How Do You Use A Draw Knife?
A draw knife, or drawknife, is a time-honored tool used mainly to remove bark from logs. Other uses include shaping wood especially for turning on a wood lathe. Learning to use a drawknife isn’t hard, but as with working with any sharp blade, caution and safety should always be forefront in the mind. Secure the log into a shaving horse or in a mounted vice. Position yourself at one end of the log. Put a hand on each handle of the draw knife with the blade facing you. Work the drawknife under the bark at the end of the log. Use quick pulls on the knife to peel back the bark from the wood. Continue to work the knife with even pressure under the bark until you reach the end of the log. Reposition the log if necessary and repeat the process until all bark is removed.
