I can remember the phone calls to suppliers and their reaction when I told them was I was doing. “You’re doing what” one vendor said…. “wow, that going to be one big project”. I was able to source wood for the small model locally even though most of the Basswood comes from the east coast. I used 4/4 material which is about 1” thick boards. Each of them  would be processed to square up all edges before gluing them up into what would be a 4” x 36” x 60” slab. While constructing the smaller American flag I was constantly imagining the much larger flag, asking myself what considerations will need to be made and trying my best to foresee the potential problems ahead. Glue up’s this large are typically done for massive beams and support structures not American Flag Art. The open time of most glue is around 15 min, which means that once the glue is applied you have no more than 15 min to get it clamped. This may sound adequate, but I assure you it is not!  I would have to assemble a team of people to expedite the glue up, and purchase specialized equipment for applying the glue quickly. I would have to purchase Dozens of bar clamps and bars made to accommodate  the length necessary to clamp them together. I would have to fabricate intermediate supports for the bar clamps to keep them flat as the weight of the American flag art would surely cause them to sag.

One of the challenges in sculpting an American flag art in motion is that the stripes have inconsistent and erratic movement making it difficult to predict the pattern. I looked for a photograph of a flag in motion, that had just the right amount of movement, but maintained a relatively rectangular form. Once that was done, I projected it onto the wood surface and mapped out the highs and lows as if it were a topographic map. Once that was complete it was taken out to the carving bay, where the once flat slab of basswood marked up with crazy topographic lines, was transformed into its first basic form. This is the foundation of the movement we will see when the stripes and color come into play.  

Now that the movement of the American Flag Art was established is was time to bring it to life with stars n stripes. I had fabricated a a jig to hold the sculpture upright and was able to use one of my long awaited studio additions, “Floor Receivers” basically they are the same as what you would insert a trailer hitch into a vehicle, although they are set deep into the concrete foundation. This allows me to place any 2×2 square tubing into the floor securely, without any support and make any sorta jig I can imagine. This set up not only allowed me to hold the American Flag Art, but to regulate the height for carving and finishing as well.

The next step was to project the stars and stripes for transfer. One crazy line after another and each of the 50 stars marked out for carving. Lucky for me Basswood is a very light colored wood making my transferred lines show up  quite nicely. OK.. step back and let’s see.  Ah yes, this will do. This transformation is exciting because the American flag art you imagined is finally coming to life, confirming in my head what I had pictured from the beginning.

To the left:  The majority of the carving is now complete, now lines are sharpened and the surface is sanded with 220 sandpaper to make the surface smooth and uniform, allowing the woodgrain to show through the finish to come.

Now the stars, They are fairly small in this model measuring only 1.25 inched wide, and so I plasma cut out 50 stars, only I made tabs on them so that I could hold them while hammering them out on the anvil. once the hammered look was achieved they were cut off and ground smooth on the edges. This was a little tedious, but gratifying to see the results. The stars were going to be attached with small brads, so small pilot hole was also drilled into the center of each star.  A clear coat of Krylon was applied to the stars to protect their appearance.

The American Flag Art was really coming together, the lines were flowing elegantly and it felt good to sweep my hands across its smooth flowing surface. After hours and hours of sanding, the flag it nearly complete and all that remains is the color.  This is both a nerve racking and vitally important step, due to the fact that you have countless hours bringing this sculpture to form and the final result lies solely in my ability to bring this American flag Art to life. You want the wood to be the star of the show, painting it beyond recognition would be disrespectful. To give it an “Ol Glory” feel is also important. First off the colors are bright and offensive, and they are applied thin as to show the underlying wood grain. I carefully painted the vast borders between stripe leaving the “white” stripes as natural wood tone and placing red appropriately in its place.  This next step is to clear coat the whole thing before applying the glaze. The glaze itself is a bit of an art-form as it needs to be in just the right places to make this American Flag Art pop. This has to be the largest transformation the sculpture takes, partly because its the “grand finally” but also because the final results become evident, everything you worked hard to bring to fruition now becomes evident.

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The sculpture is finally clear coated for protection and the client is absolutely thrilled with the result, however, there is a bit of a sad ending to this story. In the end the larger 10’ x 19’ flag would not be commissioned, as we could not agree upon a price to bring the project to life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to make the model and look forward to finding someone or some corporation that wants to see it through. So… Maybe you know of a place, or a person that would be interested in seeing such a project through. If so, please reach out, I would be absolutely thrilled to supersize this model into something really special.

