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De-Barking Logs
Question
Forum Responses
Our only consolation is that we usually have extra hands and hatchets around the mill. We only use the Log Wizard when more than ~1/4 of the log needs cleaning. Try to find a place away from the mill to do your pressure washing.
From contributor V: I bought a Log Wizard about 6 months ago and I love it! I can debark a 24" x 8' log completely covered in mud in about five minutes. That's a worst case scenario. I have used it on two saws. First on a Husqvarna 353 (an in between of the 350 and the 455 rancher - I think something like 3 hp). It's a small saw and it did a great job. The saw's clutch went (it was old, not because of the debarker) and I got it fixed, but in the mean time I hooked the Log Wizard up to a second saw - a 394 - for giggles! The dam thing flies with 8 hp! It actually works best, as said before, with the knives fully exposed, and not on full throttle. On full throttle, the blades move so fast that they skip over the wood and don't even have enough of a chance to cut. On about half throttle with a 394, the LW has enough hp to not slow down one bit and take the perfect cut. Another big note: On both saws I have ruined about five bar sprockets. I have found the best way to run the Log Wizard debarkers is to cut off the sprocket, and use a Sawsall (a metal cutting blade is close enough of a kerf to work perfectly) to round off the inside of the rail so that the chain runs smoothly. The original bar sprocket is not needed to run the debarker. The way that the sprocket is left exposed as it skips over to the debarker's sprocket, makes it so easy to drag chips into the bar's sprocket, and make it seize up. This is a hazard, and the Log Wizard company should really either make a bar designed for this, or let you know that you are going to have to modify a bar, more than just drilling two holes.
From contributor V: Also, I have found that the blades stay sharp enough to last a few days of heavy use. When it dulls, or has small chips from rocks and such, I just use a die grinder to touch it up while the blades are still bolted in place. This obviously isn't a surface planer, so the accuracy of the grind on the blades doesn't matter enough that you are going to notice. Also, if you are going to use the debarker to debark a finished product, either grind off the teeth on the chain so that they won't cut around the tip area, or order a cutterless chain from Baileys. If you do cut off a sprocket to fit the debarker, use the size chain made for that bar, not a chain 2" oversized like Log Wizard recommends for leaving the sprocket on. Would you like to add information to this article? Interested in writing or submitting an article? Have a question about this article? Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below? 
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