And treat every tool like it could hurt you. I love this thing so much I will be making a separate post just for this handy device. Place the log on your cutting stump. The next best corded chainsaw that I could find was the Makita US4051A 16 inch electric chainsaw. 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.

Go back to the top and start making more refined cuts to start to round out the blocky form. It will probably take time to get used to the muscles being used, building strength and endurance. Start from the top and work your way down, making general, blocky cuts. I decided that saving money would be a good idea when my wife would inevitably ask me about why we were getting another big box with a smiley face delivered to our front door. The best time to do this is between spring and autumn. See the diagram for details.

Now the wings are ready for carving out with your chainsaw. So carve safe! I like sketching on graph paper to lay out the carving plan. For a while my favorite medium was paper and I would just doodle. Always work with a sharp chainsaw! Almost done! 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. No matter how it looks in the end, there will be someone out there that thinks what youre doing is pretty darn SAWsome. 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. My scale drawings usually include 1-foot markings on the height of the carving, and a center line down the middle. This is best achieved by starting your carving from the middle of the heart (or back of the owl) and working outward. But at the same time, its the same power and flexibility of the chainsaw that demands respect. When thinking about chainsaw safety gear, start from the head and go down to the toes. When most people think about the chainsaw they think of massacres and destruction. A good safe work space is important to the success of any project and hobby. The chainsaw work starts with rough blocking out, then refining, and finally the adding of key details with a light touch. 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.) 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. 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. Another benefit of Chainsaw carving is the medium which is used to create art.

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. 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. Start by cutting your log into four tall pie slices. My favorite tool for this purpose is called the Jawhorse Adjustable Sawhorse by Rockwell. The other great thing about chainsaw carving is the actual production of the art piece can also be considered a form of entertainment. I already had a 100-foot extension cord but I made sure to purchase some high-quality Bar Oil. . Do not cut down a living tree for your sculpture. It provides a great way to hold your piece of wood in a stable manner and is very easy to use. Nevertheless, through my research I found that the best electric chainsaw around is made by Stihl, the Stihl corded chainsaw MSE 170C-BQ. If you dont have neighbors cutting down old trees in your area, Craigslist is a great option. But hey, you have to start somewhere and if you mess up, its only wood! Chainsaw chaps are necessary to protect your legs. Everything I know about chainsaw carving I learned from the internet. 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. Post-carving self-care may call for additional measures at times. Starting out on free wood gives you more liberties to just start carving with the chainsaw. The mushroom is a great first project because it is fairly simple with symmetrical lines and the finished project can be quite beautiful. Our step-by-step instructions explain how to go about chainsaw carving a realistic owl from wood. STIHL pro tip: stop frequently to remove the wood chips you create. In the winter, depending on where you live, you may even be able to consider chainsaw ice carving as a crossover hobby. The chainsaw has a raw power and flexibility that makes it so versatile and so efficient. Use a pencil or a piece of chalk to draw the rough form of an owl onto the trunk. Where did this crazy interest come from? 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. Your owl is ready to admire! To avoid tipping or moving of smaller carvings during carving, you can anchor the log to something to keep it in place. But speaking from my initial experience, a smaller carving doesnt necessarily mean an easier carving. There are a whole host of other woodworking tools that you can purchase to get the finishing detail just right. Not sure what type of wood is best for chainsaw carving? 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. And that is how it all started. This will clean the wood of any debris and also help you identify any nails that may be hidden in the wood. Electric chainsaws are also lighter than gasoline chainsaws and because they have fewer moving parts, there is hardly any maintenance. Im a guy with soft office worker hands who had never touched a chainsaw. This makes it easier to identify even very small errors. 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. 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. Redraw the grid where cut off, draw the side outline, and carve out the side profile. Fully review your saws manual and have an expert give you a lesson if you have never used a chainsaw. 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. Dont cut too deep, just create small accents using the tip of your chainsaw. Set yourself up for success and accomplishment by starting with basic shapes like a tree or a welcome sign. Therefore, I cant emphasize enough the importance of safety. Put on safety glasses and work gloves. 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. 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. 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. 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. Moving down the body, you should wear work gloves to help protect your hands from the constant vibration from the chainsaw. Add the details last. Pick what you want to carve and search for reference pictures. Try to carve all of them to the same depth, and keep natural proportions in mind.

