Brutally Refined

I have been making sculptures ever since I was a little kid. I find that the three dimensional aspects of a sculpture are much easier for me to grasp than the flat world of the drawing or painting. I really admire people who have that talent.

At this time I have found that the logging industry has become one of my best sources for wood. They leave behind stumps and knarled wood that is useless for lumber. Well one mans junk is another mans treasure, and so is the case of the discarded wood. I find the wood no one wants to have unbelievably beautiful grain patterns, that explode with radiance once finished. It is also in these rejects I find the wood demanding to be a certain thing.

I never rush a project, especially if the piece of wood is really interesting. I have had unique pieces of wood lie around for years before I ever touch them. Then one day it will come to me and I see what is inside. It is like looking at one of those magic eye pictures with the hidden images. Once I know what is in the wood, I am compelled to release it as soon as I possibly can. I will usually sink my saw into it the very same day that I perceive the image.

The first cuts are always the most important and must be well thought out, especially if there are large relieved areas. The saws I use at this stage are a Husquavarna 372 with a 32 inch bar and my trusty Echo 346 with a 16 inch bar. Wings, legs, and fins should be left with a generous amount of extra wood for the detail carving. Plunge cuts must be the most accurate of all because once they are made the option of shrinking the shape in any way is lost.

After this series of rough cuts the piece should have a blocky appearance of the end product. Sharpening the chain for different types of wood is an art unto itself, and a necessary thing to learn to perform the best of work. I will write more on that in a later article. The second series of cuts really is where you bring out the subject to a refined rough form. I will usually use a smaller saw like an Echo 346 with a 16 inch bar for this phase.

Do not worry about detail at this point , but leave plenty of wood to create it. I will take this step as close to the finish as I possibly can.

The third and final round of chainsaw cuts are all done with a small saw with a carving bar. The Echo 346 with a 12 inch dime tip is ideal. This is where all of the detail is brought to life. After this series of cuts are accomplished some touch up with a die grinder finishes the carving part of the job.

Remember you are seeking the illusion of detail. No wood project, even a chainsaw carving is finished without some sanding. I use a combination of sanders to finish the job. Great care should be taken at this point for you are your own quality control. Removing burrs, roughness, and splinters might save your customer a nasty splinter or abrasion, besides they finish better when cleaned up in this way. There are a myriad of finishes out there for your finished project. I will cover those in another article dedicated to that step entirely. In closing remember art is the illusion of detail, especially a chainsaw carving.

Chainsaws are extremely dangerous when using the tip like you will when carving. You will need to bond with your saw and understand how and why it kicks back, once you do it will do what you want as long as you out smart it.

Heroes of The New World

The abundance of the universe is ever before those who wish to see it. The treasures that await us when we open our minds to the unlimited resources we have at our disposal are amazing. With this power, we can transform our world into one of wonder and beauty.

Unfortunately, There is also the abundance of greed and lifestyle seeking zealots who have little regard for the planet or their fellow man. We have become a society of people who's only purpose is to have and consume more. Our goal should produce more so others may also have as well. When the world is full of need, it is pointless to continue with the consumption mentality. With knowledge comes the responsibility of using it wisely that is beneficial to mankind. I am not proposing communism, but rather people willingly doing taking care of the business of world stewardship.

This world has great potential for good when generosity, purpose, value, courage, and honesty rule the actions of those with power. Everyone on this planet has some level of power, capacity for action, all with the ability to enact some level of change within their circle of influence. If you are in the Home Based Business Industry these principals are part of the mantra. Unfortunately, greed has also become a major part of that mantra as well, consuming some peoples entire thought life. The visions of huge mansions, sports cars, jet planes, and exotic vacations become the main focus.

Great leaders from all walks of life and nationalities have resounded a message of service repeatedly. That message is being spread again with the new President of the United States of America. Will it fall on deaf ears? Has mankind's greed overwhelmed their capacity for the changes that are necessary to save our world? As for me and my house we will work daily to ensure a better tomorrow for future generations.

Change is a process, we all know this to be true, and nothing happens overnight. If we as residents of this amazing miracle called Earth begin to clean our house it will shine like never before. If we make the move to more efficient energy sources and toys now it is possible to change the future of our planet. If we give a little more without having some hidden agenda we will still have more than we need. If we make honesty, value, and action our guides this world will never want.

It is time to do our part. For those who live in America it is past time. It is time to give back to a world that has given us so much. It is time to be worthy of the lifestyle we are fortunate enough to have in America. Even now as our economy is uncertain we still enjoy one of the highest standards of living the world has ever known. If you have been blessed it is time to step up to the plate and invest your time, money, and energy for a better world. There is an old saying "When good men stand still evil flourishes." It is time for good to flourish and for those with power to exercise it.

"In the cocoon of failure await the wings of opportunity."

William Muncrief 2007

Tips on the Best Composite Deck Materials

The best composite decking materials are composed of different recycled materials, mainly plastics and wood. The best composite decking materials take away the problems of standard wood decking. Wood can fade, be a place mold to develop, crack and splinter. Wood decking requires seasonal treatment by sealing for the deck to maintain its original beauty, durability and feel. In the last 10 years when composite deck materials came to the marketplace, consumers were given some relief from these common maintenance problems typically associated with wood deck materials.

Composite deck materials are generally a bit more expensive than wood materials. The extra cost (sometimes 2 -3 times the cost of wood deck materials) is offset by the money saved in that you do not have the maintenance costs of wood with composite deck materials, it won't deteriorate over time (although some wood deck materials have a long life span) by cracking or splintering requiring replacement. The best composite deck materials have uniform coloring that will last the lifetime of the material.

There are almost a dozen different brands of composite deck materials for the consumer to choose from. The choices are quite broad and can be overwhelming. Some brands manufacture only the deck boards, while others provide a complete system including matching railings, and other decorative components to truly customize your deck. Some are more structurally sound, although most will stand up to the most rigid consumer standards and tests. All offer a wide choice in color and texture, the choice is really up to the consumer and which brand will fit the end-users final design criteria.

Since composite deck materials were introduced, many of the leading manufacturers continue with aggressive in-house testing and support of their products to live up to tough industry standards and consumer demands. These products are now more resistant to staining, higher UV resistance (fading) and structural integrity over the life of the product.

Many of your big-box home improvement stores can provide you with a number of different brands to choose from. My suggestion is to talk to a local deck building contractor for suggestions from a professional installer. They have years of experience in working hands-on with the various composite decking materials and give you valuable information on what will work best in your particular geographic area and value for the money.

My name is James, My business partner and I have spent the last 12 years designing custom single family homes and numerous additions and remodeling projects. I have over 20 years experience in the area of residential construction. To read my blog on home remodeling and renovation tips go to:

http://www.renovate-remodel-tips.blogspot.com/