Chainsaw carvers?

[GSD-Keegan]

Just wondering if anyone here is a chainsaw carver?? Or have tried? I have a massive ol tree, yet to be identified, that came down. Issues trying to identify the species, but I’m hesitant to cut it into firewood and may try my skills at carving something simple in attempt to learn a tiny bit of that fine art and craftsmanship.

 

[GSD-Keegan]

My white ash trees have been devastated. I laid a chunk of white ash bark along the top of this monster. You can see the difference in the bark.

 

[GSD-Keegan]

My lil Kubbie helping to get this out of the creek.

 

[old and tired]

Do you have any photos of branches and twigs (mainly buds)...

 

[GSD-Keegan]

No. It’s been dead for a few years. It grew with a massive root ball at the base. Others on a different forum have suggested it’s Ash, but I don’t think so. The growth and heal over is different than ash. It is a much harder and heavier wood. Another suggestion was it was a type of beech.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

Pretty ambitious! You might want to start a bit smaller to get the hang of it.

If you want to see a goal to shoot for, look at The Bear Man's work. Friend of mine. Pretty amazing. I have only seen one other professional chainsaw carver that's even in his league.

I've watched him take a 30 inch long section of 12" fir, and turn it into a racoon peeping out of a log in about 20 minutes or so, while keeping up an entertaining patter to the crowd gathered around.


Some day, when I hit the lottery, I'll have him carve a bear for my front porch.

 

[GSD-Keegan]

Oh, for sure. Just a small section of that trunk. And something simple cuz it will probably end up in the burn pit! 🥹🥹. Been researching carving bars and chains for my little Stihl and they are expensive!!

 

[AndyM]

My BH has been collecting small carved "Wood Spirts" that have on our deck. When I was at a local tool store a chainsaw carver was showing his work to I picked it up for her. It's about 4 - 5 ft tall.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

That is amazing work!

That's not all chainsaw, of course. Might have been roughed out that way, but the finish work was done with other tools.

 

[ctfjr]

Just wondering if anyone here is a chainsaw carver?? Or have tried? I have a massive ol tree, yet to be identified, that came down. Issues trying to identify the species, but I’m hesitant to cut it into firewood and may try my skills at carving something simple in attempt to learn a tiny bit of that fine art and craftsmanship.

View attachment 93746

A friend of mine found a carver in the Berkshires (MA). Let's just say his carving is unbelievable. IIRC this is about 8' tall. No paint. All color done with torch. It's all wood, including the base:

Found the artist's web page. Check THIS out - look at his gallery

 

[GeoHorn]

i have two HUGE Live Oak Logs I could barely move with my FEL to my front yard which would make awesome projects. They are 20” dia X 15’ long. I’d love to have a wooden Indian created by chainsaw.
While traveling thru Ruidoso, NM a 25 years ago we watched a man chainsawing black bears out of logs. We have one on our porch and had one sent to a friend in TenKillerLakes OK. (his wife loves bears and themed their new home with them)

 

[The Evil Twin]

Looks like Oak. I've been waiting for a good size one to fall for a live edge slab. Although, a Totem Pole would be cool!

 

[Yooper]

My vote is a cottonwood.

I don’t have the gift for being an artist. Some of those carvings just blow my mind

 

[Lil Foot]

I tried chainsaw carving a couple times.
How hard could it be?
I found I have no artistic talent along those lines.
If you need precise geometric shapes, I'm your man.
If you need life-like pleasing artistry, find someone else.

 

[GSD-Keegan]

I’m thinking my experience might be the same.

 

[GeoHorn]

I tried chainsaw carving a couple times.
How hard could it be?
I found I have no artistic talent along those lines.
If you need precise geometric shapes, I'm your man.
If you need life-like pleasing artistry, find someone else.

That’s a “me too” movement which I’d be OK to join…. (I’d be fantastic at making sawdust.)

 

[bmblank]

My vote is a cottonwood.

It does look somewhat like that... But that is MASSIVE for a cottonwood or poplar or something like that.

 

[RCW]

Bark in #2 has some resemblance to Red or other Maple flavors. Red Maple likes low and damp, or high and dry spots. Looks like a low wet spot...

Not a dead-ringer at all; hard to tell from the photos.

 

[Tughill Tom]

Looks like the White Oak's I had when I lived in NJ.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

cut it up and burn it, better to get cedar or linden if you want to learn to carve.
i had a section of a linden here, 5' in diameter, 4 ' long along with smaller sections. Carver stops ,grabs the little ones. I asked why not the big one? He said I ONLY carve little stuff.....'
sad I said, I can see 3 lil' bears holding hands in a circle....just have no way to carve it.
It took just under 6 days to burn the section,another 2 weeks for the rest.