Holy crap Dan. A 6 year old video of yours that I haven’t seen before. Really well done. Totally serious presentation, not like the goofy stuff you do today. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of it. Keep up the great work.
Great info on your channel. I can’t quit watching. I’ve done professional logging, and we would “peel popple” by hand years ago using a bark spud. It was always done in the spring when the sap was running, and the bark would come off in long sections. It often looked like we left the tree in the woods but squeezed the wood out of the bark. We would quit peeling by the 4th of July as the trees “tightened up” ( the sap wasn’t in the outer layers as much). Any trees we cut had to be peeled the same day or they would be tight by the next day. I’ve cut and peeled cedar in the same time frame. Best advice is to try and plan your projects out and if you need larger wood, cut and peel it in the spring. I usually cut and peel a few sticks (8 foot long and 6 inch diameter or bigger for the non loggers) every spring. You are a great instructor and inspiration. I’m hoping we meet in person some day. Todd in Wisconsin
It's also good for firewood. The fatty layer is removed so moisture can dry away easier, which makes a cleaner and more efficient burn, plus you get lots of kindling.
I just found your channel and I just can't stop watching, so much great information! Thanks so much for making these videos, hope you keep going for a long time.
Thanks man. lots of good stuff. will be making me that "cobbler" bench/table. too cool. i use a draw blade, and the only thing i would say? if you start at one side of the blade and while pulling towards yourself slide it and utilized the entire blade. you wont have as much of that center build up of bark as well. thanks again!
I've also only seen the long-handled version. I don't have one, so I use my long-handled ice-chopper when I'm in a pinch.... it has a pretty similar shape, actually (and it works moderately well)
Thanks for the densely informative video. I think there’s a relatively high chance I get addicted to your channel, binging as much information as possible! I just got access to an overwhelming amount of tree trimmings. The techniques and tools here will 10x the speed at which I’m moving through it. Less time debarking ... more time building! Thanks man!!
"bark spud" - WOWZERS man you're right, it's a tool I didn't know existed in the 1st place (and I'm a wood/tree nut, arborist/climber/sawyer and bonsai for-fun/as-hobby, trees are all I do :D ), just starting to get into "aesthetic woodwork" (ie not just framing a door/using pressure-treat from H.Depot) as I've built-up a pile of failed-collections that were meant to become bonsai but didn't survive, this means they're inherently good-looking lil trunks from like 3" thick to well over a foot thick, had saved them since they were great but never knew what to do, they're years-dried now and finally decided to make them into single-legged bonsai display-stands, but some have their bark still and jeeeebus is it a PITA getting it all off, have been doing a quasi 'shou-sugi-ban' approach over a fire which helps but a tool like that bark-spud is what I need, think it's finally time to get the old backyard-forge going again (would you advise-against making one of aluminum? Just sooo much easier to work w/ aluminum, although admittedly I've yet to make anything that'd get the heavy-duty impacts I'd need to give a bark-spud!) Thanks for posting, very cool vid :D
This was super helpful thanks! I started chopping down trees around my house because I didn’t want to to fall on my house. Found it fun and had a crazy muscle pump. I didn’t want to waste the trees I chopped so I wanted to make bow and things. THANKS FOR THE VIDEO!
I’ve got a 36” thick and 14’ long oak with no branches that I need to get the bark removed from. It’s been sitting for almost a year after cutting it down. Two other beautiful oaks sat for two years and the black carpenter ants got into the bark. Luckily they didn’t get to deep. Made beautiful boards.
Really enjoyed this video. Great information and tool advice! I couldn’t help but notice the size of your “camp axe” - good god she’s a biggun’ ... and sharp too! I was wondering what make and model she is and where can I get one? Looks like a perfect fit for my needs. PS. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the videos and you got yourself another new subscriber! Great stuff.
Bark spuds were heavily used in the late 1800 to early 1900 when they cut down hemlock trees and used the bark for tanning leather...was prevalent here in North central Pa....they cut down just about every tree back then....
Found a good size piece of tree to make an authentic cat tree/scratching post out of, but it was pre-cut and left behind so i have no idea how long it had been there. Bit harder to get the bark off, so this was helpful, thanks.
