Throwing staves in shower to loosen up bark...

[toomanyknots]

I remember reading something like this in tbb sometime. I don't remember if it said you should throw them actually "in" the shower where they would directly wet, or just in a steamy bathroom. I was wondering if anybody has any experience doing something like this, as scraping off the bark is just not an option for me with all the pin knots on these mulberry staves I got yesterday...

[Pat B]

First off if it is seasoned bow wood I would not put it in the shower.  Removing bark and sapwood is part of building selfbows. Working around knots and pins is too. For me it is all part of the fun of taking a tree and turning a part of it into a useable tool. The stave has a bow in it and as a bowyer it is up to you to find that bow, pins, knots and all.
  I think the shower deal was for winter cut white wood staves. Even then I wouldn't put it in the shower whether it will release the bark or not. I like well seasoned wood to work with and IMO by putting it back in a moist environment just adds another couple of weeks drying time to it. 

[Pappy]

I'm with Pat on that,I have heard of that also but woundn't think of trying it.
   Pappy

[toomanyknots]

I just cut it yesterday, so I figured I don't have too much to loose. I was reading a thread where someone said they threw some hickory in a bath to soak for 2 hours, kinda scary when ya think about mold and stuff. But on a 56" stave, I counted forty so knots, and then got tired of counting. Cut threw five or six just trying to get the outer bark off, as it's pretty tough and won't come off with a dull butter knife or the like, when I said screw it before I ruined it. I'm used to smooth easy hackberry...

[Del the cat]

Note to self.
Make sure Mrs Cat isn't in there first
Del