Chainsaw Wood Carvings - A Unique Gift Idea

Chainsaw wood carvings are quite a spectacle when crafted by an accomplished and skilled chainsaw carver. Chainsaw carvings offer everything from smaller, cute "doorway" welcomers like bears and other woodland animals to five and ten footers that take your breath away. But it's more than just a unique and eye-appealing landscaping addition, wood carvings are also a unique and cherished gift.

Raccoons, skunks, turtles and bears are just a few of the more natural carvings you can get, and if you're looking for something a little more contemporary or niche, some even opt to have custom carvings of characters. Yep, that's right - most times you can commission the creation of a pop culture character, like Mickey Mouse or other cartoon characters.

What Exactly is Chainsaw Carving?

Chainsaw carvings are the creation of artistic pieces through the use of large chunks of wood - usually from the trunks of trees that have been cut into larger pieces of log are molded into a specific shape through the use of various sized chainsaws and chainsaw blades. The blades used vary in their degree of precision and detail. In short, a chainsaw carver is comparative to a sculptor, only their tool is a chainsaw and their supplies are natural wood rather than plaster or clay.

This type of art is not just limited to art pieces, but also branches into the realm of unique, custom made furniture that is both rustic and practical. An accomplished carver has the ability to create pieces relatively quickly and as a carver becomes more experienced, their level of detail becomes more advanced. Take for example a chainsaw carver that I happen to know. The pieces she creates look like something that could not have possibly been molded by human hands. That's how good they are.

Not only that, the level of detail in her pieces - ranging from eagles that are a couple of feet high to bears that are only a foot or two - is so sharp and well defined, you'd swear these carvings could not have been made with a chainsaw. But indeed they are.

Usually after the actual carving is complete, the wood is coated with a few protective layers of a polyurethane type of substance, and depending on the customer's request,

it may also be painted with color paint. The coating is necessary to ensure it can withstand weathering and biodegrading.

While most people choose carvings that are free standing and moveable, there are also site carving services available. Site carvings are where a chainsaw carver actually comes to the home and carves an art piece of the homeowner's choice out of a tree that has been partially cut down, or cut down and has left a stump.

Most people make this choice because the carving is a great way to cover up an otherwise unsightly tree stump, as well as to add a conversation piece (which it certainly always becomes) to their yard which will become a permanent piece of their landscape for years to come. Only problem with this is that you probably can't take it with you if you move!

Chainsaw Carving - Bringing the Wood to Life

Fairs are full of exhibits and one of the exhibits that may have been seen first hand was chainsaw carving. It is pretty amazing how someone can swing a saw and in a few hours an animal comes to life from within the wood. The experienced chainsaw handlers make it look easy like they are carving from butter and not from wood, but this skill was not learned overnight. This has been years of carving and piles of sawdust to get to where they are today.

If chainsaw carving has become an interest that one would like to try, there are a few things to keep in mind before running out and just buying a saw. Most of the carvers have more than one saw to use, including a saw with a smaller bar and chain so it is much easier to do detailed work. Each carver uses saws that are easy for them to handle and to fit their personal preference. Everything from the bar length to the weight is considered when choosing a saw to use.

Once an image is created in the carvers mind, they may use a regular saw to carve away the bulk to get to a blocky design. After they achieve that, then they will change to a smaller saw that gives a better curvature when cutting. This could be with either a gas powered chainsaw or an electric chainsaw, but the preferred choice is gas. The blades will differ, and each one will use what they think works best for them. A single-raker is used primarily to take away the bulk and then switched to a double-raker blade. The double-raker may be considered a safer blade to use, but don't be fooled, these can injury just as easily as any other blade out there and the blades must be kept sharp. Carvers prefer the smaller tips on the blades for a few reasons. Some believe they are easier to handle, are much better to use for the detailing process and the chances of the chain jumping when doing a curve is less likely.

Safety is always a priority anytime one is doing anything with machinery, including saws. Chips and dust will be going everywhere so safety glasses are a must. Long hair must be pulled back and out of the way. After holding the saw for awhile it will eventually cause fatigue. That's when it is time to stop and have a coffee break. It is an accident waiting to happen if one cuts when they are tired.

Other equipment that carvers use may include grinders, rasps, sanders, and rotary tools to get an even finer detail to the sculpture. Rotary tools are excellent for getting eyes detailed and giving more of a realistic look.

The wood can be from several different options. Some types of wood are harder than others and can make the saw kickback easier. A kickback is when a saw does just that, and kicks out of the wood. This can be dangerous and chainsaw operators should always be on guard. Nails are another thing to watch for too that can be a potential hazard. Carvers find what woods are readily available, but have carved pine, cedar and fir, with each wood having a different color and look when finished. Learning how to sculpture can be done from looking at plans and learning how to do specific cuts. After one has been chainsaw carving and getting more experience with each piece, they too will learn how to skilfully bring the wood to life.

Chainsaw Carving Tips

Safety should always be the first concern on any project. Proper safety equipment such a goggles, gloves and sturdy scaffolding are very important. The scaffolding should always be moved to the right height and position for safe carving. If your arms feel uncomfortable holding the saw to cut, adjust your scaffolding or you can be seriously injured. Never cut above the waist unless it is with a small electric saw and your arms are fully extended.

Before making the first cut, draw out the main shape of your carving from the front view. Leave about a foot at the bottom for the base. Be sure your saw is as sharp as it can be. A sharp saw makes the job so much easier. A 16 to 24 inch blade will usually do most carvings. Make your wedge cuts by cutting a down angle first and then a straight or slightly upward angle to chunk it out. Once you have made all of your wedge cuts from your markings, it is time to mark the sides.

You have to imagine the profile and be sure to not cut off too much especially from the head. When you have all the main chunks cut out, it is time to start carving with your saw. A 12 inch electric saw is great for shaping out the smaller chunks. Be careful not to cut too deep. You can do much of the final saw work by applying the blade lightly on the wood and raking it back and forth. This will take layers off.

If it is a human carving, you will need to finish it by sanding. You can use a palm sander for the large areas and a die grinder for the smaller areas. You can use the edge of the sanding disk to cut beards, hair or fur. On animal carvings, turn the saw slightly sideways and carve out fur lines with the tip. Some other handy tools to have are wood rasps and wood chisels.

When you have finished carving and sanding, it's time to coat your project with a mixture of half shellac and half mineral spirits. You can leave it natural or paint it. If you don't think you can carve a human or bear, try a mushroom. Above all, keep your mind on safety and have fun. You may be really surprised at what you can do!