I have an Oak log out in the woods that came down in a wind a few weeks ago. I
decided to use it to get me a stump for pounding on in the shop, even tho it
will check like crazy as it dries. 12 inches in diameter so 30 or so inches of
that wet was a sweat getting up the hill. I decided I should debark it and
looked about for a spud-like device. I used a (to me) what's it that is
something like a dogleg chisel. Made by Proto, I suspect it is a break tool of
some sort. I have always passed on barking spuds at the fleas but now wonder if
I might should have one. My tool is about 12 inches long and not more than 1/4
lb. soaking wet so I had to drive it w/ a mallet. So, is a spud any easier? How
do you use one?

Bill

My buddy Mike uses a spud frequently.
There is a modern subculture, bark spud user crowd, in the valley now.
All the young guys want to believe in the bark spud.

  If the log is too big to lift by hand, or you have to work the log 
while its laying on the ground for any reason, bark spuds are the only 
way to go.

   Work the spud in, in a straight line up the log,
and then begin to work it side to side peeling bark whole.

   This works, slowly.
  Its my contention that bark spuds were mostly invented for when you 
want to save the bark. When the bark itself is the desired product.
  As in hickory, birch, or tan oak.
  Hickory could weave baskets and chair seats, birch bark canoes,
and you tan leather in an ooze of tan oak bark and water.

  For smaller poles of any kind, when you want the pole and don't care 
about the bark,
  lift one end into a crossbuck and maybe lift the other end just a bit 
on something else, straddle the log, and take a large drawknife to it.
     This can be learned as a much faster technique.  All us old school 
river people used drawknives to peel our poles.
   Homes and barns were built with poles and drawknives.
Nobody ever approached that much pole volume with a spud.

There was however one guy. The fastest of all of us.
  He used a short blunt end shovel that had been sharpened. All the rest 
of us got to where we could peel pretty long strings of bark with every 
stroke of the drawknife.
     But this guy would launch himself at the pole and the sharpened 
shovel would fly all down the length of the log in one shot, peeling 
bark as it went.
     This was a pretty wild technique though.
The rest of us could go fast enough with a plain drawknife. hehe
         yours Scott

-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.n
et/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcr
est.net/kitty/hpages/index.html



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Hi Bill--

As usual, Scott G pretty much said it all.  I've never tried to peel an oak
log, but we peel hundreds of feet of spruce logs almost every year.  The
spuds I have came from a legendary local galoot, Don Lowe, who made them
from about 3' of 1-1/4" pipe with a piece of leaf spring welded into one
end.  The shape of the spring is a blunt triangle about 4" long, and you
use it like a thumbnail peeling an orange.  To start the job, push the
tooth along lengthwise for several feet, then start working the bark open
like a banana peel.

Note that this all depends on the bark.  Dry bark needs a drawknife, and
other species may do better with a different tool, like the shovel blade
Scott mentioned.  The log building books seem to recommend shovels cut down
to about 2 or 3" wide.

For your one-time, fairly small job, I would probably pick up a nice big
crowbar or a tire iron.

PK

Wranglerstar has a video of making and using a bark spud.

http://youtu.be/YAwYneD6gpw






Sent from Windows Mail





Snip
From: Phil Koontz
 As usual, Scott G pretty much said it all.  I've never tried to peel an oak
log, but we peel hundreds of feet of spruce logs almost every year.  The
spuds I have came from a legendary local galoot, Don Lowe, who made them
from about 3' of 1-1/4" pipe with a piece of leaf spring welded into one
end.  The shape of the spring is a blunt triangle about 4" long, and you
use it like a thumbnail peeling an orange.  To start the job, push the
tooth along lengthwise for several feet, then start working the bark open
like a banana peel.
Unsnip

On Jul 29, 2014, at 12:15 PM, scott grandstaff  wrote:

> My buddy Mike uses a spud frequently.
> There is a modern subculture, bark spud user crowd, in the valley now.
> All the young guys want to believe in the bark spud.
> 
> If the log is too big to lift by hand, or you have to work the log while its
laying on the ground for any reason, bark spuds are the only way to go.
> {SNIP}
> The rest of us could go fast enough with a plain drawknife. hehe

Thanks Scott and Phil. I have always used a drawknife for debarking but never
had to do such a large diameter piece. I did take a crowbar out to the log, but
the smaller chisel like edge seemed to work better. I have more log, so will
have more time to practice the crowbar and shovel.

