How would you get the bark off?

[Bill Lewis]

I've got an oak "stick" that I saved when we cleared our back yard. It was about a 4 or 5 year old sapling that grew up in some dense under brush. Consequently it has vines wrapped around it that contorted it's shape. I thought it has some potential, so that's why I kept it. Unfortunately I never debarked it while it was still green. Does anyone know a way to get the bark off of it now without hurting what lies beneath? The only think I can think of is soaking it to soften the bark.

[Jeff Sudmeier]

The only other way I could think of doing it would be to use a draw knife, but you are going to leave tool marks. (You won't end up with a perfectly round "stick").