Caber finishing?

[michaelmckenna]

I'm getting around this next week or two to finish the logs in my yard; I'd like to take three of them and turn them into useable cabers. I have one I know will work, I have some that are bigger; I'll see if I can turn them eventually. Anyway, how do I do this (aside from stripping the bark)?

I figure I square the top off with the chainsaw, then use a hatchet and round it off a bit. Do I also square the bottom?

Any other pointers?

[Rich McClain]

Square the top off and just leave it should be good. You may also want to leave the bark on most of it depending on weight. Taking off the bark can shorten the life, make the caber to light and may lead to it splitting. For the bottom, depending on the bark (to rough can scratch your neck and shoulder) you may want to strip off the last 3 - 4 ft, square the end and file down the rough edges so you don't hurt your hands. Just my two cents.

[Malcolm Doying]

You want the top square so that it will dig it and not skip across the ground. Seal both the ends to reduce splitting.
Old Celt

[michaelmckenna]

Thank you gentlemen. I was away for a few days at a conference, and this will now have to wait until after the rains are gone.