Jonsered Chain Saw Artist Tries Hand at Wood
Jonsered/Tilton Carving Team Member Working at his
Craft
Greg Schmotzer, a member of the award-winning
Jonsered/Tilton Equipment Ice-Carving team, has been busy since he and his
chain-saw-wielding brethren returned earlier this year from successful trips to
international competitions in Minnesota and Alaska.
Known to his teammates simply as “Cookie,” Schmotzer
specializes in animal figures and flowing pieces featuring curves. Until
recently that was only when carving ice, but due to, as Schmotzer said, “the
weak dollar and lack of business,” he began carving wood sculptures using his
Jonsered chain saws.
Thus far, he has created some impressive pieces including
bears, birds, and bald eagles. Most recently, he crafted an impressive piece of
a bear reaching up trying to grab a fish from the clutches of a bald eagle.
“I get my ideas from seeing what other carvers are doing,
seeing what is selling at garden and knick-knack stores, or whatever people ask
me to carve,” said Schmotzer, who lives in Hastings, Minn., with his wife,
Sharyl, and two sons, Tyler and Riley.
Schmotzer, who is a chef when he isn’t carving, approaches
his work in both fields in a thoughtful and artistic manner.
“My work process starts with finding the right chunk of
wood,” he said. “I rough-saw out the larger chunks from top to bottom to get a
rough shape, then shave away to perfect the carving. From there I detail with
my saw, then rotary tool the final details and burn with a torch to pull it all
together.”
One thing Schmotzer stressed is that he keeps safety at the
forefront when working.
“Wear the safety gear,” he said. “Saw chaps or pants,
gloves, eye, ear and head protection, and boots. Chain saws are dangerous and
when carving you must be focused and ready for the saw to kick, because sometimes
you are doing something that the saw is not meant to do.”
Schmotzer has been carving for some 15 years now.
Interestingly, it was in a kitchen where Schmotzer made his first sculpture. It
came by way of a challenge from his boss.
“I had been doing fruit and vegetable carvings and the chef
brought in two ice blocks for our buffet and said, ‘I bet you can’t carve
this.’ He handed me a tired, old, brand-X chain saw and a picture of two doves
kissing on a heart. I surprised him not only because it turned out, but because
I did it fairly fast.”
Thus began Schmotzer’s foray into the world of ice-carving.
Today, he swears by Jonsered chain saws to help with his creations.
“I really like the Jonsered (CS 2116EL) electric chain saw,”
he said. “It has impressive power. The first time I used them was in Fairbanks,
Alaska, at the Ice Carving World Championships. We put a custom, three-foot bar
and chain on and it cut like butter!”
Schmotzer utilized a custom 12-inch bar and modified chain
for smaller cuts and detailing.
Schmotzer is looking to try the Jonsered CS 2040 gas chain
saw, as well. He likes what he has heard about its power, reliability, and the
fact that it is easy to start.
Greg Schmotzer plans to continue his ice-carving adventures
this winter, and hopes to spend more time on wood carvings as business picks
up. Through it all, he’ll have a Jonsered chain saw in his hands helping him
with his newest creations.
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Jonsered Chain Saw Artist Tries Hand at Wood
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