Dont cut too deep, just create small accents using the tip of your chainsaw. Again, the cuts are fairly simple and easy to understand and depending on the pumpkin or Christmas tree design that you cut, the lines are usually symmetrical. Fueled by passion for innovation since 1689, Husqvarna provides professional forest, park and garden products. Complete the blocking out process with chainsaw by rounding off corners and removing as much bulk as feasible with chainsaw. Dont spend too much money on wood at this point if you can. It is a time tested technique that replaces the need for different chemical finishes and varnishes. Pick what you want to carve and search for reference pictures. I even asked if she would be willing to give me a lesson but she didnt do that kind of thing and her schedule was too busy. He received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Minnesota. You can also check with a nearby sawmill or lumberyard for scrap sections of beam. Make sure to leave enough space at the bottom for the seat. Not only is using a torch almost as enpowering as using a chainsaw, by burning of the wood you eliminate all the little strands and fuzzies get left from using the chainsaw. On top of that the chainsaw is not cheap, costing over $300. It will probably take time to get used to the muscles being used, building strength and endurance. Subsequent cuts were much easier and pretty soon I was rocking and rolling. But to my dismay, the batteries would last no longer than 5 minutes, some batteries only lasting 2 minutes! Allow yourself the grace to make mistakes and learn from them. Kick back is when the tip of your chainsaw hits a snag which forces the chainsaw to kick up, usually towards your face. 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. Make sure you have a good clean and clear area to work. To ensure it stays looking its best, you may need to protect your chainsaw carving project against fungi and rot, depending on the type of wood you have used. However, for a do-it-yourself guy like me who has zero experience with chainsaws, I wanted to chainsaw that was affordable and that I could use around my home and for future woodworking projects even if I should I decide Im not cut out to be a chainsaw carving artist. The power tool evokes images of crazed murderers and decimated rainforests. Draw/spray paint the grid markings onto the intended piece of wood, then the general outline from the front, referring to the scale drawing. Then I learned how to make my drawings into digital cartoons that I posted online. The learning curve was steep. I like sketching on graph paper to lay out the carving plan. 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. Detailing some details/textures are done well with a chainsaw, but the finer detail is often enhanced with other tools such as a smaller chainsaw carving bar, a die grinder, or rotary tool with burr bits. I quickly grew impatient working with the small scale and wanted to work on larger projects, but lacked the necessary tools for the increased size. That was it! But as a beginner, for your first project I recommend something very simple and foolproof like a mushroom. Flip the chair over and make a tilted incision to get the desired backrest angle. If you dont have neighbors cutting down old trees in your area, Craigslist is a great option. 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. Add color to your sculpture, if you want it, using wood stain. Michelle Thevenot is a chainsaw carver and artist from Osler, Saskatchewan, Canada. 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. Nevertheless, through my research I found that the best electric chainsaw around is made by Stihl, the Stihl corded chainsaw MSE 170C-BQ. A happy medium, in my opinion, is a 3-4 ft piece of wood for a starting size. Heres a tip for when youre preparing to carve out the wings: the owls two wings together form a heart shape. You need to be certain it will not roll away or move as you use your chainsaw to carve it. Neither Husqvarna nor its affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. As long as you have the correct mixture of gasoline nearby, you are good to go. The part of the log below these screws will serve as the base of the sculpture. When done correctly the beginner chainsaw carver can easily find wood cheaply or for very low prices. About a year and a half ago, I picked up a chainsaw for the first time, and decided to try my hand at chainsaw carving. Put on safety glasses and work gloves. Bending down to carve on this piece of wood as it rests on the floor will be hard on your back. Unscrew the sculpture from the cutting stump and finish minor details like eyes and fingers with hand-held wood carving tools. 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. That being said, electric chainsaws are much quieter than their gas counterparts and do not admit noxious exhaust fumes. Your owl is ready to admire! I already had a 100-foot extension cord but I made sure to purchase some high-quality Bar Oil. That is one reason why you dont see very many people using them for chainsaw carving. And treat every tool like it could hurt you. This sets the thickness of the legs. Next, plan and mark the shape of your owl. While volunteering as a scoutmaster for my sons troop, I was introduced to woodcarving. 