Post #132658 by Lake Surfer on Fri, Dec 24, 2004 11:51 AM

Well, I suppose this is a good time to post up the log I started on this week... could become a fountain but I may use a smaller one... this tiki's mouth won't be high enough like I wanted originally...

Anyhow, this log is just inches shy of 5 foot and 2 feet in diameter... it easily weighs over 300 lbs...

I have been stupid and deadlifted it from the bottom a few times... you know, bear hug it and then heave up... not suggested...

Ben has a great idea about "walking" the log on end... I do that a lot with big heavy ones...

I use a hand truck that I bought for $19.99 at Harbor Freight... it is rated for at least 300 lbs and has inflateable tires... that is how I got it down a flight of stairs into the basement to carve... log on the handtruck and grabbing onto the handle slowing lowering it down one stair at a time...

When I got this log my arborist friend and I heaved it into a pickup truck bed... to get it out I just pushed it off... before I got the hand truck I "walked" the log...

More progress hopefully after the holiday weekend is over...

That wood dump looks like heaven to me!

Oh, this will probably take a while to carve because I'm on this "traditional" kick where everything I carve is chisels only. Chainsaws have scared me, and while I could probably crank this one out quick with one I tend to enjoy the sore arms and the tedious process that carving with chisels brings. The ancients did it that way and it makes me feel kind of connected to that primitive art form in a way by slaving over it. This one is real solid pine, so it takes a little extra effort. I'm into this big one for the enjoyment and taking a little extra time gives me a chance to squeeze a little more out of the art :wink:

[ Edited by: Lake Surfer on 2004-12-24 12:05 ]