Chainsaw wood carvings can be made using almost all types of chainsaw models. Wood has unique texture and features that dictate how the wood will respond to your chainsaw and carving techniques. Chainsaw Wood carving on the other hand, can be an incredibly rewarding and enjoyable hobby.
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. Chainsaw carving is inherently dangerous and it’s in a carver’s best interest to acknowledge the risk and respect the tools. 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 don’t think it’s reasonable to expect that high-level performance from every carver, especially beginners.
Get yourself all the required chainsaw PPE. Chainsaw carving has a high health risk not to mention accidents can happen at any second. To check out all the required chainsaw safety gear check out Chainsaw carving for beginners. We have a list of the favorite woods for chainsaw carving, if you are new to chainsaw carving woods check it out.
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 couldn’t guess, is about chainsaw carvers. 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. Through my research I found that the best electric chainsaw around is made by Stihl, the Stihl corded chainsaw MSE 170C-BQ. But no stores near me carry this chainsaw, and places that carried the chainsaw online didn’t offer quick shipping.
Although chainsaw carving may seem hard and nearly impossible at first, anyone can start. Chainsaw carving is inherently dangerous and it’s in a carver’s best interest to acknowledge the risk and respect the tools. Whittling, chip carving, relief carving, and chainsaw carving are just some of the niches included in our woodcarving library.
is chainsaw carving hard Related Question:
How much do chainsaw carvers make?
The salaries of Wood Carvers in the US range from $18,800 to $50,720 , with a median salary of $28,990 . The middle 50% of Wood Carvers makes between $28,990 and $29,630, with the top 83% making $50,720.
Is wood carving hard to learn?
Anyone can learn how to carve wood, although it takes a lot of patience and time, this is something that comes with experience and not talent, therefore wood carving is difficult to master but anyone can do it.
What type of wood is best for chainsaw carving?
Softwoods work best with chainsaws and carvings because of way they yield to creative impulses with little kickback, though their knots can be tricky to maneuver at times. Softwood give a fantastic finished product. Some of the woods that fall into this category are Pine, Cottonwood, Redwood and Ponderosa.
How long do tree carvings last?
Wood carvings can last anywhere between a few decades to several lifetimes or more depending on how they were treated and where they are stored. They can easily last several decades outside if out of direct sunlight and are regularly treated and sealed. They can last almost indefinitely indoors and the wood sealed.
How much should I sell wood carvings for?
However, as a general rule, if you’re just starting out as a woodcarver, you should charge about $1.50 per square inch. More experienced carvers can change significantly more, with prices reaching $2.50 per square inch and above.
Does soaking wood make it easier to carve?
Soaking wood does make it easier to carve. However, as the wood dries, it can potentially crack and even become more brittle overall. To soften wood for carving, the better option is to spray a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water onto the wood as you carve, and use a very sharp knife.
Is Pine easy to carve?
Pine is a softwood and therefore it has a lot of long fibers in it that can easily cause tearing when your tools aren’t sharp enough to easily cut through them. Wet or green Pine is also easier to carve. So if you are having problems with clean cuts try to wet the wood down a little bit.
Can you carve treated wood?
Hi Brad: I've done a good bit of v-carving in pressure treated yellow pine. It actually carves rather nicely if your cutter is sharp. You are on the right track to be sure the wood is reasonably dry first Once I carved or I should say smeared some treated wood that was so wet it oozed water.
Is Oak good for chainsaw carving?
Yes, Oak is good for carving. Oak is a popular ideal wood for carving because of its great properties. Because of being strong and sturdy Oak wood carvings has long-term durability.
Should I carve green wood or dry wood?
It’s ok to carve items from dried wood, but it’s generally easier to carve green wood. Green wood just means that it still has moisture in it, that it was freshly cut. You can cut a section of wood and then freeze it to help contain the moisture and greenness.
Is cedar good for chainsaw carving?
Cedar wood is very good for carving. Cedar has a different species such as yellow cedar that is smooth and aromatic when carved, red cedar that is more difficult to carve but has a rewarding red color, and white cedar that is suitable for almost all types of carving.
Does carving into a tree hurt it?
Depending on how deep the cut is, it may disrupt the cells below the bark, phloem and xylem, that are responsible for transporting water, sugar, and other nutrients throughout the tree. In extreme cases, carving or other bark damage can cause the tree to starve to death due to this cellular disruption.
How much does it cost to have a tree carved?
Prices vary, depending on the amount of detail, type of wood, diameter of log, height of tree, location, degree of difficulty, etc. As a rule of thumb, prices are generally $150-$250 per foot of carving up to a height of 5 feet. Above 5 feet, scaffolding is needed, and the price is about $200-$300 per foot of carving.
How long does a chainsaw carving last?
If the chainsaw carving is well preserved it will last anywhere between 50-150 years depending on the conditions that it is kept in and the type of the carving.
Can Wood Carving be a job?
Wood carving carpenters may earn a diploma, certificate or an associate’s degree in carpentry, fine woodworking or wood technology, with certificate programs in wood carving available at individual schools. In general, three years of on-the-job training are usually required for full technical proficiency.