the wrong tree, pal. j/k

 

[1Tracker]

Depends on the tree type as mentioned by others. It's a fact that the oak family is related to cork; as such it can be removed in larger sheets/pieces if you are careful. With birch types it's more of the peel carefully so it does'nt tear due to it's thinness. Nice shelter again K!

 

[k_estela]

By the way, one thing I need to mention is how not to kill a live tree if you must remove bark from one. If you do need to get bark off a live tree, do not crown it by removing a complete layer all the way around. Take a section from one side and move to another tree if possible.

Kev

 

[Brian Jones]

Kevin - I was thinking that in my mind, too. Girdling a tree is deadly to it. +1 for catching that and posting!:thumbup: