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A Little Bit About Chainsaw Carving   by Art Jones

Chainsaw carving dates back only to the mid-20th Century. Some of the first carvings created using chainsaws were produced in the 1950s, less than 30 years after the chainsaw was first patented and mass-produced. Exposure to the art form grew slowly, but accelerated with the national exposure brought on from the televised Lumberjack World Championships, where images of the grand sculptures were broadcast around the world.

While the subjects of chainsaw carvings are limited only by the imagination of the artist, most pieces use woodland nature as a reference. Animals such as bears are very common. Perhaps more than any other artistic form of sculpting, safety gear is very important for this art form. Standard equipment includes strong gloves, eye protection, a hard hat, ear protection and steel-toed boots.

Often the artist will choose a piece of soft wood of suitable size and mark it ahead of time to aid in the process of cutting. While most of the cutting is done using chainsaws, it is not uncommon for items like a grinder or sanders to be used for rough spots, texturing and other fine detail. More classic sculpting tools, most notably the hammer and chisel, are occasionally used to form smaller grooves that a traditional chainsaw would be incapable of forming.

Instead of using more traditional instruments for sections of a carving that would otherwise be impossible, some woodworkers have developed specialized blades and chains engineered specifically to be used for this task. A standard chainsaw has a long, rounded end and usually uses a toothed chain similar to a bicycle chain. The specialized carving chainsaws, however, are often designed to produce a much sharper point at the end in order to make deeper pivots in the wood. A smaller, finer chain is often used to allow even more control over the work.

When the woodworking is finished, some craftsmen choose to paint or stain their creations. While stain is often preferred due to the protective qualities and long-lasting results, it is only suitable for producing contrast in a small range of colors. Any colors outside of this range must include paint, which can then be sealed over for added durability.

While chainsaw carving remains a fairly young art form, more interest and exposure has caused a small surge in its popularity. While it will likely remain a niche art form, the large scale of the work and the showmanship of its creation assure that it will remain an active part of the world culture for generations.

About the Author

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