taking the bark off maple stave

[tgr]

I have a 72 " maple stave hand split.  I took off the outer bark and sealed the ends with glue.  THere is an inner layer under the bark.  I assume I am taking this off to get to the wood.  Is it easier now and will the stave dry faster with this layer removed? THanks ahead for any response. Tom R

[bryan irwin]

how dry is the stave? i made a elb from maple and after i removed the bark i sanded it off.

[Sidewinder]

I would assume this is the cambium, I have'nt worked with maple but I know most white woods have a cambium and some of that can be left on for character.  Anyone else have a comment, correct me if I'm wrong.   Danny

[JW_Halverson]

If it is still green, SEAL THE BACK OF IT BEFORE READING ANY FURTHER!!

If it is already cured, then go ahead and use a scraper/knifeblade to scrape off the cambium.

[Pat B]

The cambium should be pretty thin. Anything thicker than a sheet of paper is last years growth ring.

[tgr]

It's still green.  I'll leave the back as is.  I started to take this layer off. Seal it with poly. spreads easier. How long to dry?  4" wide 3" thick, 72" long.  I keep it in my basement near a wood burning stove.

[NTProf]

Unless you are not ready to make a bow right now, I would cut it down to bow size, just enough to get some bend in the limbs -  floor tiller, leaving the limbs full width (do not taper to nocks yet); then clamp it to a board and place it by your heater. The last time I did this with maple I went from fresh cut sapling to a bow in 4 1/2 weeks.

[tgr]

I really don't have the time right now.  I also have the other 3/4 of the log to do something with.  I'll seal the ends and leave the bark on those.  Thanks for all the help. TR