Replies

1. 
   roc | May 11, 2011 12:17am | #1

   Well. . . there are no machines involved . . . technically

    Enlist a team of these guys to do the work for you .  They even haul off the waste !

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE1_pkXxXOQ

   http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061224180202AA60GZI

1. 
   RalphBarker | May 11, 2011 10:28am | #2

   birds

   But, don't they leave beak marks?  ;-)

1. 
   roc | May 11, 2011 09:29pm | #3

   Beak Marks ? Depends

   If you are lucky and get some guys with bevel up beaks then there will be almost no tear out.

   One thing though . . . you gotta' watch them like a hawk . . . especially around lunch time.   If they get to playing around with the sharpening stones and arguing about beak sharpening methods . . .  well . . . they can forget all about the bark stripping and piss away the rest of the afternoon.

1. 
   RalphBarker | May 11, 2011 09:57pm | #4

   bevel up beaks - LOL

1. 
   nathan51 | May 12, 2011 11:58am | #5

   You guys have been so helpful.... I really mean that.... I hope you're all self employed... if this is the kind of answer you give when asked a question.... I mean honestly.... Birds and bevel up beaks?  So I'll take that as a no... bring on the experimenting, I'll let you know what I find out, any suggestions on what to play with?  Thinking about starting with caustic soda or soda ash...

2. 
   user-64052 | May 12, 2011 12:56pm | #6

   sometimes

   one has to turn to manual labour as the means to do  somethings. peel it off. steam may be an alturnative way of doing it.. you may be able to boil it off.

   ron

2. 
   DonStephan | May 12, 2011 08:49pm | #7

   Nathan:

   Can't imagine anything would dissolve the bark and not the interior wood as well.  I think in spring as the cambium is growing new cells there is poor attachment between the bark and interior wood so you could try stripping by hand. 

3. 
   roc | May 12, 2011 11:03pm | #8

   Hey You Are Welcome

   > I hope you are all self employed<

   Ha Ha Ha Ha, aaaaaah  Ha Ha Ha Ha

   No; being serious for a moment I think you are entering into the realm of magic here. You want woody stuff that is wrapped around other structurally very delicate woody stuff ( by the hand of the ultimate woodworker, GOD no less ), to just disappear and leave only the particular woody stuff bits that you happen to like.

   Do you hear what you are asking?

   Nah dude nah.

   I can not think of anything that will facilitate that outcome. Though I will stay tuned with abated breath.

   PS:  Oh wait I found something

   http://www.alivans.com/choose-your-wand.htm

   and ummm this . . .

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spells_in_Harry_Potter

   There we go.

4. 
   swenson | May 13, 2011 12:52am | #9

   Some thoughts

   How about a power washer, the kind you use on decks?  I know that when the pressure is dialed up too high, or the wand is held too close or for too long, you can strip the wood right off the surface of an old deck.  If you have lots of alder to play with give it a try.  Sand blasting might do it too.  Not too sure why the bark must come off.  If you let it dry it might look nice as is.  How about burning with a mapp gas flame?  Soaking in lye?  Warning... I'm just brainstorming here, I don't know what I'm talking about as usual but these ideas might get you thinking.  Good luck.

   Add edit:  Just thought of a paint peeling heat gun to add to the above.

1. 
   nathan51 | May 13, 2011 01:10am | #10

   Yeah I know I was hoping for the impossible, just get these crazy ideas in my head then try to start figuring out a way to make em happen... Sometimes they work, sometimes I get laughed at... Thats why I take my sense of humor wherever I go.... I've got plenty of scrub alder at my disposal so I think I'll still play around with it a bit just to see "what happens"... Sand blasting and pressure washing are definitely on the list of "to try". Whats mapp gas? That sounds fun...

1. 
   swenson | May 13, 2011 06:37am | #11

   Mapp gas is just a hotter gas than propane or butane gas and is used with a BernzOmatic screw on torch. I just said Mapp because that is what I use but a cooler gas might be even better. I have used a 2 part wood bleach to get a neat effect on hollow forms turned on a lathe, that might be worth a try for a sun bleached look on the bark, though I don't think it would take the bark off. Since I'm not too sure what you are going for in the way of the look of the piece, I'm not too sure what alternatives you might consider.

   Since you are new to the forum I've got to tell you that the answers you got from roc were just because he hasn't figured out an answer yet. He has great advice in most cases, especially about sharpening and hand tools.

   I was just thinking that fast running water such as a stream or waterfall might do the trick if you had the time to submerge a branch and leave it for a while 'till the water did the work for you. Or spray the bark with sugar water and let loose some sweet toothed ants. How about compressed air after softening the bark in water? How about an herbicide like RoundUp sprayed on the bark while the branch is alive?