Sculpture

Chainsaw Sculpting in Wood

Wooden chain saw sculptures abound in many regions of the country including the Pacific Northwest and the Adirondacks in upstate New York.  Replicas of bears, moose, fish, eagles, and other wildlife as well as unique signage and furniture are popular décor items for lodges, inns, cabins and second homes.  Skilled chain saw artists can be seen and heard carving away at festivals and fairs, trade shows, competitions, parking lots of businesses and malls and even at their roadside shops or homes. Indeed, chainsaw artists have even been featured on popular television programs.

A chain saw is a portable power-cutting machine perfect for heavy-duty sculptural work.  If properly used, a chain saw can help accomplish incredible results.  If used unwisely or without regard to safety, it is a very dangerous and potentially fatal tool.  Never attempt to use a chainsaw without first understanding its safety features and maintenance procedures; and ALWAYS wear safety goggles, hearing protection, trim fitting clothing that affords ease of movement, and sturdy, snug fitting shoes.  Extreme caution is in order! 

That said, many artists enjoy creating large, interesting sculptures with a chain saw.  It’s suggested that you first consult with an experienced chain saw artist in regard to equipment and materials, techniques, and safety procedures.  Perhaps you can take a course or arrange for basic lessons or work as an apprentice for a time.  A search on the Internet can be of great assistance here.

There are many chainsaws on the market and each has good working possibilities.  Total unit weight, distribution of that weight, balance, blade length and strength and fuel capacity are all important issues to consider.  Cost varies by power and ruggedness, but even a budget-priced machine can do some pretty cool art.  In a perfect world, you should try before you buy, so ask friends or instructors about the saws they might have and get ideas/suggestions from the people at the point of sale. Gasoline powered or electric models are available. 

Thin strip removal and general shaping are skills that will serve you well in sculpture making.  Never attempt to cut through logs or stumps that are thicker than the length of your blade.  This is a recipe for trouble, because the blade might become lodged within the log and will be amazingly difficult to extract. 

Exercises to sharpen your skills include the removal of small precise pieces of wood from a large chunk.  The best idea is to start with a stump that is considerably larger than your desired finished piece.  A stump close to the finished size does not allow you the “excavation” depth necessary for good detail.

Sharp chains are essential to good cutting. You can tell when the chain is dull because of poor performance.  When dull, you have to use more pressure to achieve cuts and that increases the possibility of injury to you or the saw.  A dull blade is easily sharpened with a file (described in every owner’s manual) and a depth guide.  Also, the chain needs to be tightened periodically because it stretches during use. 

Once you have a bit of experience, it will be fun to experiment with your ideas for shapes and designs.  Most chain saw sculptors have a signature style; objects can be true-to-life, have cartoon-like features, wear “clothes” such as overalls, or anything in between. They can be left natural with no finish, stained or sealed for protection against the elements or be colorfully painted.  The choice is yours.  Very much like a stone sculptor, you will be doing reduction sculpture, so remember:  Once you have removed shapes, it is difficult to replace them and re-cut.  Above all, remember that extreme caution is essential when working in this genre. 

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 17 No. 11 — September 2007