How to Remove Bark From Firewood
Everyone enjoys sitting by a warm fire on a cold, wintry night while relaxing and enjoying the company of friends and family. However fireplace owners should always follow certain safety precautions. One precaution includes removing the bark from the firewood. Bark has creosote, which can build up in the chimney and cause a chimney fire. Removing bark will also help you avoid insect infestations in firewood. Remove bark with ease by using a bark spud. A bark spud is a long, skinny tool with a flat blade on the end for inserting behind and prying off bark.
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Put on gloves to avoid cuts or splinters. Set the firewood upright on the firewood block to work on it.
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Try to find an area around the edge of the log where the bark is already loose.
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Insert the blade between the bark and the wood. If there are no loose areas, position the blade somewhere on the cambium layer. The cambium layer is the layer of tissue between the bark and the wood. Push down on the tool to cut into the cambium layer and insert the blade.
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Hold the log in one hand and tilt the tool with the other to pry the bark from the wood. The bark may come off all at once, or it may come off in chunks.
Tips
- Leftover bark can be broken up and used for mulch around shrubs and bushes.
Writer Bio
Mason Howard is an artist and writer in Minneapolis. Howard's work has been published in the "Creative Quarterly Journal of Art & Design" and "New American Paintings." He has also written for art exhibition catalogs and publications. Howard's recent writing includes covering popular culture, home improvement, cooking, health and fitness. He received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Minnesota.
Photo Credits
- Flame of a fire and fire wood in fireplace image by Aliaksandr Zabudzko from Fotolia.com
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