Bamboo cores! . . . get the finish off?

[Prarie Bowyer]

Hi,

I have carmelized bamboo cores.

I have made a functioning scarf joint jig..... working nicely.

The bamboo I got has some sort of finish on it.  Should I remove it before working with it?  Can it be sanded off safely or should I hand scrape? 

Should i take a blaeds witdh slice off the piece to remove the finish layer on the band saw?  Or can I send it through the lam grinder?

[Gordon]

If these are cores, they should be sanded to ensure they are perfectly flat anyway.