Bill

Scott has said about what can be said on the topic.  Just a couple of
additions and comments.

A spud would be better than what you are using.  Mine's about two feet
long and the end of the wooden handle is swelled into a pad almost as
big as a brace.  You can put your shoulder into one of these.

>  Its my contention that bark spuds were mostly invented for when you
> want to save the bark. When the bark itself is the desired product.

Yep.  In California mostly for barking oak trees for the tannin --
like Scott said, for tanning leather.

Lot's of folks use draw knives.  But the Russians (who, in case nobody
knew it, make log cabins, log lodges, log churches...) use a scorp.  
It's
about like planing with a scrub plane.

Mike in Sacto

IDK...if it is sawn into lengths and is up off the ground....then the
necessity of "stripping" a log is less, well, necessary.  Anyhow the Ozarks
is prone to every wood chewing critter that exists.  I have seen stumps
used as anvil mounts, hewing benches etc...  many of which had the bark on.
 My .02....

I've used an assortment of tools successfully on more than a few very 
large trees I've taken down. I use  hand axes, a long handled steel bar 
with a flat 3" wide chisel tip and a wrecking bar.   Never actually had 
a tool designed for the job.  Once  I get anything under the bark it 
comes off in great sheets quite easily.

Sounds like a job for an ice chopper!

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/yardworks-ice-chopper-
0596943p.html#.U9h00aMqfao">http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/yardworks-ice-
chopper-0596943p.html#.U9h00aMqfao

Don, enjoying the heat


On 7/29/2014 8:14 PM, Cliff Rohrabacher, Esq wrote:
> I've used an assortment of tools successfully on more than a few very 
> large trees I've taken down. I use  hand axes, a long handled steel 
> bar with a flat 3" wide chisel tip and a wrecking bar. Never actually 
> had a tool designed for the job.  Once  I get anything under the bark 
> it comes off in great sheets quite easily.

> Sounds like a job for an ice chopper!

I was going to demure about the ice chopper, but a search of images for 
barking spud showed several
that look quite similar, even ones that are as wide as this.

My own is one of these:

http://www.popscreen.com/p/MTA0NjUxMDg3/HAND-FORGED-IRON-BARK-SPUD-
LUMBER-WOOD-LOGGING-TOOL-BARKING-LOG-">http://www.popscreen.com/p/MTA0NjUxMDg3
/HAND-FORGED-IRON-BARK-SPUD-LUMBER-WOOD-LOGGING-TOOL-BARKING-LOG-

This one, and one other of this particular shape, are described as "hand 
forged," but that is very
doubtful.  The exact style, shape, and size was mass produced by L & IJ 
White.  Hand forged spuds
illustrated in Sloane are roughly the same size, but don't have the 
asymmetrical head.

Personally, I don't like the sharp corners of the ice chopper and the 
spuds that look like it. The
round end like mine or at least the rounded corners of other examples 
will slide under the bark a
good deal better.

There's a decently priced spud at:

http://peaveymfg.com/products-logging-tools-bark-
spud">http://peaveymfg.com/products-logging-tools-bark-spud

Mike in Sacto

Now that people have weighed in on how and how not to use a barking spud, when
and if, I am succumbing to my nature and responding:

I have never heard a potato bark. Hiss, yes, when cooking, but bark, no.