This would be the first major project to roll out of the studio since the fire, so you could imagine how excited I was to get back to sculpting.  This had been the longest period of time I had ever gone without making art and I was more than ready.

I just so happened to have the right material as well. Almost two years prior, my neighbor Tracy had given me a very large Ponderosa Pine (47″ in diameter) that had to be removed due to its proximity to a power line. Since that section weighed in at around 4600 lbs, my own crane was going to be insufficient, so I called up a friend who own’s a full size crane … Thank you (North Idaho truck and Crane) 

Paul is a true professional crane operator, and with a little effort, he help me get the sculpture situated and before long it was staged in the new carving bay ready to get to begin carving. Below are a few pictures of the process. When you’re standing beside a log this large, you truly feel like its a giant wall.

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As often as I carve bears, I  still get a little nervous on a life-size kodiak grizzly The fact that we were after a particular look, and the investment of time being much more significant, only adds to to the pressure to get it right.  When ever I get a chance to carve a life-size Kodiak Grizzly bear on this scale, I’m mindful of how the details will play out. Although the grizzly claws are very authentic,  they are not “real”. They are museum quality replicas and really add a strong sense of just how dangerous the business end of these beasts are.  It can be a bit tricky to install the claws but it’s by far the most impressive feature, which makes a Kodiak Grizzly Bear such a revered creature.  

Quick Facts

How Long Did It Take You To Sculpt A Life-Size Grizzly Bear?

The whole process  took about 6 weeks which includes setup, blocking, detailing, oil, and finish work. There are a number of stages that require dry times and lengthy applications.

Are The Grizzly Bear Claws Real?

No, However they are museum quality replica’s cast in resin from real Kodiak Grizzly claws.

What is the Finished Height and Weight and Diameter?

Height = 8′ 3″  / Diameter 46″ /  Weight 1,939 lbs

Original Log Weight 4600 lbs

What Is The Most Challenging Aspect Of Carving

Wood carving is unique in that you only get one chance to get it right.  So, on large wood sculptures there is always an  extra measure of pressure to make sure you achieve what your after. 

Kodiak Cakes was kind enough to sponsor a pancake feed, in which we were sent a boat load of Kodiak Cakes product to throw a big party. It was a great opportunity for people to see the big life-size kodiak grizzly sculpture in person, as well as the recently completed Jeff May Art studio…   Shortly after the feed, My wife Kindra and I delivered the kodiak Grizzly in person to their headquarters in Park City, Utah.  It was a mixture of business and pleasure as it had been a long awaited getaway since the studio fire way back in January. Big Thank you to Kodiak Cakes and their team for commissioning the sculpture and providing such a warm welcome upon our visit.

I tried a new profile that really surprised me… It’s the “1/4 Shank Concave (Course Grit)” by Saburrtooth  which I paired up with the Makita GD 0603 die grinder. There are a couple of things that I look for when using a tool, and comfort and ergonomics play a pretty large role as you have to manipulate these tools constantly in order to allow the “Bit” to work for you.  The Concave profile was fantastic in carving the fur of this red fox art. It has what they called a “safety end”, which has no teeth on the very top of the bit,  allowing you to get nice sharp edges and gives you a little better control.  I liked it so much, that I bought another Makita GD 0603 so that I can have it ready to use at a moments notice.   It has definitely earned a spot on my “tool carriage”!  Many other bits and carving wheels played their role as I worked out the character of this carved red fox art.  So… I want to send a big Thank You to @Saburrtooth for sponsoring this sculpture! The installation is not scheduled for a while, so I’m happy to enjoy it displayed prominently in my studio until then.

   The sculpture was created as a gift for retired Marine General Ray Fox, who served our country for 37 years. Fox, originally an aviator, served on multiple assignments during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as on deployments with the 11th, 13th and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units. He has served as a flight instructor with Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301; led the Enlisted Counseling/Substandard Performance Section Enlisted Assignment Branch at Headquarters Marine Corps; worked in the Joint Requirements Division J-8 Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff; served as executive officer and commanding officer of Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron Yuma; and was the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing liaison officer to the Combined Air Operations Center, Qatar.

