I know the professionals preferred trusted chainsaw brands like Stihl and Echo. Another great beginner project that is also practical is the log chair which only requires a few simple cuts. I was surprised how difficult it was for me to make the leap and to actually perform that first cut into the wood. To avoid tipping or moving of smaller carvings during carving, you can anchor the log to something to keep it in place. Give it a try! I print off a couple photos to look at throughout the carving process. Depending on where you live, wood logs may be plentiful or they may be difficult to obtain. https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/popwood_logos-01.png, https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/image1-e1597950930358.jpeg, 2020 Active Interest Media. While volunteering as a scoutmaster for my sons troop, I was introduced to woodcarving. However, this does not impact our recommendations. Before even firing up the chainsaw for the first time, I read the manual (yes, the entire thing), took the chainsaw apart, put it back together, and just became familiar with the ins and outs of its operation. If you are able to, steel-toed boots are recommended. Once you have all your materials prepared and your personal protective equipment in place, you can get to work on creating an elegant owl sculpture to practice carving with your chainsaw. As needed, this may include an Epsom salt bath soak to ease sore muscles, icing overused joints, anti-inflammatory medication, and deciding to take several days off to allow recovery. // Leaf Group, Chisel Me Timbers: How To Chainsaw Carve a Bear, tree trunk carving image by Warren Millar from, tree trunk carving image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com. No matter how it looks in the end, there will be someone out there that thinks what youre doing is pretty darn SAWsome. But for some reason, I could not stop perseverating over and over again in my head that I was forgetting something. When working with larger, heavier pieces, theyre not likely to move with the pressure of the saw, so anchoring may not be needed during the carving process. Content in this article is only schematic and not appropriate for the purposes of acting as a design guide nor does it provide any form of advice related to strength and endurance. The best way to learn is to get in there and try. Performance and usability meet safety and environmental care in our leading-edge innovations, where battery solutions and robotics lead the way. In addition, working on a piece of wood that may be unstable or tip over as you are cutting is unsafe. The mushroom is a great first project because it is fairly simple with symmetrical lines and the finished project can be quite beautiful. On the other end of the spectrum, the phrase go big or go home could also lead you down an intimidating path of more work than youre ready for. I ordered a chainsaw, chainsaw bar and chain oil, and a pair chainsaw chaps (protection for your legs). Mason Howard is an artist and writer in Minneapolis. This is how I got started: Learning and practicing chainsaw safety is a lot easier than learning how to care for a chainsaw inflicted wound to the leg or hand. The content in this article is provided by Husqvarna for your personal information and inspiration only. With a carving chainsaw you can do a great job of bringing out the specific anatomical features of an owls face. I found a chainsaw artist not too far away and was able to speak to her. My name is James and I love to build and create wood art in my garage. Make plunge cuts to make narrow grooves, like the space between legs, for example. Now its time to start carving with the chainsaw.
So when I got home from that road trip vacation I watched just about every YouTube video on chainsaw carving that I could find. While a healthy dose of fear and respect is needed when operating such a powerful tool, the chainsaw is a tool of more than just destruction. Do not cut down a living tree for your sculpture. 
Ive worked through the kinks, found my groove, and techniques that works for me. Work slowly and stand back to check your carving work at regular intervals its easier to judge proportions from further away. Less is more at this stage! And by all means, stop when tired or hurting. Therefore, I cant emphasize enough the importance of safety. Put in ear plugs. You will also need protection for your ears in the form of disposable ear plugs, noise cancelling earphones or headphones, or full-on hearing protection earmuffs. In experienced hands, large pieces of wood can be transformed into beautiful creations in a matter of days. The risk for injury was intimidating, so I soaked up as much info to start to feel comfortable with the idea. The most vital tool to maintain for a carver is their own body.
Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Start from the top and work your way down, making general, blocky cuts. And treat every tool like it could hurt you. This site is for woodworking hobbyists looking for inspiration. chainsaw moose carving wood One solution to those working in conditions where noise is a concern is the electric chainsaw. Another benefit to the electric chainsaw is if you have a good power source and extension cord, you wont have to worry about keeping gasoline on hand, making trips to the gas station, and mixing fuel. While some carvers may have the stamina to bang out a whole carving in a single session or carve for full 8-hour days, I dont think its reasonable to expect that high-level performance from every carver, especially beginners. In addition, there is the hassle of dealing with an extension cord. So far all of my wood has come from tree cutting projects that I have driven by and asked if I could have some of the wood. I love this thing so much I will be making a separate post just for this handy device. Im a man of many hobbies, many of which I learned simply from researching the internet and watching YouTube videos. Get yourself a nice fire pit for all your mistakes, learn from your mistakes, enjoy the fruits of your errors, and roast a marshmallow. For this reason, I returned the chainsaw and I can not recommend a battery powered chainsaw for anything other than light duty work cutting branches. You will not cut below this line. Draw/spray paint the grid markings onto the intended piece of wood, then the general outline from the front, referring to the scale drawing. Therefore it is important to have a way to elevate and stabilize your wood appropriately for when you are carving. If Tesla made a battery powered chainsaw, I would be all over it. Go back to the top and start making more refined cuts to start to round out the blocky form. I also researched the internet, searching discussion boards, and learning everything I could about chainsaw carving equipment and safety. Heres a tip for when youre preparing to carve out the wings: the owls two wings together form a heart shape. My first carving attempt was on a little 2 ft log and I found it so hard to maneuver the saw around the small-sized carving and couldnt get the detail Id hoped for. Use the end of the chain saw to shave wood and refine things like ears or the jaw and neck area. And that is how it all started. One of the great benefits of the electric chainsaw is that they have fewer moving parts then a gas-powered motor and therefore require less maintenance.. A helmet and face guard are recommended to protect your face in case of kick back. We have all admired the roadside chainsaw sculpture stands and have maybe even been lucky enough to see a demonstration. STIHL pro tip: stop frequently to remove the wood chips you create. Always wear personal protective equipment when working with a chainsaw! Simple Woodworking Projects, Keep Your Fixtures Safe With the Help of the Best Stud Finders, Keep Everything Hanging Tight With the Best Hollow Wall Anchors, Allow Your Decor to Hang in There With the Best Masonry Anchors, Smoothen Rough Wooden Surfaces With the Best Belt Sander, Bid Goodbye To Manual Hammering and Nailing With the Best Finish Nailer, Rip Nails, Demolish, and Deconstruct Structures With the Best Wrecking Bars, Be Prepared for Anything With the Best Multi Tools, Cut Through Metal With the Best Cold Chisels, Paint Creatively on Your Walls With the Best Masking Tapes for Painting, Transform Your Garage Into a Cozy Workshop With the Best Garage Heaters, 40 Years in the Making: A Timeline of Popular Woodworking. You need to be certain it will not roll away or move as you use your chainsaw to carve it.
This is determined by where the two initial leaning cuts meet. First use your chalk to draw a vertical line marking the centre of your owls face, and remove wood in a V shape on both sides of the line. I think of the Chainsaw as the tool I was looking for many years ago to help me complete my woodworking art projects in a quicker and more efficient manner. A happy medium, in my opinion, is a 3-4 ft piece of wood for a starting size. So carve safe! This sets the thickness of the legs. Every time, folks are more than willing to part with their wood. My scale drawings usually include 1-foot markings on the height of the carving, and a center line down the middle. He has also written for art exhibition catalogs and publications. In addition, mushrooms come in all shapes and sizes so think about the type of mushroom you would like to carve and go for it. One of the great things about chainsaw carving is that you get to work outdoors. While driving home one day I saw a home that had recently cut down a pine tree. If Im doing extra dusty work, Ill add a face mask/respirator to keep the sawdust out of my lungs. The lower shelf is made by two simple cuts from the side, determining the shelf depth, and one final incision to remove the inside part. Bears are the most popular searched for chainsaw carving term on Google, followed by eagles. Cut straight down on all sides in order to clear the bark off the legs. Complete the blocking out process with chainsaw by rounding off corners and removing as much bulk as feasible with chainsaw. Along with the scouts, I carved out a fish with a pocket knife. There you have it, a quick and easy way to have your piece of wood stabilized and elevated so that you can work safely without having to strain your back.