The grid makes it easier to copy to the wood afterwards. 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. But for some reason, I could not stop perseverating over and over again in my head that I was forgetting something. Kick back is when the tip of your chainsaw hits a snag which forces the chainsaw to kick up, usually towards your face. If I wanted to learn, I just needed to jump in there and start carving! Once you are safely equipped, you can now look into using your chainsaw. Mason Howard is an artist and writer in Minneapolis. Once chainsaw control becomes second nature, you can start challenging your sculptor mind with more complex subjects. Howard's work has been published in the "Creative Quarterly Journal of Art & Design" and "New American Paintings." 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. A trip to the ER is much more costly than anything you would spend on chainsaw safety equipment. Use a chisel, or a similar tool, to chip out the remaining wood and you are done. 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. No, I am not a lumberjack. There are step-by-step instructions on how to sharpen your chainsaw here! If the bodys broken, theres no carving happening. 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. 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. Electric Chainsaw: Electric chainsaws are fairly new to the game. // 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. Then, on a recent family vacation road trip through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah and Colorado I saw some large carved bears while on a stop in Idaho and I thought to myself, if only I had a chainsaw I could certainly do that! Every time, folks are more than willing to part with their wood.

Along with the scouts, I carved out a fish with a pocket knife. In addition, there is the hassle of dealing with an extension cord. Youve gathered all the equipment and materials and youve done all your homework. 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. Dont skimp on safety gear. The last step is protecting the wood so your ornament looks beautiful for a long time to come. Mark the owls talons. Im a man of many hobbies, many of which I learned simply from researching the internet and watching YouTube videos. While driving home one day I saw a home that had recently cut down a pine tree. Neither Husqvarna nor its affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Use your chainsaw to add feathers to the owls wings and tail. The power tool evokes images of crazed murderers and decimated rainforests. 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. Husqvarna expressly disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy of any the content provided, or as to the fitness of the information for any purpose. Find more of her work on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. It was a ton of fun, but I felt like it took way too long. 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. But it didnt just start with a chainsaw.

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. Oftentimes, you can find crowds enthralled by live chainsaw carving demonstrations at functions such as county fairs and rodeos. This very highly reviewed chainsaw was available at Home Depot and also online on Amazon which offered 2-day shipping and a cheaper price. Without a doubt, chainsaw carving is a full-body workout that takes me to the limits of what I can do. 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.

Howard's recent writing includes covering popular culture, home improvement, cooking, health and fitness. A cutting stump is a large, flat-top stump planted on the ground and used as a surface for chopping or sawing wood. 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. For a smooth finish, sand down your owl when youve finished the carving work. 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. Now Im making my own unique designs! 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. That being said, electric chainsaws are much quieter than their gas counterparts and do not admit noxious exhaust fumes. Sand any rough areas that you want smoothed down using an angle grinder with a sanding disc. Allow yourself the grace to make mistakes and learn from them. 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 was it. Just getting the feel for the saw, angles, pressure, and control took about 3 full carvings of not great results before improvements started happening. I had a great time carving off large chunks of wood until I realized I was cutting too much wood off. Take the time to understand how to properly use a chainsaw.

You can also check with a nearby sawmill or lumberyard for scrap sections of beam. A helmet and face guard are recommended to protect your face in case of kick back. I print off a couple photos to look at throughout the carving process. I planed my attack. Get yourself a nice fire pit for all your mistakes, learn from your mistakes, enjoy the fruits of your errors, and roast a marshmallow. While volunteering as a scoutmaster for my sons troop, I was introduced to woodcarving. It is amazing, how much you can learn with the resources available on the world wide web. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop.

