Seperating birch bark
Hi, I have recently found some nice birch trees for a source of bark to cover my bows.
The bark is coming off with the cambium intact no problems now that spring is here.
My problem is trying to split it down into thin 'sheets'. I can get a small section split off but then when I try to carry the split on into the rest of the sheet the layers keep sticking together. I have tried everything I can think off but no joy. So instead of ruining all my bark I thought i'd ask if there is a particular way of seperating the bark.
Any ideas?
The bark is coming off with the cambium intact no problems now that spring is here.
My problem is trying to split it down into thin 'sheets'. I can get a small section split off but then when I try to carry the split on into the rest of the sheet the layers keep sticking together. I have tried everything I can think off but no joy. So instead of ruining all my bark I thought i'd ask if there is a particular way of seperating the bark.
Any ideas?
It really is better to just select a tree that is naturally peeling its outer layers into the ideal thickness. Are there no trees like that? Here it is pretty easy to find larger trees that are naturally shedding their skin as they get too big for it.
I always look for the trees that have very smooth bark with lenticels that are not prominent since they kind of "button" the layers together and make the layers harder to separate.
Some trees hardly have those at all and others are covered in them.
Can you post a picture of what you are dealing with?
I always look for the trees that have very smooth bark with lenticels that are not prominent since they kind of "button" the layers together and make the layers harder to separate.
Some trees hardly have those at all and others are covered in them.
Can you post a picture of what you are dealing with?
birch bark strongly varies between species.
paper birch is the original material IMHO.
http://www.eattheweeds.com/wp-content/u ... fera81.jpg
paper birch is the original material IMHO.
http://www.eattheweeds.com/wp-content/u ... fera81.jpg