Leave it for a few days after applying the wax. How to Peel the Bark From a Diamond Willow Branch, How to Make a Wood Slab From a Tree Trunk, Copyright 2022 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Lifestyle, All Rights Reserved. My favorite tool for this purpose is called the Jawhorse Adjustable Sawhorse by Rockwell. I did my research which led me to purchasing a Dremel. The learning curve was steep. The interest in woodcarving began about a year prior to that, while looking for ideas on homemade Christmas gifts. Save up to 64% and get a free gift. ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG, D-71336 Waiblingen. Make the corresponding cuts at a 90 degree angle compared to the first ones. Work from top to bottom: start by carving out a head for your wooden owl and form it into a rounded shape with your chainsaw. He received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Minnesota. I already had a 100-foot extension cord but I made sure to purchase some high-quality Bar Oil. Not sure what type of wood is best for chainsaw carving? Now its time to cut. The final cut: Lay the chair down on the side and cut straight in, aim precisely for the previous cut and you are done! Chainsaw carving is inherently dangerous and its in a carvers best interest to acknowledge the risk and respect the tools. Within the fabric of the apron are Kevlar strands which bind up and stop your chainsaw before it gets the chance to really dig into your leg. Just getting comfortable with the chainsaw and learning control is enough of a challenge at the beginning. With gas chainsaws you dont have to worry cords or batteries. That was it. Think of carving like an intense workout at the gym. It is not intended to be used as a guide for manufacturing processes or other commercial purposes. The chainsaw has a raw power and flexibility that makes it so versatile and so efficient. Once you get your hands on some wood, take the time to remove the bark from the wood. Anchoring methods Ive used include attaching a wide piece of plywood screwed into the bottom center of the log to provide a wider base, or clamping it in a wood bench vise. But to my dismay, the batteries would last no longer than 5 minutes, some batteries only lasting 2 minutes! The Japanese have used a technique called shou sugi ban () which is essentially burning the wood to waterproof and to protect the wood from the elements and from insects. When thinking about chainsaw safety gear, start from the head and go down to the toes. The other great thing about chainsaw carving is the actual production of the art piece can also be considered a form of entertainment. As a beginner just getting into the art of chainsaw carving, the best type of wood to use is the easiest wood you can get your hands on. As long as you have the correct mixture of gasoline nearby, you are good to go. Just search for wood or logs and youll be surprised at what youll find in your area. Bending down to carve on this piece of wood as it rests on the floor will be hard on your back. This is best achieved by starting your carving from the middle of the heart (or back of the owl) and working outward. Its almost like an apron for your legs.
After watching a few YouTube videos and power-carving groups on Facebook, I decided to start small with a rotary tool. Use light movements to guide your chainsaw along the marked lines and carve away all the corners and edges this approach will give your wooden figure an appealing, natural shape. After burning the wood you can use a wire brush to achieve the desired final effect. Here are a few tips that I learned from bumbling my way through beginning chainsaw carving. Fueled by passion for innovation since 1689, Husqvarna provides professional forest, park and garden products. Fully review your saws manual and have an expert give you a lesson if you have never used a chainsaw. To ensure your chainsaw art is protected from the elements, we recommend the following after-treatment: To carve an owl out of wood, start by stripping the bark and sapwood so your owl is made from the strongest part of the trunk. But as a beginner, for your first project I recommend something very simple and foolproof like a mushroom. Make sure to leave enough space at the bottom for the seat. That was it! Since most of the wood that you will be finding for free and transporting on your own wont be huge 6 foot logs, you will need to find a way to keep your logs stable. Oftentimes, you can find crowds enthralled by live chainsaw carving demonstrations at functions such as county fairs and rodeos. When done correctly the beginner chainsaw carver can easily find wood cheaply or for very low prices. If you have an area in your yard where you can work, consider putting up a canopy so that you have cover from harsh sunshine and rain. When most people think about the chainsaw they think of massacres and destruction.
If you are using a gas chainsaw, considerations will have to be made about noise pollution that your neighbors may find irritating. If you get this project done in time, this can be a great display in front of your home ready for Halloween and Christmas. Beams should be at least 6 inches square. You can also call local tree cutting businesses. No, I am not a lumberjack. All parts for Grass Trimmers and Brushcutters, Professional landscaping, garden & tree care. I like sketching on graph paper to lay out the carving plan. But speaking from my initial experience, a smaller carving doesnt necessarily mean an easier carving. chainsaw bear carving carved 4ft tall step woodcarving You can also check with a nearby sawmill or lumberyard for scrap sections of beam. Subsequent cuts were much easier and pretty soon I was rocking and rolling.