It is not intended to be used as a guide for manufacturing processes or other commercial purposes. This is determined by where the two initial leaning cuts meet. 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. I did my research which led me to purchasing a Dremel. Rob Beckinsale Chainsaw Carving and Sculpture www.robbeckinsale.co.uk. Michelle Thevenot is a chainsaw carver and artist from Osler, Saskatchewan, Canada. 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. Put in ear plugs. 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. These two tools are an angle grinder and a torch. 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. 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. 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. If its a large cut log, I just ensure its straight and level before working on it. Even using a 16-inch chainsaw bar, I felt the size of the saw was just too large in comparison to the log and I often unintentionally overcut areas. Have fun with trying something new and feel proud for challenging yourself! Depending on the season, other great beginner projects are pumpkins and Christmas trees. Set the log upright and drill four angled pilot holes, evenly spaced around the bottom edge. With gas chainsaws you dont have to worry cords or batteries. Then set the log with the plywood on top of a larger log which is firm and stable on the ground. Now its time to add detail to your owl carving, using the chainsaw to carve wings, a face and feathers.

This is when you need to decide which direction your owl will be facing. Sign up for our newsletter here. When done correctly the beginner chainsaw carver can easily find wood cheaply or for very low prices. Since then, I havent looked back. The lower flight feathers need to be really straight and neatly overlapping to look right.

Not only will dull blades damage the wood you are carving, but they also require more energy to work with. thank you to Marcus Heys and his son Ben for the fantastic photos. However, this does not impact our recommendations. But before ending our conversation, she did give me one piece of important advice: be safe. I dont cut down trees for a living. Chainsaw carving is appealing for multiple reasons.

Try to find a place along the top or bottom edge where the bark is already coming loose. I figured, with 5 batteries, that would last me well into a project. People often ask, How did you start chainsaw carving? And Im eager to share a bit of my carving experience so far. 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. To ensure that your chainsaw work goes smoothly, contact your STIHL dealer to have your chain sharpened or do it yourself. Just search for wood or logs and youll be surprised at what youll find in your area. 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. Once I felt acquainted with the saw, I gathered personal protective equipment, which I feel is an ongoing requirement. Carve out the front outline with a chainsaw. Always wear personal protective equipment when working with a chainsaw! Use the end of the chain saw to shave wood and refine things like ears or the jaw and neck area. Another great beginner project that is also practical is the log chair which only requires a few simple cuts. The first step is to prepare the piece of wood you are using for your carved owl. On top of that the chainsaw is not cheap, costing over $300. It provides opportunity to learn on a gentle learning curve, rather than jumping right into a complex 3D animal to start with. 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. The hard work and time that goes into creating a piece makes it all the more gratifying in the end. Find out more about the fundamentals of chainsaw carving. If Tesla made a battery powered chainsaw, I would be all over it. 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. If you can draw 2 outlines (1 from the front and 1 from the side perspective) it makes carving a lot easier later on. 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. 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. The final step is carving out the finer features of your wooden owl using the chainsaw tip or a chisel. While every carver has their own unique process and preferences, these are the basic steps I like to follow: Thats just a tip of the iceberg of what a beginner chainsaw carver might encounter along their journey into sawdust and two-stroke exhaust. 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. Chainsaw carving is inherently dangerous and its in a carvers best interest to acknowledge the risk and respect the tools. I found a chainsaw artist not too far away and was able to speak to her. However, if you are just starting off and do not want to buy yet another piece of equipment, there are quick and easy ways to stabilize your wood for when you are working. Make a scale drawing. To all those who aspire to learn how to chainsaw carve, be careful, be safe, and have fun. 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 best way to learn is to get in there and try. All rights reserved, Free Woodworking Downloads From Lee Valley, I Can Do That! 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 quickly grew impatient working with the small scale and wanted to work on larger projects, but lacked the necessary tools for the increased size. Finally I built up the courage and made my first cut. In addition, working on a piece of wood that may be unstable or tip over as you are cutting is unsafe. Thats when I started eyeing up my husbands chainsaw. I love creating things. Ive worked through the kinks, found my groove, and techniques that works for me. You can also carve marks to give the impression of feathers on the wings and tail, as well as plumage on the body. Draw the outline of your sculpture onto the wood. The content in this article is provided by Husqvarna for your personal information and inspiration only. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.