HOWs and WHYs of Using a Top Rated Drawknife for Log Peeling

Bark on the wood is sometimes good – if used for a log cabin, it adds to the natural, calming aesthetic and makes the cabin blend in. It also looks good on a piece of furniture in some cases, if it’s built in a rustic style. However, when you want to make different types of furniture, possibly some fences made of wood or even use it for a house, keeping it on is never an option. You need to remove the bark off the wood.  Learn more about the bark here. Peeling the wood with a drawknife is a good option. 

It takes time but it helps the wood look better and lasts a lot longer. 

Why is peeling important? 

When the tree grows, the bark is an important aspect of its existence since it protects it against the weather, whether it’s hot or cold. It also provides a layer of protection against the insects and bacteria and fungi that can harm a tree and hamper its growth. This way, those pests can’t easily destroy the wood that’s underneath. When you cut a branch, on the other hand, this can create problems because it’s no longer necessary as a layer of protection. 

• It can retain moisture – When the tree is growing and the branch that you’ve cut is still attached, the bark retains moisture and this allows the tree to live. It needs that moisture. But, a log cut from the tree no longer needs it. In fact, the moisture trapped inside can cause rot which means that your wood will no longer be as useful for the production of furniture or other things. 
• It allows the insects to hide – When you cut a branch, the insects have a new place to hide. They can enter the bark or space under it. It’s not just that, but the insects can thrive in that environment, creating offspring and harming the wood. For instance, ash borer larvae are famous for hiding under the bark. Here’s a list of insects that could be living in your log: https://sciencing.com/types-bugs-insects-live-wood-6574909.html
• The bark traps dirt – This is a big deal for anyone planning to cut logs into small pieces because the dirt has an impact on the chainsaw and it can wear it down. The dirt contains silica which can make the chain impossible to use. It can make it dull. 

So, as you can see, debarking isn’t just the best thing to do if you want to keep your wood safe and your tools in great shape while you’re at it. 

What you can use

Plenty of tools can be used to debark a log. Some are better suited than others, of course. There are knives and axes, of course, bark spuds and chainsaw peelers but the best one would be the drawknife. 

Knives and axes would work well if the log or a branch is not too thick, otherwise, you may have some issues. A drawknife is bow-shaped and it has two handles and it’s the best tool for debarking some of the most common sizes of logs out there. It’s also good for squaring the surfaces. 

You will have to lay it in a steady space and make sure it doesn’t roll and then you will need to stand or sit on the one end of the log while debarking on the other side. Make sure that the edge is wedged far across from where you’re standing and that you are pulling the knife carefully. Stop a few inches away from your body in order to avoid hurting yourself. You can learn more about the process here. 

Bark spuds are okay to use if you are peeling something large in diameter and you will keep your log on the ground while doing it. Working with this is difficult because you have to turn it often and big logs are heavy and bulky. Of course, it might work better than drawknife simply because it covers more ground. 

With a bark spud, all you have to do is slip the edge under the bark and pull up and away from the wood. 

You can also use chainsaw-powered peelers. However, these are expensive to buy and maintain. 

The best time to remove the bark from your logs is in the spring when the trees are growing and the area under the bark is moist. This means that it’s slippery and easier to peel than it would be during autumn when the wood is dry, or at least it’s a bit drier than it would have been in the spring. 

You should know that draw knives work best in these conditions. Of course, debarking a dry wood is more difficult, but the drawknife is the best here as well. It gives you a lot of stability and it’s by far the easiest too to use. This is why it’s better than most other tools that you can get on the market, especially if you purchase a top-quality one. 

To strip those stubborn, impossibly tricky pieces, you will find that – as some people already have – that the pressure washing machine is a great tool. What it does is the removal of the slippery residue on the wood which makes the wood easier to handle without hiccups and it also removes those parts that have proven too hard to peel with a drawknife. 

Whether you’re a professional or an amateur of any woodworking profession, it will benefit you to debark your wood and to invest in a good drawknife.