The sculpture was commissioned by fellow serviceman Admiral Chris Paul among other family members that wanted to purchase something special to commemorate his career and contributions. The General has a home near lake Coeur d’ Alene, in northern Idaho where the sculpture will be installed. It’s really an honor to create sculptures that play a small role in helping to recognize a life well lived.  I always find it interesting how we many of us closely identify with animals. When I initially talk with clients about a sculpture, they often already have a subject in mind. In the General’s case, his last name brings great significance but the animal itself is also a very strong character.  Foxes are extremely intuitive creatures, with a heighten sense of awareness and always ready to respond swiftly with little to no warning.  I personally love Foxes, they are so expressive and I could carve a dozen or so and never run out of ways to capture all of their many expressions.  

 I had also realized that it was going to be difficult to summarize….  In spite of having mountains of things I could share the important thing to get across to those that are following my journey is that God was faithful to carry me through. I had many people reaching out to say that I was an inspiration, but it didn’t really feel that way in the midst of all that was taking place.

It brought me to an understanding that, … like the sculpting process, life itself can be messy. It’s your core beliefs and values that are the bedrock that keeps your vision alive. Many times I will look at a sculpture and move around it as if to ask the wood .. “What’s next”?   and other times I feel like a matador squaring off with a raging bull.  Each mindset requires a different response and I don’t often choose one method over another. I instead choose my instincts or my creativity to tackle it one action at a time.  Before you know it things begin to form and something amazing takes place out of total chaos.  You see shapes appear and subjects defined.. a smirk suddenly appears as you begin to trust yourself and wade through it to the end. I hope that you find encouragement in knowing that everyone has areas of their life that are out of sorts but you just have to make sense of whats in front of your right now, as the other things find their place…      

  The studio is more than I could ever dream, and although its taken 20 years for me to arrive at this accomplishment, its no less gratifying to relish in the moment. A big thank you to all of you who are following me on my journey as an artist. Your support of my art and encouragement means a tremendous amount to me and my family.  I’ve included some images to let you see all thats been accomplish in this past 9 months. You can follow additional content on instagram @jeffmayart

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Lastly, I was recently commissioned by Kodiac Cakes based out of Park City Utah… to Sculpt a life-sized Kodiak Grizzly bear. They produce really healthy food product line and they have graciously provide a bunch of product for us to have a pancake feed here at the studio so that people can see the Grizzly in person before it’s delivered. So with that said, we want to formally invite you to the studio this Saturday the 23rd of November from 9am – 12pm. This is a great opportunity to see the new studio, the Grizzly and visit with me and my family as we wrap up 2019.

If you plan to attend shoot me a text or e-mail and I’ll send you directions

Jeff 208-215-5208

Jeff@Jeffmayart.com

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By then my son Dylan had came out and moved our ATV out and away from the structure and I was able to run into one of the open lean to’s to grab a few small sculptures and three of my primary carving saws.  By this time ,the walls of the structure were now a deep orange as the heat began to build.  From this point, all I could do was to stand back and watch 20 years of tools and a significant collection of both completed art and art in progress burn to the ground.

 The following weeks have been incredibly emotional, I think I cried more in that first week following the fire than I had in the previous 20 years combined, but not necessarily tears of pain so much as tears of gratitude and thankfulness as so many reached out to pour out love and support over me and my family.  Encouraging notes, messages on facebook and instagram and meals for what must have been 10 days after the fire.  I am so thankful for all of you who have been there with us in the trenches.

After the shock and awe had subsided we began the enormous  task of documentation and insurance. I’ll spare you the verbal summery only to say that it is not fun, and will take some time to execute.  There was a point about two weeks in, that we had an old version of Microsoft excel crash loosing all of the recorded data for insurance. Needless to say …. extremely frustrating.  

It’s now been seven weeks and It’s seems much like an onion peeling back layer upon layer of emotions and frustration as we press forward to rebuild. I have drawn up some new plans, and we have applied for some financing so that we can expand the shop size and upgrade a few pieces of equipment to better execute future projects . Although it’s been tough, I am beginning to see that the silver lining as we retool and prepare for a whole new chapter.