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. So when I got home from that road trip vacation I watched just about every YouTube video on chainsaw carving that I could find. You can also call local tree cutting businesses. I was surprised how difficult it was for me to make the leap and to actually perform that first cut into the wood. Starting out on free wood gives you more liberties to just start carving with the chainsaw. There are a whole host of other woodworking tools that you can purchase to get the finishing detail just right. While the chainsaw may seem like the most dangerous tool in a carvers collection, precautions are also necessary with other power tools that a carver may use. Chainsaw carving is appealing for multiple reasons. One solution to those working in conditions where noise is a concern is the electric chainsaw. To protect against discolouration and fungal attack, give your wooden owl a coat of wood-sealing wax. A cutting stump is a large, flat-top stump planted on the ground and used as a surface for chopping or sawing wood. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. The mushroom is a great first project because it is fairly simple with symmetrical lines and the finished project can be quite beautiful. Redraw the grid where cut off, draw the side outline, and carve out the side profile. Im a man of many hobbies, many of which I learned simply from researching the internet and watching YouTube videos. 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. Have fun with trying something new and feel proud for challenging yourself! When I stopped the chainsaw and looked back, I realized that I had been a little overzealous with my fun. Not sure what type of wood is best for chainsaw carving? Post-carving self-care may call for additional measures at times. I love creating things. From my personal experience, I can usually keep up the stamina for about 2-3 hours of work before needing to take a break to recover (for both the body and the mind.) This is vitally important as most injuries from chainsaws occur on the left leg. Always work with a sharp chainsaw! In addition, working on a piece of wood that may be unstable or tip over as you are cutting is unsafe. Sand any rough areas that you want smoothed down using an angle grinder with a sanding disc. Just getting comfortable with the chainsaw and learning control is enough of a challenge at the beginning. Chainsaw chaps are necessary to protect your legs. We may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. 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. Some great patterns can be found, Step 6 How to Stabilize Your Wood for Cutting, My favorite tool for this purpose is called the. When thinking about chainsaw safety gear, start from the head and go down to the toes. Rob Beckinsale Chainsaw Carving and Sculpture www.robbeckinsale.co.uk. Ive always enjoyed art. Then while on the internet I found a quote that stuck with me: Would-be woodcarvers would be woodcarvers if they would carve wood.. The chainsaw has a raw power and flexibility that makes it so versatile and so efficient. Chainsaw carving is inherently dangerous and its in a carvers best interest to acknowledge the risk and respect the tools. Battery Chainsaw: My first chainsaw did not last long. A bit of online research and watching videos on safe chainsaw operation were part of my self-imposed pre-use safety training. Depending on the season, other great beginner projects are pumpkins and Christmas trees. Next, use careful movements to add contours that bring out the eyes and beak. All rights reserved, Free Woodworking Downloads From Lee Valley, I Can Do That! Set the log upright and drill four angled pilot holes, evenly spaced around the bottom edge. If you get this project done in time, this can be a great display in front of your home ready for Halloween and Christmas. While driving home one day I saw a home that had recently cut down a pine tree. Gasoline Chainsaw: Gas chainsaws are the tried-and-true tool for any chainsaw carver. Look up chainsaw carving on YouTube and you will have a hard time finding a professional using anything but a gasoline powered chainsaw. Take the time to understand how to properly use a chainsaw. The most vital tool to maintain for a carver is their own body. And by all means, stop when tired or hurting. For a while my favorite medium was paper and I would just doodle. Burning also add great color to the wood and helps to protect the wood. ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG, D-71336 Waiblingen. 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. A trip to the ER is much more costly than anything you would spend on chainsaw safety equipment. If I wanted to learn, I just needed to jump in there and start carving! Finding an area to work where the noise wont drive your neighbors bonkers will be important to the longevity of your newfound hobby. Set yourself up for success and accomplishment by starting with basic shapes like a tree or a welcome sign. The best time to do this is between spring and autumn. He has also written for art exhibition catalogs and publications. Always wear personal protective equipment when working with a chainsaw! There is less worried about messing up if you are carving on a free piece of wood versus a log that you spent a good amount of money on. Draw a horizontal line around the entire log a few inches above the screw heads with a lumber crayon marker. It provides a great way to hold your piece of wood in a stable manner and is very easy to use. That was it. The fire within me for chainsaw carving was burning out and Im sure it would have been replaced by some other passing fascination. Beams should be at least 6 inches square. I know the professionals preferred trusted chainsaw brands like Stihl and Echo. 