Yes, that is the way it is designed to be used,but you do need a starter strip to get started. Scoring the length with an axe or hatchet or a chainsaw works well. A sharpened leaf spring works well as a Spud.
no joke i was up in the bush and found a butter knife stood there for a second then decided to start debarking trees with it but it only really worked with small bark but i still managed to debark a 12 foot tall tree around 6 inches in diameter the full length but it worked very well and better then i though did it in around 15 minutes
Draw Knife... Nah! Not me! I have this _BIG_ knife that work just as good and is one tool for many uses. I use it in place of an axe/hatchet, taking branches of tree I'm gonna use, making shaving for starting fire, splitting wood and of course, skin the bark off the tree/branch I want to use. This knife I have is great for all these jobs and limits my tools to carry with me. Along with this _BIG_ knife I have a folding saw and my smaller knife (presently a Morakniv knife for small, simple jobs). I also have an Auger I use in the summer for certain jobs where I like to put pieces together with a peg through holes in them.
I am trying to remember the name of the ax/ hatchet that was flat on one side and had a curved handle so one didn't skin their knuckles while skinning bark.
Any recommendations on a great draw knife for bushcrafting? Self Reliance Outfitters/Pathfinder School, Mora or any others. BlackRaven was the Auger that I was referred to. Silky saws were highly recommended. (Those are two examples off of the top of my head) I was wondering if there was a great manufacturer of draw knives that anyone could point me towards that would be as great of quality as some of the other recommendations I have received. Thanks for any help you can offer!
Can anyone tell me when is the best time to harvest birch bark from a tree felled about a year ago? I know spring is best for harvesting standing birch bark, but if it's been down awhile can I do it anytime?
I guess I expected the axe on the size you used the draw knife on. Around here something that size is usually full of knots. How well does a draw knife handle knot’s?
Thanks for sharing question though is there an name for the axe that you have ,say I want to get one the same what should I say so the other person know the style
Depends on the type of tree, and you would need to let it dry out a bit before you process it down. We normally save the bark shavings to help start fires, its thin and dry and works ok
that bark spud is to much work...can u do that b4 you cut the tree down? I am doing all this for the first time. I am making a deck for my Bell tent that is 20 ft in diameter. Wanted to use the trees I cut down so I can cut the cost of lumber. Like I said I am new at this but do know how to use a chainsaw. Trying to learn as I go. Dont have a man around to help so youtube is my great learning tool. Does someone also know how I can treat the wood against bugs?
I'd like to suggest that one tries using a spade to debark logs. It's amazing. Of course, trees that haven't seen a good flow of sap for a while (i.e. winter) will be difficult to work.
When/how wold you debark an oak stick? If you do it when its freshly cut, it splits everywhere. If you leave the bark on to dry, it doesn't split but it goes very hard. Any ideas?
Don't forget to save all the larger pieces of bark for kindling as well, great multifunctional tools. I'm gonna try to find one of those now !!!
Big plates of bark work great for shelter roofing too.
Holy crap Dan. A 6 year old video of yours that I haven’t seen before. Really well done. Totally serious presentation, not like the goofy stuff you do today. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of it. Keep up the great work.
Your vids are awesome. Short and to the point. I'm learning so much. Thanks so much for making and posting these.
Great info on your channel. I can’t quit watching. I’ve done professional logging, and we would “peel popple” by hand years ago using a bark spud. It was always done in the spring when the sap was running, and the bark would come off in long sections. It often looked like we left the tree in the woods but squeezed the wood out of the bark. We would quit peeling by the 4th of July as the trees “tightened up” ( the sap wasn’t in the outer layers as much). Any trees we cut had to be peeled the same day or they would be tight by the next day. I’ve cut and peeled cedar in the same time frame. Best advice is to try and plan your projects out and if you need larger wood, cut and peel it in the spring. I usually cut and peel a few sticks (8 foot long and 6 inch diameter or bigger for the non loggers) every spring. You are a great instructor and inspiration. I’m hoping we meet in person some day. Todd in Wisconsin
It's also good for firewood. The fatty layer is removed so moisture can dry away easier, which makes a cleaner and more efficient burn, plus you get lots of kindling.
Jezzz son your a big lad and that looked like work! Imagine doing this everyday hundreds of years ago! Fair play mate.
Thank you so much for your videos. I have learned a lot from you and your advice is sound. thank you again.
Ty. I'm just starting off the grid building. And this tutorial was very educational.
I just found your channel and I just can't stop watching, so much great information! Thanks so much for making these videos, hope you keep going for a long time.
Thank you!!