Here are some highlights of what’s been accomplished so far:

 – The structure has been completely cleared to  bare ground…. and now buried in 3 feet of snow

– Plans drawn for a new structure  

– Approval by Country for a new structure to be built

– Submission of  a portion of our Insurance documentation  

– Replacement of a basic set of tools for Carving

– A Temporary tent set up for working on our property

– Building site is prepared, ready begin

Some of whats Ahead:

– Find subcontractors and suppliers for rebuilding the structure

– Continue to work on ways to replace tools and equipment and coordinate their arrival so that they are ready for work when the structure is in place

– Get back to carving projects that I can accomplish with my basic set of tools

– Organize & Plan for the upcoming show season

          we have decide to cut some shows back to two or three for the remaining 2019 season  

– Working in clay on some new sculptures, which will be cast in Bronze. we will be offering a precast, so again,  stay tuned by either reaching out directly, or subscribing to our newsletter  

– Start the new structure estimated timeline …. April with about 6-8 week build out

 I will be sharing some BIG  plans for both the new studio and the direction of my art, some of which was already in motion before the fire but never openly discussed, so I encourage you to make sure your Subscribed to our newsletter to receive the latest news and updates as we rise from the ashes and rebuild.  

The last thing that I want to say is  a huge thank you to everyone who has joined in to help us get back on our feet and rebuild. My family and I were blown away that perfect strangers are so willing to help us, and it has only spurred me on, and encouraged me to push through and come back stronger than ever.

We are humbled by people asking for ways that they can help and for those that wish to,  here are some links below:

 https://www.gofundme.com/jeff-may-art-studio-rebuild?pc=em_db_co2876_v1&rcid=34cd2d4f99064351a564baa96fc6396f

    This account was set up within hours of the fire by our neighbor Tracy Johnson, and we are truly grateful for all of you have have contributed  

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3SSX2MMCCZPM8?ref_=wl_share

   This is a list set up through amazon that allows people to purchase smaller tools that need replacement and they will automatically be removed form the list as they are purchased, and then shipped directly to me.  

 Physical Help –

    If you live within the greater Coeur d’ alene area and want to help out, I’d encourage you to shoot me an e-mail with the skills and or tools that you have so that I can coordinate with the various aspects of the rebuild process

         – Electrical

         – Rough and finish

         – Concrete Floor

        – Acid stain and seal floor

         – Minor plumbing

         – Two sinks

          – Toilet

          Making of a:

               Project table (5 x 8)

               Benches / Chop saw station

               Painting

               Roofing Asphalt shingle

               Fabrication of some jigs

               Air system installation

               Dust collection system installation

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 I quickly realized that they are just as diverse as any of us and often times have experienced traumatic circumstances that have set them back.  The reality is that there are all kinds of people who need help, need love and the only thing separating us, is our willingness to push through the surface a bit to reach out and get to know someone in need. Kaleidoscope is just that to our local community offering help to people in need, and offering a support network for those who want to bring physical and spiritual restoration back to their lives. KCS helps them to connect with important resources to get back on their feet to fulfill their mission of  “helping people help themselves”.

in the past 5 years Kaleidoscope Community Services has:

– Had over 450 volunteers from numerous churches within our community

– over 50,000 points of contact with those in need

– over 40,000 in funding directly distributed to Urgent Needs

‍ So why am I going off on this tangent you ask?  Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho is my home town and I feel a sense of responsibility to use the things that I’m passionate about to help others, so I am donating 50% of this “Back-Scratching Black Bear”  The purchase price is 2,400, but 1,200 of this will be diverted directly to Kaleidoscope and this portion (1,200.00) will be tax deductable. I’d like to encourage you to check out their website, or better yet, get in touch with Gar Mickelson the organizations founder, to schedule a tour of their facility.  I’ve been hearing some incredible stories of lives being transformed through this organization. It’s very likely that your perception will be challenged as you begin to better understand the needs within our community.  

As a Special Bonus Paypal is offering No Transaction fees on donations made today (November 27th 2018), and will match donated funds up to 7 million while the funds last, so in order to insure that KCS can take full advantage we must act quick …. as there are many NPO’s in the running for matching funds.

