THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

1 - CARE FOR YOUR PURCHASE

My Carvings are intended to be displayed Indoor or Outdoor. I always clearly mark any carving intended for indoor display only.

LOCATION – LOCATION – LOCATION 

  • Frequent exposure to H2O, (Water) and extreme sunlight will shorten the life of your carving. On most of my carvings, I use a high quality finish intended for use on wooden decks. It stands up well to sunlight and tolerates damp environments. That said, even the best finish will eventually fail.

  • I do my best to fill cracks in the wood with finish. But even the best carver’s work will crack eventually. It can take as much as 24 hours or more for nature to remove the water absorbed by just 10 minutes of wood directly exposed to water. Rapid cycles of soaking & drying stresses the wood causing cracking. Even the best of wood finishes will fail due to changes in the wood’s moisture.

  • SO, avoid prolonged or frequent exposure to water. Keep the artwork away from down spouts or areas that experience puddling after a rainfall.

  • If possible, MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT.  Some sunlight is good. It helps dry the piece and kills mold & fungus growth. Try to find a location that gets full sunlight about 50% of the day or less. 

  • Avoid placement on BLACK or HOT PAVEMENT. Concrete is better.

  • Avoid man made air currents. Outdoor Air conditioner compressor fans or Furnace Exhaust. 

2 – PRICING – My Pieces are priced based on the following factors. 

  • A – Detail - How real do you want the work?

    • Low = Looks like a dog.

    • Medium = Looks like a specific breed of dog.

    • High = Looks like someone’s pet dog. Unique pose.

  • B – SIZE – Diameter – Height - Weight 

    • I have worked with logs as heavy as 2000 Lbs. The bigger the piece, the more physical it can be to work with.

    • Small = Height of 2 feet or less and 50 Lbs or less.

    • Medium = Height between 2 & 5 feet. Weight 50 to 100 Lbs

    • Large = Greater than 5 feet tall and greater than 100 Lbs

  • C – WOOD SPECIES – Hardwood like Ash or Maple is much harder than Pine.  Saws need more sharpening. Sanding takes longer. Drying – Hardwoods are unstable and require more care while drying. 

  • D – Transportation / Installation – I may need to deliver a large piece.

    • For longer life, I suggest large pieces are installed on a special base. Cement slab and / or a landscaped base. 

2 – CRACKS – (Also Known As “Checking”) Most Wood sculptures will develop cracks as they dry. ALL CARVINGS WILL CRACK. I do my best to minimize the chances of major cracking. A small amount of shrinkage occurs as the wood dries. The center “heartwood” dries slower than the outer layer of the wood. Creating extreme stresses in the outer layer. Eventually the outer layer breaks. Forming a crack. Many chainsaw artists sell their pieces green. (Made from freshly cut wood.) Or they often use old logs that are starting to rot.  It may look beautiful the day you purchase. But, after you get them home, cracks will form as they dry. 

  • I warranty my work against new cracks greater than 5% the diameter of the piece.  

    • On a 10” diameter carving I can repair any cracks that are 3/8"" or more. 

    • Repairs will be visible – But I will do my best to minimize their appearance.  

  • I try to take steps to minimize or repair cracks before you purchase.  

  • I try to find logs that have had time to dry before I carve. 

  • I try treat my smaller pieces with polyethylene-glycol. A non-toxic chemical that stabilizes the wood. (The main ingredient in most over the counter laxatives.) 

  • I try to age most of my works at least a month before I sell them. 

  • Slow Drying – On my favorite pieces, I take extra steps to slow the drying. 

 

 

DELIVERY & INSTALLATION

Two price factors to consider are Delivery and Installation. I build installation into the price for large pieces. Delivery is negotiable with the buyer and depends mainly on distance.

SIZE SMALL = It is assumed the buyer will transport and install the item per my recommendations above.

SIZE MEDIUM = It is assumed the buyer will transport and install the item per my recommendations above. Price of delivery and / or installation can be negotiated at the time of purchase.

SIZE LARGE = It is assumed that delivery and installation will be by me. Cost of delivery and installation is built into the base price. (Within 25 miles of Wausau Wisconsin. Installation style (See below) will impact pricing.

INSTALLATION STYLES

A - Simple = Most small and medium, sized carvings assume a simple installation. If I think a piece may be installed on bare pavement, I add plastic feet under the base.

B - Slab = Base is a simple concrete paver pad or vented concrete block placed on the ground.

C - Landscaped = Base landscaped into the ground. consists of layers of landscape cloth, gravel, road base and a vented concrete block.

SECURE = If you are concerned about theft, I can install a secure base. Slab or Landscape Installs with 4-foot steel rebars extending through the base deep into the ground.