How to remove thick skin without damaging wood surface or skin?

by David
(Thetis Island)

I have some pieces from the milling of an old arbutus tree. They show woodpecker activity, where the skin grew into the holes, making regularly spaced wood warts in rows. The skin is at least a quarter inch thick. I would like to soften the skin to peel it off, preserving the holes and the smooth underside, and I would like to preserve the wood warts. I hope to inset the result into a cabinet or box, showing the positive-negative of the wood and the skin side by side. Do you know if this is possible, and, if so, how to do it?

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Ron here...

Gee, no idea. But try a small piece and experiment. If it works you then know and if not try again.