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Please consider sharing this post with those who you think might want to help in any way…

  Kaleidoscope Community Services

      P.O. Box 3555  

      Hayden, Idaho 83835

   501 C3 Non profit

   Website: www.kaleidoscopecs.org

   Contact: Founder- Gar Mickelson

   Phone:  (208) 699-2250

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‍”Back-Scratching Black Bear”

 Medium: Wood / Pine

 Size: 70” Tall 40” Diameter

 Price : 2,400 W/ 1,200 going directly to Kaleidoscope Community Services

 Description:

     This Black bear has a large character base and has a very fun-loving posture to remind us to keep life’s challenges in perspective

Update April /2020 – The bear mentioned above  was tragically destroyed in Jeff May’s Studio fire (Jan 21st 2019)  

Best Tool Ever

Just about every guy has a thing for tools, and I can remember my grandfather telling me to always use the right tool for the job. In the case of lifting giant logs, this can be quite an expensive endeavor. For quite some time I have avoided large scale projects simply because I had no way to lift, move or deliver large sculptures. But wait no further…. 

  I have just completed the fabrication of my new truck equipped perfectly for retrieving and lifting large logs for sculpting. The truck which was converted & fabricated by Cooper Fabrication in Post falls Idaho, It now has a knucklboom crane capable of lifting  2,750 lbs and a 8′ x 9′ deck big enough for large logs and whatever else I might need to haul. 

Wether it’s large grizzly sculpture, a huge eagle,  or any other large piece, I’ll be ready to go! This is part two of my live carving roadshow.

  – Part one was my 6×12 enclosed trailer complete with a vinyl vehicle wrap sporting www.jeffmay.com and pictures of some of my work.  This allows me to do live carving demonstrations just about anywhere, carrying both tools and finished sculptures.

– Part two is the truck mentioned above. You may see me around town, believe me you won’t miss it. The Truck is a black Ford F-450 with orange graphics, and the trailer is also black and orange.  

Live carving serves as my way to connect with the community. To see art is one thing, but to interact with the process of creating it art is another. Many times I will partner with a local business to attract people.  This gives people a chance to see the creative process in action, ask questions and of coarse, visit the sponsoring business as well. If you’re interested in hosting a live carving demonstration, get in touch with me soon, as I limit the number of live demo’s I set up each year.  Check out the “Behind the Scenes Gallery to see the truck in action.

I get people all the time asking me for advise on what saws to use, and or what I recommend, so I thought I’d just offer up some thoughts for people to consider. Since we live here in the inland northwest, and are pretty much surrounded by timbered land, it’s no surprise that there are many people who own a chainsaw. Even still, there are many people who want a saw but don’t know where to start. Even though there are many manufactures producing chainsaws, not all of them are created equal. I personally use Stihl saws, but I wouldn’t necessarily say that they are the only good saws on the market. The mainstream brands are Stihl, Husqvarna, and Echo, but there are other brands out there…       I categorize users into the following categories, you may fit into more than one, but it will help you decide what saw might be best for you and your application.

Home Owner – Mostly occasional use, you want a saw that can cut the most common sized, manageable timber and be small enough that safety is not compromised by lack of experience.

Wood Cutter – Proficient with a saw, utilizes a chainsaw to maintain property, cuts firewood frequently. 

Professional – Tree service pro’s, Logger’s, Carver’s, or other individual’s who uses a chainsaw as a primary tool.

On a side note, if your in my area, I’d highly recommend visiting the fine folks at Ragan Equipment here in Coeur d’ Alene Idaho, they are friendly and knowledgeable about everything they sell. They are dealers for Stihl outdoor power equipment as well as a multitude of other farm and ranch equipment.

                                                                                             Things to Consider:

Size – You never want to use the wrong tool for the job, and that stays true for using a chainsaw. Consistently using a saw that is too small for the material you’re trying to cut can increase the load on the engine and cause excessive wear on your saw, which is designed to run at a high rpm. So make sure you buy a saw that will proficiently cut both the size and the volume of material your planning to cut most frequently.

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Power vs. Length of Bar -All saws are rated by the manufacture to push a chain along a specific range of bar lengths. There is a lot to be said for having more than one saw, but if you have to choose one, then you need to consider carefully your application, and what you plan on cutting the majority of the time. It’s also not a bad idea to purchase two bars , one at the saws minimum recommended length, and one at the saw maximum rated length, so that you have the option to cut larger material when necessary.

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Weight -The bigger the saw, the heavier it will be, so you’ll need to consider whether you are strong enough to handle that particular saw. Not just on the sales floor, but when you’re tired after a day of cutting. You’ll be more likely to get hurt while lifting the saw to limb branches, or carrying it through the woods. When cutting firewood, wearing chaps, and large boots, a person who is not used to this activity can quickly become tired. I personally like smaller saws, but then again I have a multitude to choose from when I need just the right one.

