That's another super idea but a lot of it is caked on, it still contains moisture. If it were bone dry, might work well but in the winter here, we get rains quite often.
This is the Hull-Oakes log pond near me. We still have a few log ponds around. Since you're in Louisiana, perhaps you have access to a pond that's been overlooked? I like everyone else's responses too. Other mills deck logs with sprinkler systems on top, this is partly due to fire but mostly due to keeping the logs from checking. All our west coast mills use a de-barker as well.
I thought of the same Simon. Do you have any Dewalt 20volt tools Yawner? They make a cordless pressure washer. I just checked and $139 bare tool on Amazon. I have their pole saw and weed whacker plus an assortment of carpentry tools too.
Ok Yawner I will give my 2 cents worth I really dislike excavators who think they are loggers I have had the misfortune to clean up after them waaaaay to many times over the years try chipping after one of those knuckleheads !! first suggestion is carbide chain spendy but it will take a lot of mud abuse . 2nd semi chisel is a good option there are different types oregon dura cut in semi chisel works pretty good and no where near as pricy as a carbide #3 is a carbide wheel on a disc grinder to debark the cut line they are @25.00 on amazon #4 If you have the ability to just cut to log length and have a log truck haul to a different site where you have some time you could pressure wash your cut lines it takes a lot of time anyway to do the prep work. I always just used a carbide chain they do not cut real fast but they do hold up but I never had to fireplace length the wood I just log length cut and took it to the yard and dealt with it later after they dried or the bark started to fall off . The best solution was Buzz Bentons !! I like that member I wish I was in his area sometimes if I tried that around here the tree huggers would hang me the last little idea is to smack the excavator operator on the back of the head or borrow his saw to cut the logs just make sure he just put a new chain on first thanks for reading my rant JB
I recently had the same problem. Found some black locust logs in a burn pile. I was close to home so my plan was to take logs home and let Mother Nature take care of the dirt over time. They had been cut 2 summers and in this pile. I got lucky and used a crowbar and the bark just peeled off. I processed it all today.
Did you peel the bark and let it get rained on for a while or just peel it today? Messy stuff for sure. I have a few scores ill be working where ive pulled the bark to let it get washed off.
I don't think anyone has mentioned a bark spud. I find one to be very helpful removing mud where I plan to cut. Wet mud is easier on the chain than dry mud. Try to cut away from the mud. What I mean is if mud is on top of the log instead of cutting down through the log and pulling mud into the kerf ,bore cut and come up slinging the mud away at the top. My bark spud is an antique but they still sell new ones.
buZZsaw BRAD, the Dewalt pressure washer looks even better than the Worx because I think the Worx has 450psi and the Dewalt is 550psi. This idea is growing on me. Only problem with Dewalt is I have no batteries! If it were Milwaukee or Worx, got that! But also the suggestions for ways to remove bark, that is also a good possibility. But an issue is operating in tight quarters... logs piled one atop the other. The above intriguing as they are, I could just cut another day using the scrub brush and hatchet/machete and see how I feel. Also, should buy a semi-chisel chain and see how it cuts and holds up. Because, again, I *could* just buy more chains!
No batteries is kind of a deal breaker. Best of luck with what you decide and let us know how its going.
.404 semi chisel chain is the best I've found on a log deck. Cable skidded dirty logs. Bore cut & keep a few spare chains with you. Sharpen at night for the next day. It's a pita, but that's life cutting on a deck.
Might be issues with that: 404 will need a decently powered saw and his biggins appear to be stihl (see where I'm going with this )
He could use the Husqvarna mother company's Electrolux vacuums to suck the dirt and mud off of the logs.