Protect and add a finish to your sculpture by painting it with wood sealer. This will clean the wood of any debris and also help you identify any nails that may be hidden in the wood. 5) Physical Care While I was a little disappointed that my first carving was not a masterpiece, I was excited that my career as a chainsaw carving hobbyist had officially begun. Begin working your way around the log while making the vertical, horizontal and diagonal cuts necessary to remove chunks of wood from the outlined areas. Depending on the season, other great beginner projects are pumpkins and Christmas trees. Flip the chair over and make a tilted incision to get the desired backrest angle. Geared up, which provided a reassuring sense of protection, and fired the saw up. Just getting the feel for the saw, angles, pressure, and control took about 3 full carvings of not great results before improvements started happening. Develop the sculpture further once you have the basic form down. Make a scale drawing. I planed my attack. It provides opportunity to learn on a gentle learning curve, rather than jumping right into a complex 3D animal to start with. While you probably think the most important gear for using a chainsaw would be the chainsaw, in actuality the most important piece of equipment when using a chainsaw is the chainsaw safety equipment which I outlined up above. Almost done! When I stopped the chainsaw and looked back, I realized that I had been a little overzealous with my fun. Write the word cut on all of the sections that need to be removed. Draw the outline of your sculpture onto the wood. Go slowly and stand back frequently as you work, to look at the figure from a distance, Be cautious when carving: its best to make small cuts with your chainsaw. Electric chainsaws are also lighter than gasoline chainsaws and because they have fewer moving parts, there is hardly any maintenance. Make a couple of notches in the top of the log. Starting out on free wood gives you more liberties to just start carving with the chainsaw. Our step-by-step instructions explain how to go about chainsaw carving a realistic owl from wood. Dont cut too deep, just create small accents using the tip of your chainsaw. Place the log on your cutting stump. The hard work and time that goes into creating a piece makes it all the more gratifying in the end. Howard's recent writing includes covering popular culture, home improvement, cooking, health and fitness. Now the wings are ready for carving out with your chainsaw. Burning also add great color to the wood and helps to protect the wood. The power tool evokes images of crazed murderers and decimated rainforests. This is when you need to decide which direction your owl will be facing. Carving with the chainsaw is like no other woodworking tool that I have ever used. Some great patterns can be found, Step 6 How to Stabilize Your Wood for Cutting, My favorite tool for this purpose is called the. The chainsaw work starts with rough blocking out, then refining, and finally the adding of key details with a light touch. Maintain a steady stance and solid grip while making cuts. A good safe work space is important to the success of any project and hobby. Some of my hobbies where a bulk of my knowledge came from the internet include woodworking, cartooning, blogging, website design, writing and publishing ebooks, skiing, camping, basketball (both playing and coaching), and playing instruments like the ukulele, guitar, and piano. Not only will dull blades damage the wood you are carving, but they also require more energy to work with. Seeds of doubt crept into my head and I kept thinking that I was going to totally screw up or suffer a mortal wound by my own hands. Finishing sanding, cleaning the carving with compressed air, optional paint/stain/propane torch burning, and of course a topcoat sealer thats ideally UV and water protectant. I knocked on the door of the home and asked for some logs. Next, plan and mark the shape of your owl.
So for all you folks out there that are interested in chainsaw carving, below are steps that I took to get started. If you are satisfied with your chainsaw carved creation, there are several ways that you can finish the wood to give it a great look. Use your chainsaw to remove the bark and sapwood from your trunk; this ensures that your finished owl sculpture will be weather-resistant and robust, as the heartwood is the densest part of a tree. If its a large cut log, I just ensure its straight and level before working on it. If I wanted to learn, I just needed to jump in there and start carving! If you dont feel like taking off the bark from the tree, the least you can do is make sure to clean off any dirt on the wood that may dull your chainsaw. This includes safety glasses, chainsaw chaps, gloves, and hearing protection. As outlines are cut away, stop to redraw the layout often. A cutting stump is a large, flat-top stump planted on the ground and used as a surface for chopping or sawing wood. It will probably take time to get used to the muscles being used, building strength and endurance. Nevertheless, through my research I found that the best electric chainsaw around is made by Stihl, the Stihl corded chainsaw MSE 170C-BQ. Sign up for our newsletter here. chainsaw carving bear carvings wood wooden bears tree carved sculpture log woodworking favorite google cut woodcarving saw chain patterns visit chainsaw carving wood carvings angel sculpture tree parsons wooden minnesota angels dave sculpting woodsculpture custom carol lee artists saw chain Subscribe . Well, lets add another hobby to that list: chainsaw carving. Find a fallen log or obtain a full log from a firewood supplier. Whether it be on vacation in Hawaii, where the seed was planted into my head that I could learn the ukulele (which I did) or while sitting on my couch watching a TV show about zombies which inspires me to make a piece of wood art (, Why Chainsaw Carving is a Great Form of Artwork, The next best corded chainsaw that I could find was the, Gas Chainsaw VS Electric Chainsaw VS Battery Chainsaw, Another great beginner project that is also practical is the log chair which only requires a few simple cuts. Your markings should indicate clear cutting lines for your later carving work with the chainsaw, and mean you can see which large areas can be quickly blocked out first. Have fun with trying something new and feel proud for challenging yourself!
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