What is the best way to strip a maple log?
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>>"What is the best way to strip a maple log?
Put a dollar in its g string. Sorry, I couldn't resist. ;-)
How big is this log and what is your end use for it?
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
It's a good time of year for this question. Cut it when the sap is running. Use a draw knife to remove a 3" strip down the length of the log. Take three clean wonder bars if you don't have spuds and work them between the bark and the white wood and work the bark awayby pulling and pushing on two bars to open the bark while moving the third into position for the next bite. I've done this single handed, generally with tulip poplar trees here in NC for log framing, but it is much better to have a helper to work with you especially as you get to the back of the log. Once you have the bark off clean it with a tile sponge and some clean water. Spritz it down with some clorox water in a squirt bottle and set it aside to dry out of contact with the ground.
Ha! Ha!
The log is 18" dia. and 9' high. We are using it for as a an interior column--decorative not structural
Chuck it up on your log lathe!
Start spinning.
Do you want knife marks or not? If not, do as ShelterNerd suggests.
Otherwise, just find an appropriate drawknife and start peeling. I peeled a bunch of fir and cedar for our house. See the attached picture. I used the big drawknife, "KnifeZilla", to bust the fir bark off and the smaller one for cedar and finishing. In your case you can probably get away with just the smaller one.
A power plane is handy for knots and defects.
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”
Edited 4/11/2006 3:28 pm ET by Scott