Ergonomics -It’s helpful to see how a saw feels in your hands, the balance, as well as accessibility to things like the air filter, the fuel and bar oil fill caps are important. These are all things that you will access repeatedly and they should perform well. If you are inexperienced, this is where a trustworthy friend or your local saw shop comes in, they have the experience to help you decide which saw is best for you. Put it in your hands, and mimic on all the positions you would use to make various cuts. Some saws come with an “easy start” which can be nice. This function relieves some of the engines compression to allow the pull-chord to be easily pulled when starting.

                                                                                                Other Important Elements 

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 Bar Attachment and Adjustment  – Ask the sales person to demonstrate how to remove the bar, and replace the chain. Through this process, you will learn how to adjust the tension and see how the chain should move freely along the bar. Some beginner users will mistakenly put the chain on backwards (which will not cut) or they will tighten the chainsaw blade too tight. This causes excessive wear on both the engine, and the bar itself.

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Saw Chain / Sharpening -There are many different types of chain, and rather than me going into all of them, you can just jump on the internet and do a bit of research. There are special types of chain for different saws and conditions. Your local saw shop, will be a great resource to get you started. If you’re a beginner, or if you buy a saw right off the shelf your likely to get safety chain, which just means there are some extra pieces on the leading edge of the chain links that keep it from being quite as aggressive (less kickback).  As far as sharpening is concerned, I think that everyone should learn the basics of hand sharpening a saw chain, there are too many situations that you will want to touch up a blade (the teeth), without having to take it somewhere to be professionally sharpened. Purchase the correct size round file for the saw chain you’re using, and make sure you have a handle to go with it. I’m quite certain that most people will find it to be a skill that is easily learned with a little practice. You tube, has tons of videos of people sharpening for you to glean from. Your chain can become dull from dirty wood, from small amounts of sand, or rocks that get embedded into the bark, or more commonly, people running their saw into ground while trying to cut firewood into lengths (called bucking).

Safety -I cannot stress this enough… CHAINSAWS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and the operators need to have a healthy respect for its capabilities, so aside form asking someone to demonstrate the proper use of the saw, you need to purchase some basic safety gear. Chainsaw chaps are specially designed so that the fibrous material inside the chap is designed to come out once penetrated, and bind up the saw chain, keeping it from continuing to cut. There are many styles out there from a full pant, to ones that just cover the front of your pants from the waist to just above your feet. Which ever you choose, make sure they fit properly. Gloves, are also a good idea, since they will not only protect your hands from splinters, but also an accidental brush against the saw blade. The last basic piece of gear is safety glasses, you can find them just about anywhere, I would purchase a couple of pair because they scratch easily and don’t last terribly long. I personally found a pair of “glass” safety glasses, which, believe it or not, are very difficult to find. They’re a bit heavier, but they don’t scratch and I’ve had the same pair for 4-5 years now.

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Saw fuel / fuel oil -Most people I know buy high octane fuel, some take it a step further and buy fuel with no ethanol in it. The EPA has really forced manufactures to reduce emissions coming from saws and other outdoor power equipment, and as a result, some performance has been lost, however, I personally believe that it also makes the saw a bit more finicky, so even more important to treat them well, but putting good fuel into them and also to make sure you use s good quality, manufacture recommended fuel oil. This oil is added to the gasoline to lubricate the internal parts of the engine as it operates. I use also use a “no spill” fuel can which makes it easier to fill small outdoor power equipment without over filling. For most people a small 2 gal can will be sufficient, for those who use a lot of mixed fuel, I’d suggest one five gallon can and one two gallon can so that your not having to mess with the specialized fuel mixture as often. I hope this information will point you in the right direction for your next saw purchase, you really do get what you pay for and I believe that it’s worth paying a little extra to get a saw that will perform when you need it to. Remember that a smaller saw, as long at it meets your needs, will:

 Cost less up front, Use less fuel / fuel oil- Cost less to repair – Is lighter in weight, which means less fatigue- Takes less time to sharpen.

This information is brought to you by Northwest Sculptor Jeff May, if you wish to see a work from Jeff May, you can visit his website www.JeffMayArt.com , or “Like” our facebook page, a less formal sneak peeks behind the scenes at “Sculptures by Jeff May” on facebook.

As always, thank you for your interest….. Jeff May