[ElWoodTroll]

I have been asked to give a chainsaw carving demo at a state park next month. The problem is I'm not a chainsaw carver so any suggestions, comments or criticism would be appreciated I will try to get four carvings completed. The first one is a soaring eagle. I have the wings and body roughed out and am trying to figure out where the feathers go.

[artolver]

Hi Dave,
It looks like a good start to me.
art the barkguy

[Colin_Partridge]

Dave you say your not a chainsaw carver? Yes you are that is a pretty decent eagle. The carving has good flow I really like it. As for an eagle wing I think it has four rows of feathers if I am not mistaken three sets of larger feathers and one small set right on top of the wing. Now I am no expert but I have watched them for hours on the west coast.
Look forward to seeing the finished product. BTW how fragile is the carving where the wing meets the base I take it you carved it out of one block of wood?
Colin

[ElWoodTroll]

Thank you Art
Colin I haven't been able to locate a diagram of feather groups. I looked at a couple of carving books that had soaring eagles and found six versions of soaring eagles carved by various artist,.... all different, so that's not much help. The wing is fairly rugged, It overlaps the base by several inches. I am plagued by splits on the outboard wing tip and around the heart wood. This is my second attempt and it's happened both times.
I don't have a carving bar and do the detailing with conventional handtools so it doesn't really qualify as a chainsaw carving in my mind.

[Tom H]

Could of fooled me Dave! That looks like a chainsaw carving to me. Matter of fact, it looks like it's going to be damn fine chain saw carving.. Tom H

[ElWoodTroll]

Thanks Tom,
I think it would have been a lot easier doing it in bark first to get a visual on proportions and form. I don't mind throwing away a piece of bark if I mess up. Stumps are a little harder to come by

[Kenny_S]

You are not a chainsaw carver???? What the helk is that nice chainsawed eagle???
Looks great Elwood. That is does for sure.
Can't help you on wjhat to do as the only chainsaw carving I do is 16 foot trees with posion ivy. Don't ask!
Jolly good showing so far.

[Thor]

Elwood, please keep posting pictures as you go. I have no helpful things to say except that you have gotten our interest up, and that's a good sign.

I have had to resort to using my carving axe on two big pieces of cherry that someone gave me, and it is wearing me out. I am still waiting to get my chainsaw. You may want to consider that REDMAX that Collin recommends even though your "not a chainsaw carver"....
Thor

[ElWoodTroll]

Thanks Kenny , Thor
OK, Let's put this to rest. If I showed up an event sporting my 455 rancher equiped with 20" bar and a business end the size of a small dinner plate my fellow stump carvers artist would be ROFLTAO.
When I do get one with a smaller bar, I like the Stihl MS 170. It's got a lot of........power. The balance is perfect so you can concentrate more on detailing and less on supporting the business end. It is equiped with a sprocket nose so you're not buying a new bar every day and.....it sells for under $200. True, I get less detail than what I'd get with a dime tip but gouges are cheaper and make pertier cuts

[Colin_Partridge]

I have an MS 170 and I like it. BTW did you know that Stihl makes a carving bar for the 170 now. Check with your Stihl dealer he will know all about it. Having said that all I used before was my 170 although I have other saws in fact seven in all. The 170 is a little underpowered for blocking out and now I have my Redmax I hardly use the Stihl. You still didnt answer my original question on how fragile is the carving where the wing meets the base. I assume you carved it all in one piece. Show us some finished pictures or are you keeping us in suspense? LOL.
Colin