Sometimes you just need a new toy. In this case, I wanted to try my hand at “Alaska milling”, which means using a chainsaw like a sawmill, to cut boards out of logs. I decided I needed at least a 24″ bar for the Alaska mill (bracket) I would eventually purchase, and this 60cc Echo saw was the least expensive one I could find for such a bar. Besides, I’d seen a YouTube video of a guy milling logs with this model, and that was proof enough for me. Of course, when I picked up the saw and told the guy I wanted to use it for milling, he said “you’ll need at least 80cc for that” (which adds about $500 to the price). Oh well, I’ll give this one a try, and keep you posted. I won’t be milling countertops or anything big, just smaller logs for signs and things and I’d also like to try my hand at “relief carving”.
About a week after I bought the big saw, this big Ash tree fell during a storm, and I had just the saw for the job! Of course, most of the Ash trees have been dead for at least 5 years now, but there was still some good carving wood in the larger limbs. The lower 10 feet or so was mostly rotten and full of ants.
When I first started this hobby, I was going for perfection. That meant fixing every crack that emerged during the carving and drying process. While the result is great, these fixes can be exhausting and time consuming. In an interview I read from an accomplished chainsaw carver, they confessed to spending way too much time early on with facial details and the like. Then, one day a customer confided that they wanted something that looked like it was carved with a chainsaw! This is so liberating to know! Some works will always require our best efforts at perfection, but perfection should never be the enemy of the good, or in this case, the enemy of what makes chainsaw art, chainsaw art.
“Speed carving” is another good reason to avoid the temptation towards perfection. As I approach retirement, I am contemplating the prospect of spending a LOT more time with my hobby. This means building inventory for shows, and some shows may require you to participate in “quick carve” competitions. So, I spent a weekend just trying to improve my speed, and the three eagles above were the result. For the one on the left, I held myself to a strict 1-hour limit. Clearly, I have much to learn! A pro like Ryan Cook can carve an owl in 10 minutes, paint and all! In my defense, he uses western cedar which cuts like butter (at least, this is what I tell myself!).
It’s the little things that keep me going. In this case, it was a butterfly who decided to soak up some sun on my carving while I had my back turned to fill up the bar oil. It was a wonderful day for carving and spiritual refreshment. When I needed inspiration, I did the artsy thing of standing in my yard staring at the tree line waiting for something to come to me. It had been a hard day of cutting up the Ash tree mentioned earlier, and I saw a perched cardinal, barely visible through the trees. It was the direction I needed to start a new carving.
I can’t wait to see what the next year or two brings, as I dig deeper and commit more to this hobby.