I had a barking spud once the neighbors were complaining about the noise.
Very nice. If you have two spuds, they keep each other company and don't bark so much.
Dad joke!
I had to look at replies to see what others said about your sensitive neighbors. 😂
Thanks for sharing. I have to learn a lot as I plan to get out there soon.
For small sticks you can use the 90 degree spine on your knife and/or machete
Great videos. I only just came across you. Your videos are great. I'm on to my fourth now. They're all great. Keep up the good work.
This Dude looks like he can rip the bark off this high hands. 😆
Cut the tree in the spring when sap is goong up, make it easy to peel the bark off.
Great vid, Dan. Have a stellar Sunday.
good demo. thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us. God bless you.
another great video. Thanks man!
Thanks man. lots of good stuff. will be making me that "cobbler" bench/table. too cool. i use a draw blade, and the only thing i would say? if you start at one side of the blade and while pulling towards yourself slide it and utilized the entire blade. you wont have as much of that center build up of bark as well. thanks again!
First time ever saw the bark spud. I always thought they came with a long handle and a sharp chisel type head. good job
I've also only seen the long-handled version. I don't have one, so I use my long-handled ice-chopper when I'm in a pinch.... it has a pretty similar shape, actually (and it works moderately well)
Get that frickin meow on
Thanks for the information
Thanks for the densely informative video. I think there’s a relatively high chance I get addicted to your channel, binging as much information as possible!
I just got access to an overwhelming amount of tree trimmings. The techniques and tools here will 10x the speed at which I’m moving through it. Less time debarking ... more time building! Thanks man!!
"bark spud" - WOWZERS man you're right, it's a tool I didn't know existed in the 1st place (and I'm a wood/tree nut, arborist/climber/sawyer and bonsai for-fun/as-hobby, trees are all I do :D ), just starting to get into "aesthetic woodwork" (ie not just framing a door/using pressure-treat from H.Depot) as I've built-up a pile of failed-collections that were meant to become bonsai but didn't survive, this means they're inherently good-looking lil trunks from like 3" thick to well over a foot thick, had saved them since they were great but never knew what to do, they're years-dried now and finally decided to make them into single-legged bonsai display-stands, but some have their bark still and jeeeebus is it a PITA getting it all off, have been doing a quasi 'shou-sugi-ban' approach over a fire which helps but a tool like that bark-spud is what I need, think it's finally time to get the old backyard-forge going again (would you advise-against making one of aluminum? Just sooo much easier to work w/ aluminum, although admittedly I've yet to make anything that'd get the heavy-duty impacts I'd need to give a bark-spud!)
Thanks for posting, very cool vid :D
This was super helpful thanks! I started chopping down trees around my house because I didn’t want to to fall on my house. Found it fun and had a crazy muscle pump. I didn’t want to waste the trees I chopped so I wanted to make bow and things. THANKS FOR THE VIDEO!
I’ve got a 36” thick and 14’ long oak with no branches that I need to get the bark removed from. It’s been sitting for almost a year after cutting it down. Two other beautiful oaks sat for two years and the black carpenter ants got into the bark. Luckily they didn’t get to deep. Made beautiful boards.
Really enjoyed this video. Great information and tool advice! I couldn’t help but notice the size of your “camp axe” - good god she’s a biggun’ ... and sharp too! I was wondering what make and model she is and where can I get one? Looks like a perfect fit for my needs.
PS. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the videos and you got yourself another new subscriber! Great stuff.
Bark spuds were heavily used in the late 1800 to early 1900 when they cut down hemlock trees and used the bark for tanning leather...was prevalent here in North central Pa....they cut down just about every tree back then....
Very instructive, thanks for sharing this information.
Very helpful. Thank-you sir.
Found a good size piece of tree to make an authentic cat tree/scratching post out of, but it was pre-cut and left behind so i have no idea how long it had been there. Bit harder to get the bark off, so this was helpful, thanks.
Hard work!!!
Thank you.
The bark spud might work better if you go around the log instead of down the length of it.
Yes, that is the way it is designed to be used,but you do need a starter strip to get started. Scoring the length with an axe or hatchet or a chainsaw works well. A sharpened leaf spring works well as a Spud.
yeah get the bark off when the log is fresh is easier , got that from your video , THANKS
Excellent video
Does taking the bark off have any effect on checking? Thank you for teaching this
Thanks Dan!!! Slamming vid!!!