Gary
...............................
Gary Roberts
http://toolemera.com
http://toolemerabooks.com

"I'ld rather read a good book, than write a poor one." Christopher Morley




On Jul 29, 2014, at 10:26 AM, William Ghio  wrote:

> I have an Oak log out in the woods that came down in a wind a few weeks ago. I
decided to use it to get me a stump for pounding on in the shop, even tho it
will check like crazy as it dries. 12 inches in diameter so 30 or so inches of
that wet was a sweat getting up the hill. I decided I should debark it and
looked about for a spud-like device. I used a (to me) what's it that is
something like a dogleg chisel. Made by Proto, I suspect it is a break tool of
some sort. I have always passed on barking spuds at the fleas but now wonder if
I might should have one. My tool is about 12 inches long and not more than 1/4
lb. soaking wet so I had to drive it w/ a mallet. So, is a spud any easier? How
do you use one?
> 
> Bill

On 7/30/2014 7:52 PM, Gary Roberts wrote:
> Now that people have weighed in on how and how not to use a barking spud, when
and if, I am succumbing to my nature and responding:
>
> I have never heard a potato bark. Hiss, yes, when cooking, but bark, no.

Wel, if you can say that, I can ask the question that's been bothering 
me. Why is it not called a debarking spud?

Had to ask. Couldn't be helped.
Don

On Wed, 30 Jul 2014 21:52:23 -0400
 Gary Roberts  wrote:
> Now that people have weighed in on how and how not to use
> a barking spud, when and if, I am succumbing to my nature
> and responding:
> 
> I have never heard a potato bark. Hiss, yes, when
> cooking, but bark, no.
> 
> Gary


I have never heard a potato bark either, but I heard one
sing "I only have eyes for you".

Ed Minch
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What?
Your spuds don't bark when you use them?
I mean a little whimper or moan, sure
   But they are also supposed to sit up and bark when you use them right!

   Do you need me to get you a book? :)
      yours Scott


-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.n
et/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcr
est.net/kitty/hpages/index.html



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There are two types, the barking spud and the debarking spud. Unfortunately, the
debarking spud invariably leaves before any work can be done. This would explain
why they are so rare and typically forgotten when discussing the removal of bark
from trees.

Gary
...............................
Gary Roberts
http://toolemera.com
http://toolemerabooks.com

"I'ld rather read a good book, than write a poor one." Christopher Morley




On Jul 31, 2014, at 1:34 AM, Don Schwartz  wrote:

> 
> On 7/30/2014 7:52 PM, Gary Roberts wrote:
>> Now that people have weighed in on how and how not to use a barking spud,
when and if, I am succumbing to my nature and responding:
>> 
>> I have never heard a potato bark. Hiss, yes, when cooking, but bark, no.
> 
> Wel, if you can say that, I can ask the question that's been bothering me. Why
is it not called a debarking spud?
> 
> Had to ask. Couldn't be helped.
> Don
>

as well, the barking spud tends to make a lot more noise, and so gets much more
notice.

bill
felton, ca

On Aug 1, 2014, at 3:26 PM, Gary Roberts  wrote:

> There are two types, the barking spud and the debarking spud. Unfortunately,
the debarking spud invariably leaves before any work can be done. This would
explain why they are so rare and typically forgotten when discussing the removal
of bark from trees.

I love this list.

Barking spud   a Friggin hunk of iron on the end of a short  pole and so 
much interest.   Barking spud.
  Love it


On 7/29/2014 10:26 AM, William Ghio wrote:
> I have an Oak log out in the woods that came down in a wind a few weeks ago. I
decided to use it to get me a stump for pounding on in the shop, even tho it
will check like crazy as it dries. 12 inches in diameter so 30 or so inches of
that wet was a sweat getting up the hill. I decided I should debark it and
looked about for a spud-like device. I used a (to me) what's it that is
something like a dogleg chisel. Made by Proto, I suspect it is a break tool of
some sort. I have always passed on barking spuds at the fleas but now wonder if
I might should have one. My tool is about 12 inches long and not more than 1/4
lb. soaking wet so I had to drive it w/ a mallet. So, is a spud any easier? How
do you use one?
>
> Bill
>
>
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