I like using bark from trees that have been dead for about a year to make my Birch bark quivers; the bark undergoes a process in that time that bonds the layers together. My supply was starting to get low and there was a good size tree, about 14" at the butt, close to the trail I use for hauling my firewood in the Winter. I could tell from looking at the branches that it had died at least a year ago so I cut it down for my shop
. I examined the bark as I was cutting the tree up into stove lengths and saw that it looked fairly thick so decided to cut a couple longer pieces out of the tree so that I could save the bark. I decided to take some pics as I peeled the logs just to show my process.
Here is one of the logs before peeling.
Next I have made a cut down the length of the log, the log is roughly 30" long, and carefully start to peel the bark back. The bark on dead trees peels easily in early Spring. You can see in the picture that on this tree the bark did not entirely bond together. What was left was in good condition though
Here you can see in these 2 pictures the bark has been peeled back and the 2 peeled logs.
The last thing I do is roll up the bark and tie it off so that it dries and sets in the rolled up shape.