I think I've seen a drawing knife when I was younger in my grandpa's shed but never knew what it was, and now I want one
Thank You Sir 👍
no joke i was up in the bush and found a butter knife stood there for a second then decided to start debarking trees with it but it only really worked with small bark but i still managed to debark a 12 foot tall tree around 6 inches in diameter the full length but it worked very well and better then i though did it in around 15 minutes
Mason Verger: Sounds like a good Idea.
Draw Knife... Nah! Not me! I have this _BIG_ knife that work just as good and is one tool for many uses. I use it in place of an axe/hatchet, taking branches of tree I'm gonna use, making shaving for starting fire, splitting wood and of course, skin the bark off the tree/branch I want to use. This knife I have is great for all these jobs and limits my tools to carry with me. Along with this _BIG_ knife I have a folding saw and my smaller knife (presently a Morakniv knife for small, simple jobs). I also have an Auger I use in the summer for certain jobs where I like to put pieces together with a peg through holes in them.
Anyone else panic when they saw him slap his hand down on the knife @3:55
I am trying to remember the name of the ax/ hatchet that was flat on one side and had a curved handle so one didn't skin their knuckles while skinning bark.
Any recommendations on a great draw knife for bushcrafting? Self Reliance Outfitters/Pathfinder School, Mora or any others. BlackRaven was the Auger that I was referred to. Silky saws were highly recommended. (Those are two examples off of the top of my head) I was wondering if there was a great manufacturer of draw knives that anyone could point me towards that would be as great of quality as some of the other recommendations I have received. Thanks for any help you can offer!
Wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD. Seek God. Fear God. Repent. Put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
Nice video
Thanks
I learned there was a bark slug. I also learned fuck a a bark slug.
Can you weigh in on pros and cons of curved draw knife vs straight draw knife? Thank you!!
What are the measurements for the bark spud? I’d love to forge a new one. Thanks!
Must all of the bark of? Or can i leave the inner thinest bark?
Jan
Use the bark to tan hides
Can anyone tell me when is the best time to harvest birch bark from a tree felled about a year ago?
I know spring is best for harvesting standing birch bark, but if it's been down awhile can I do it anytime?
I guess I expected the axe on the size you used the draw knife on. Around here something that size is usually full of knots. How well does a draw knife handle knot’s?
Did you give up forging. Seems like a good video to make.
What size draw knife would you recommend? The one you are using in the video appears to be around 10"???
10" to 12" work best and are best for all around utility.
You didn't say anything about the broad axe you can remove bark and square at the same time
Which knife is that that your using?
Thanks for sharing
question though
is there an name for the axe that you have ,say I want to get one the same what should I say so the other person know the style
cking_closure that took me a very very long time to track down. It's a vintage Soviet Union Trappers axe. Not sure the maker of it
Great info! Never heard of a bark spud before... these aren't readily available at hardware stores correct?
AG Survival I never saw them at any hardware stores. More a vintage item
Coalcracker Bushcraft well thanks for the tease then! lol I'll keep an eye out. Seems very useful. Thanks for teaching me something new!
Would that bark that you peeled from the tree be good for tinder?
Depends on the type of tree, and you would need to let it dry out a bit before you process it down. We normally save the bark shavings to help start fires, its thin and dry and works ok
that bark spud is to much work...can u do that b4 you cut the tree down? I am doing all this for the first time. I am making a deck for my Bell tent that is 20 ft in diameter. Wanted to use the trees I cut down so I can cut the cost of lumber. Like I said I am new at this but do know how to use a chainsaw. Trying to learn as I go. Dont have a man around to help so youtube is my great learning tool. Does someone also know how I can treat the wood against bugs?
cheers big man
Removeing the bark should of been Easter were it been laying awhile
I'd like to suggest that one tries using a spade to debark logs. It's amazing.
Of course, trees that haven't seen a good flow of sap for a while (i.e. winter) will be difficult to work.
Looks like the ash borers got that ash tree.
Schnot yes they did. A large majority of ash have that happening. It didn't affect the wood at all. I was making baskets
Is that the bhk tree frog?
Yep. I was doing some R&D for them with it.
When/how wold you debark an oak stick? If you do it when its freshly cut, it splits everywhere. If you leave the bark on to dry, it doesn't split but it goes very hard. Any ideas?
anybody use a hatchet? funny i can not find anybody doing it
Thanks