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. Gloves will also protect your hands from getting injured from wood. The next best corded chainsaw that I could find was the Makita US4051A 16 inch electric chainsaw. Now its time to add detail to your owl carving, using the chainsaw to carve wings, a face and feathers. . Develop the sculpture further once you have the basic form down. The final cut: Lay the chair down on the side and cut straight in, aim precisely for the previous cut and you are done! 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.. In the meanwhile, check out Amazon for details. Subscribe . These two tools are an angle grinder and a torch. Thats when I started eyeing up my husbands chainsaw. If its a large cut log, I just ensure its straight and level before working on it. I print off a couple photos to look at throughout the carving process. You will not cut below this line. So carve safe! thank you to Marcus Heys and his son Ben for the fantastic photos. The interest in woodcarving began about a year prior to that, while looking for ideas on homemade Christmas gifts. In fact, before this chainsaw phase in my life I had never even touched a chainsaw. I love this thing so much I will be making a separate post just for this handy device. Another benefit of Chainsaw carving is the medium which is used to create art. Dont skimp on safety gear. I felt there had to be a way to create wooden works of art more quickly and efficiently. Often times they have stockpiles of wood or they can direct you to their next project where there is free wood to be had. Where can we find free wood? 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. So for all you folks out there that are interested in chainsaw carving, below are steps that I took to get started. Depending on where you live, wood logs may be plentiful or they may be difficult to obtain. I began sketching out basic designs of scraps of wood, made a couple of wood signs, Christmas ornaments, and etched designs on walking sticks. 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. 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. In no event shall Husqvarna be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, punitive damages, resulting from, arising out of or in connection with the use of, or inability to use this inspiration article. This thing is awesome! Give it a try! DIYwoodart.com chronicles my growth and experimentation in the art of woodworking. Now the wings are ready for carving out with your chainsaw. Geared up, which provided a reassuring sense of protection, and fired the saw up. Find out more about the fundamentals of chainsaw carving. Starting with small carvings has its advantages, and you dont feel so defeated and wasteful when the first ones dont turn out as anticipated. My favorite way to finish wood is to use a small torch and to burn the wood. 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. 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 makes it easier to identify even very small errors. 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. Carve out the front outline with a chainsaw. Not going to lie, it scared the crap out of me. Just getting the feel for the saw, angles, pressure, and control took about 3 full carvings of not great results before improvements started happening. With gas chainsaws you dont have to worry cords or batteries. My scale drawings usually include 1-foot markings on the height of the carving, and a center line down the middle. 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. This will help avoid errors that cannot be rectified, Always prevent your chainsaw from making contact with the ground, so your tool doesnt wear too quickly. Electric Chainsaw: Electric chainsaws are fairly new to the game. The best way to learn is to get in there and try. Add the details last. Leave it for a few days after applying the wax. Sign up for our newsletter here. Use your chainsaw to add feathers to the owls wings and tail. Now its time to cut. It was a ton of fun, but I felt like it took way too long. 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. After doing my research, and a little bit of trial and error I came to the conclusion that the best fit for me would be an electric chainsaw. But before ending our conversation, she did give me one piece of important advice: be safe. After burning the wood you can use a wire brush to achieve the desired final effect. This will clean the wood of any debris and also help you identify any nails that may be hidden in the wood. I did my research which led me to purchasing a Dremel. After watching a few YouTube videos and power-carving groups on Facebook, I decided to start small with a rotary tool. Place the log on your cutting stump. As outlines are cut away, stop to redraw the layout often. Once you are safely equipped, you can now look into using your chainsaw. Put in ear plugs. Save up to 64% and get a free gift. However, as a beginner, I feel two other tools are important to help achieve a great look. 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. This is when you need to decide which direction your owl will be facing. I felt that I needed to talk to someone who had actually carved with a chainsaw. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Secure the trunk onto a sturdy subsurface using a ratchet strap, or by firmly screwing it in place. Now its time to start carving with the chainsaw. Protect and add a finish to your sculpture by painting it with wood sealer. 