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General Forestry => Timber Framing/Log construction => Topic started by: 2bitaxe on May 11, 2012, 01:50:32 PM

Title: How to use a clapboard slick?
Post by: 2bitaxe on May 11, 2012, 01:50:32 PM
Hey guys,

I picked up this "barking spud" a few weeks ago at a flea market and thought I'd get some feedback from people with more tool knowledge than myself.  Here are some pics:

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The stamp is from the DR Barton & C. Guild partnership that I read about on the Davistown Museum website here: http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioBarton.html (http://www.davistownmuseum.org/bioBarton.html)  The partnership only lasted a year, formed in 1837 and destroyed in November 1837.  I learned that here: http://www.ablastfromthepastandmore.com/molding/drbarton.asp (http://www.ablastfromthepastandmore.com/molding/drbarton.asp)

So, my question... is this a tool for debarking logs, or is it some kind of slick?  It seems like all the barking spuds are more spoon shaped, or more curved... So, what's your opinion?  Spud or Slick?  Any help would be greatly appreciated!   

Thanks,
Tom
Title: Re: DR Barton barking spud or slick?
Post by: Dave Shepard on May 11, 2012, 04:36:52 PM
Clapboard slick. I have one with a D handle.
Title: Re: DR Barton barking spud or slick?
Post by: 2bitaxe on May 11, 2012, 04:52:30 PM
Dave,

Thank you!  I didn't even know what to search in google!  Clapboard Slick... never heard of such a tool.  Any clue how it was used? 

I read this online: A clapboard is a light slick used for making clapboards. This tool is intended for splitting rather than cutting and therefore does not have a keen cutting edge.

I'm a little bummed.  I was hoping to use this as a regular old pairing slick since I don't have one.  Sounds like you don't sharpen these up to a razor sharp edge like you would a regular framing slick.  Hmm...

Tom
Title: Re: DR Barton barking spud or slick?
Post by: Dave Shepard on May 11, 2012, 05:04:25 PM
The body of mine looks just like a regular slick, and has been sharpened as such. A little unwieldy with the D handle. I don't use it, just thought it was neat. If it is laminated or cast steel, it should hold an edge.
Title: Re: DR Barton barking spud or slick?
Post by: 2bitaxe on May 12, 2012, 09:40:39 AM
I found this nugget of info on Christopher Swingley's website:  Early clapboard slick; used to chamfer the ends of individual clapboards so that they could form a scarf, instead of butting against each other, for better weathering.

I saw Jack Sobon show an example of this in his book but he was using a jig to hold the clapboard and an adz to make the chamfer. Apparently this tool does the same thing. I wish I could find more info on the technique. It seems like there is very little information online about this tool and how it's used.
Title: Re: How to use a clapboard slick?
Post by: AMB30518 on May 14, 2012, 10:16:21 PM
Seems MoonHillFarms uploaded a youtube video today doing some clapboard scarf work on siding. He was using an adze and looks to be pretty handy with it too.
Title: Re: How to use a clapboard slick?
Post by: Dave Shepard on May 15, 2012, 08:28:29 AM
Tim is pretty handy with any of the old tools. I'll have to check out the upload.
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