In the 1980’s the art form got its first big breakthrough during the Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wisconsin – and some years later, in 1987, the first Chainsaw Carving World Championships were arranged. The general impression is most often that this is a form of performance art because of the noise, dust and quick end-result. But, today there are in fact numerous chainsaw carvers around the world that produce truly stunning works of art.
As an art form chainsaw carving has evolved throughout the years, just like the actual saws that now have special guide bars and chains. Carvers normally use bars with particularly small noses to be able to shape their pieces with greater precision, and to increase accuracy even further the chain teeth have been noticeably reduced. Another important difference, compared to regular chainsaws, is that these models are not as prone to “kickback” when using the tip of the bar. However, with that said, there are several basic things you can create with your regular chainsaw. So, to give a hint of the wonderful world of chainsaw carving, here are two great beginner projects. Enjoy!