Hickory Cambium removal question

[mutt]

I have a hickory stave which I am roughing out while its seasoning/drying. There is about 1/8" of cambium on the back.
To remove this would I be better off to scrape it with a draw knife or try to draw knife it off the regular way you would remove bark or chase rings? the stave has been cut about 3 months. its on there pretty tight.

[Pat B]

Try to get under the cambium at one tip and see if it will lift off, in pieces or all at once. If it was cut 3 months ago, during the growing season it might just work.
 If it won't peel off use your draw knife gingerly and get what you can without damaging the white hickory below. Then you can either use a curved instrument, like a spoon to get what's left in the valleys. Sometimes re-hydrating somewhat helps.
 You might try laying a damp towel over the cambium first and see if that helps loosen it up some for you.

[gutpile]

I wouldn't use a draw knife.. too easy to lift a splinter or gouge back... I use a scraper if its tough.. never tried dry heat cambium is really thin and may toast it right off... or loosen.. worth a quick try.... that might work ..or wetting like Pat suggested.. but I try to stay away from hydrating hickory where I live...  mine I cut in summer so it usually pops off with bark... a lil doesn't hurt on back either... camo effect... gut

[Pat B]

A little bit of moisture shouldn't go into the wood and if it does, not enough to worry about.

[gutpile]

I agree Pat.. wondering though if dry heat would curl the tips of cambium enough to pull it too... gut

[RyanY]

+1 to Pat’s recommendation. Get as close as you feel comfortable with the draw knife and then switch to a scraper. Bevel down with the draw knife won’t pull up splinters unless you’re recklessly digging into the wood.

[Allyn T]

If you leave it on does it just pop off later?

[gutpile]

the sap is whats got it gripping ... I've left some pieces on before in dips that I couldn't get off... after I sealed bow they have stayed no issues... since the sap is whats holding it... I really would like to hear if dry heat will loosen it... I dont see why not... I have never tried it though but seems logical now I think about it.  ... gut

[Pat B]

Sometimes it will pop off later. I try to get as much off as possible. I don't mind some in the valleys. Gives a good camo effect.

[mutt]

i'll try some dry heat this evening on one of the tips.
If you get a piece starting to pop off and you just grab and pull will it pull up splinters from the back?

[Pat B]

You'll just have to try it and see. I don't know. If it does, it shouldn't hurt anything at the tip.

[gutpile]

sweet.. dont cook it though.. if its going to work just getting it hot too touch will tell the tale.. you dont want to cook the back... gut

[DC]

Something that may be worth a try is an iron and a wet cloth. I have no experience with Hickory but I have noticed with other wood that laying a wet cloth on it and applying a hot iron momentarily loosens the bark. You have to do small areas at a time as the bark glues itself back down pretty quickly.

[Pat B]

That might just be the trick, DC.

[PatM]

You can run the stave through steam to get it to loosen.