Chainsaw Carving Class

[ig Jeff]

Hi everyone,

I really want to get into chainsaw Carving and wondered if there is anyone besides Baileys that has classes in California?

I ordered a dvd--Dennis Beach Carves a Bear, and will watch that and come back on here if I have any questions.

Also, money is tight right now and I was at Harbor frieght today and saw they have cheap grinders and they had the Merlin chainsaw disk. I was wondering if learning to carve with a grinder would be a good primer to get into chainsaw carving? I know some people use grinders for the fine detail. I know you get what you pay for quality wise, but money is very tight and if I like it I will invest in a better grinder.

Thanks for your time.
Jeff

[brianh]

I would stay away from the chainsaw disk a few carvers have been cut up by them usually not using it with the guard but the saw is a lot safer.

Harbor freight angle grinders I have used, the quality varies greatly I now use a
Makita 4 1/2 angle grinder with aluminum oxide disks it has been going reliably for 4 years so the 65$ I paid for it is cheaper than replacing a cheap grinder every year.

I do like the die grinders they have, the cord breaks in about 6 months but I replace them with quality cord and they keep going they get a lot of use.

[Donsexton]

I bet you can find a chainsaw carver in your area that will school you up. From time to time a person will ask me if I will teach them “How to Carve a Bear” with a chainsaw. I will teach anyone that wants to learn with just a few rules. I don’t charge a fee but I do demand that they buy their own saw, gas and mix, bar oil. I demand they buy leather gloves and ANSI approved safety glasses and hearing protection. I don’t allow flip-flops near my carving area leather boots are a must. I don’t care for chaps they are made for professional tree cutters working on unlevel ground around cut off branches walking with running saws in their hands. Most carvers wear them because they are required for competitions a holdover from the lumber jack trade and they make you look and feel like a pro. I insist the people that I teach buy their own 4 ½” side grinder with flap wheel safe and easy. I agree the chainsaw disc wheels are dangerous BUT every one that has been cut with one violated safety, everyone without exception. To carve with a chainsaw you need to learn to cut off chunks make bold cuts not use the saw like a gas powered grinder. I will warn you that the Sthil zealots will tell you that the only saw that will carve wood is a $$$ Stihl. I tell carvers the first saw you buy should be easy to return to the place you bought it at, your local Stihl guy NOT SO MUCH. One more thing on chaps I see chainsaw guys wearing chaps with crocks and shorts on Really, Really come on.

[ig Jeff]

Thanks for the replys. I will try to find a chainsaw carver around here.

I rent my house so I have to not make the neigbors to mad and not ruin the backyard grass. I would like to carve inside my gargage, could I use an electric chainsaw to roughout and the grinder to carve, does that sound ok?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Donsexton]

Originally Posted by ig Jeff

Thanks for the replys. I will try to find a chainsaw carver around here.

I rent my house so I have to not make the neigbors to mad and not ruin the backyard grass. I would like to carve inside my gargage, could I use an electric chainsaw to roughout and the grinder to carve, does that sound ok?

Thanks,
Jeff

I mostly use electric saws and grinders so yes you can carve with the two for sure. Here is the best thing I can tell you dont treat your grinder like a sander and you will be fine.

[ig Jeff]

Thanks Don,

What kind of wheels do you use on your grinder?

Thanks,
Jeff

[twoclones]

Originally Posted by ig Jeff

I really want to get into chainsaw Carving and wondered if there is anyone besides Baileys that has classes in California?

It would be easier to recommend Someone to contact if we knew your location. For instance, here is a school in Washington State.
George Kenny school of chainsaw carving.

[twoclones]

Wow! Speaking of the chainsaw disk, there is an article on page 4 of this newsletter detailing a serious injury involving the disk.

http://www.northernvirginiacarvers.o...011/nl1110.pdf

[ig Jeff]

Thanks Twoclones, that is a scarey article. I have a chainsaw carving video and when the guy starts using the grinder he says' you're more likely to hurt yourself with this than the chainsaw, because your hands are closer to the blade'.

I am in Bakersfield, CA

[Donsexton]

Thank you Butch for the link, the man didn’t follow any safety rules. The article didn’t say but based on what I read the grinder had a lock on switch not a paddle switch. I will hazard a guess that the guard was not on the grinder or it would have stopped at his fingers. As I have said many times before I don’t consider the thing safe for most carvers. The man treated it like a grinder with a sanding disc on it and that never ends well.