How to use a clapboard slick?

2bitaxe · 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 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

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

Dave Shepard · May 11, 2012, 04:36:52 PM

Clapboard slick. I have one with a D handle.

2bitaxe · 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

Dave Shepard · 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.

2bitaxe · 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.

AMB30518 · 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.