I got to Berea this year for their bark-pulling day. Anyone who thinks the cost of bark is too high has never spent any time pulling it. I went to sleep the minute I got back to the motel, and got up at midnight for dinner. That is hard work. Folks should be charging double for that stuff.
I have a memory of getting home and sitting on a bucket in the basement for 2-3 hours after the first time harvesting. Content just to sit... I remember thinking that I needed to "train" before doing it again.
I have to process my bark before weaving it, which won't happen until things slow down in the fall. But an alternative to spokeshaving it all struck me: try running it through the drum sander. I've never heard of anyone doing it. Maybe it's an awful idea. But I spend a ton of time drum sanding, and it seems like an experiment on some short pieces couldn't hurt. And probably save a little time, but maybe not. I suppose I'd still have to dampen it a little to make it limber.
I did 3 projects with you at Berea, 2 stools and a chair, with hickory bark seats. The stuff mesmerized me. It was hard to believe this was the stuff that used to protect the trees. I never harvested any but did the hay routine in Michigan. Why was that day always sunny, with no wind? I was in my teens playing football and hockey and could hardly move at the end of the day. My father and grandfather didn't seem to have any aftereffects? Sometimes I can still hear you in the background, one under, two over, two under, one over...no, no start that again
Dale! You're not the only one who hated it when I came around to check the weaving pattern.
Those haying days were always sunny and stifling. It's a good memory. I now understand why they sought out young hands. Hope it's beautiful in Michigan.
Bummer. I've only shaved one shag bark...about 4x's the effort of the smooth to get through the crusty layer. Let me know if you go at it. I'd like to hear how the bark works and looks.
Thanks Morgan. It can be rather peaceful, collecting the bark. But it's not fast and it takes plenty of physical effort. I enjoyed it, the quietness of it, but it's a tiredness I won't forget.
❤️
I got to Berea this year for their bark-pulling day. Anyone who thinks the cost of bark is too high has never spent any time pulling it. I went to sleep the minute I got back to the motel, and got up at midnight for dinner. That is hard work. Folks should be charging double for that stuff.
I have a memory of getting home and sitting on a bucket in the basement for 2-3 hours after the first time harvesting. Content just to sit... I remember thinking that I needed to "train" before doing it again.
Glad you made it to Berea and got into the bark.
I have to process my bark before weaving it, which won't happen until things slow down in the fall. But an alternative to spokeshaving it all struck me: try running it through the drum sander. I've never heard of anyone doing it. Maybe it's an awful idea. But I spend a ton of time drum sanding, and it seems like an experiment on some short pieces couldn't hurt. And probably save a little time, but maybe not. I suppose I'd still have to dampen it a little to make it limber.
I've seen it through a planer. Not a drum sander...not sure if the dampened bark will clog the paper or not. Worth a shot.
I did 3 projects with you at Berea, 2 stools and a chair, with hickory bark seats. The stuff mesmerized me. It was hard to believe this was the stuff that used to protect the trees. I never harvested any but did the hay routine in Michigan. Why was that day always sunny, with no wind? I was in my teens playing football and hockey and could hardly move at the end of the day. My father and grandfather didn't seem to have any aftereffects? Sometimes I can still hear you in the background, one under, two over, two under, one over...no, no start that again
dale knab!
Dale! You're not the only one who hated it when I came around to check the weaving pattern.
Those haying days were always sunny and stifling. It's a good memory. I now understand why they sought out young hands. Hope it's beautiful in Michigan.
I had several shag barks come down in the wind this spring. Wish I had time to harvest
Bummer. I've only shaved one shag bark...about 4x's the effort of the smooth to get through the crusty layer. Let me know if you go at it. I'd like to hear how the bark works and looks.
Thanks for sharing the effort it requires, sounds brutal but I agree it is a perfect seat.
Thanks Morgan. It can be rather peaceful, collecting the bark. But it's not fast and it takes plenty of physical effort. I enjoyed it, the quietness of it, but it's a tiredness I won't forget.
This weekend re-learning the mysteries and simplicity of 7:1 and 8 degree angles for compound angle baskets. :)
Happy fourth to all. Blue Angles will be here later on the Hudson in NYC.
Hi Fred! Good luck this morning. Happy 4th...we're about to head towards the water and some fireworks.