Bark removal prior to removing. Big deal? Little deal? No deal?

[Roy Beauchamp]

Ok folks, I've got an big oak that a storm just took down in my neighborhood that i want to push my alaskan sawmill through this weekend. Give me the "come to Jesus" talk about debarking prior to milling.
Is it just to keep the chain from dulling as fast? Are there dangers? Does it matter? Best tool for removal?
I want to know what you know
thanks!

[Upper]

When I prayed about it all I heard in a deep voice was (Don't worry about it).

[nativewolf]

Ok folks, I've got an big oak that a storm just took down in my neighborhood that i want to push my alaskan sawmill through this weekend. Give me the "come to Jesus" talk about debarking prior to milling.
Is it just to keep the chain from dulling as fast? Are there dangers? Does it matter? Best tool for removal?
I want to know what you know
thanks!

Neighborhood as in lots of homes around? Then I'd be more worried about metal than bark if it was my mill. I'd get (borrow), a metal detector from someone or ask them to come over and practice on the tree.  Bark is more an issue if the tree was dragged through the dirt.  If not dragging than it should be fairly clean. 

[Dave Shepard]

I would only worry about it if there is a lot of dirt or rocks in the bark. A bark spud would probably be tough going in oak bark. If you were worried about it, you could chop just enough bark away to make a path for the chain.