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. Use a chisel, or a similar tool, to chip out the remaining wood and you are done. I found a chainsaw artist not too far away and was able to speak to her. No matter how it looks in the end, there will be someone out there that thinks what youre doing is pretty darn SAWsome. Check out Amazon for current pricing and details. I had a great time carving off large chunks of wood until I realized I was cutting too much wood off. 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. The grid makes it easier to copy to the wood afterwards. Make an incision in the middle of the log with the same technique that you would use to fell a tree: One cut straight in from the side and the other slightly tilted from the top down. STIHL pro tip: stop frequently to remove the wood chips you create. To all those who aspire to learn how to chainsaw carve, be careful, be safe, and have fun. Once you get your hands on some wood, take the time to remove the bark from the wood. But at the same time, its the same power and flexibility of the chainsaw that demands respect. See the diagram for details. This is determined by where the two initial leaning cuts meet. Once I felt acquainted with the saw, I gathered personal protective equipment, which I feel is an ongoing requirement. After the Dremel I got a circular saw followed by a jig saw, then a miter saw, orbital sander, table saw, planer the list goes on. To avoid tipping or moving of smaller carvings during carving, you can anchor the log to something to keep it in place. If you dont wear a face guard, at least consider eye protection such as safety goggles. People often ask, How did you start chainsaw carving? And Im eager to share a bit of my carving experience so far. A helmet and face guard are recommended to protect your face in case of kick back. Less is more at this stage! Work slowly and stand back to check your carving work at regular intervals its easier to judge proportions from further away. Get yourself a nice fire pit for all your mistakes, learn from your mistakes, enjoy the fruits of your errors, and roast a marshmallow. Maintain a steady stance and solid grip while making cuts. 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. I have yet to have a chainsaw accident (thankfully), but its the angle grinder Ive had a few knicks and near misses with. The chainsaw work starts with rough blocking out, then refining, and finally the adding of key details with a light touch. Well, lets add another hobby to that list: chainsaw carving. Use the end of the chain saw to shave wood and refine things like ears or the jaw and neck area. However, this does not impact our recommendations. Here are a few tips that I learned from bumbling my way through beginning chainsaw carving. 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. Multiple trips later I had some big logs ready to play with. I planed my attack. 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. Chainsaw carving art Bill http://www.sculpturesurbois.info/, Chainsaw carving patterns instructions free, How Chainsaw Carving a Bear owl Eagle rooster squirrel mushroom cat http://www.sculpturesurbois.info/, Botley Heron Carved from a conifer stump and standing over 6ft tall, this heron sits overlooking a lake in Botley near Southampton. Make a couple of notches in the top of the log. This work makes small details such as the talons and individual feathers look particularly delicate and realistic. This site is for woodworking hobbyists looking for inspiration. Our step-by-step instructions explain how to go about chainsaw carving a realistic owl from wood. 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. From doll making to needlework, American folk art has a rich and eclectic history, and one of the most creative forms today is chainsaw sculpture. 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. But it didnt just start with a chainsaw. I then order a book on how to chainsaw carve bears, and while waiting for that to arrive I binge watched the Netflix show Carver Kings which, if you couldnt guess, is about chainsaw carvers. The final step is carving out the finer features of your wooden owl using the chainsaw tip or a chisel. 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. Id encourage anyone intrigued by the artform to at least give it a try. It combines the raw power of the chainsaw and the beauty of wood to make amazing pieces of art in relatively short periods of time. A quick do-it-yourself way to stabilize and elevate your piece of wood is to screw a piece of plywood to the bottom of your log. I dont cut down trees for a living. My favorite tool for this purpose is called the Jawhorse Adjustable Sawhorse by Rockwell. 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. 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. Get the latest info on new products, special offers and more. Some great patterns can be found here. Use a pencil or a piece of chalk to draw the rough form of an owl onto the trunk. 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. 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. 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. Finally I built up the courage and made my first cut. Therefore, I cant emphasize enough the importance of safety. But speaking from my initial experience, a smaller carving doesnt necessarily mean an easier carving. Draw the outline of your sculpture onto the wood. The hard work and time that goes into creating a piece makes it all the more gratifying in the end. 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 (see more here), every now and then I find challenges for myself to learn something new.