electricity and water make for a dangerous combo, so ice sculptors using power tools always need to be aware of the dangers. Wearing rubber gloves while sculpting is one way to help protect yourself.
updated 12/27/23 with an electrical tip that just occurred to me, and 8/2/23 with formatting and seo, plus some minor changes
electricity and water, plus power tools
Ever since you were little, you’ve known that electricity and water don’t mix. If you carve ice with power tools at above freezing temperatures, then you definitely have to keep this in mind.
However, ice sculpting in warm temperatures is not the same thing as someone throwing you a clock radio or a hair dryer while you’re taking a bath. Because when I carve, I usually wear insulated gloves and boots. The rubber in my boots and gloves gives me some measure of protection from a shock. Also, the purity of the ice that I and most other sculptors use also helps a little; pure water, unlike tap water, is a lousy conductor. But since a bad day with electricity could be your last day, always proceed with extra caution and CONSULT AN ELECTRICIAN IF THERE’S ANY QUESTION ABOUT SAFETY!
Electricity always wants to find the quickest, easiest way to ground. If that way is through you, you have a problem!
Quick tips for dealing with electricity and water while ice sculpting:
- Use GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) whenever possible
- No exposed circuits
- Rubber gloves and boots
- Double insulated tools
- Common sense approach (i.e., Don’t spray ice at an electrical outlet, etc.)
- Awareness of where your electrical cords are at all times: IT’S EASY TO CUT A CORD WITH A CHAINSAW!
- Maybe use battery operated power tools whenever possible? Some battery chainsaws are finally powerful enough for sculpting ice. (Makita, Stihl, plus others)
- If you feel any electricity AT ALL, find and fix the problem! Get well qualified, PROFESSIONAL help if there’s any question!
links and stuff
This post is listed on the ice sculpting techniques page. There’s also another earlier post on power tool safety (but not electricity so much). You could also find photos and info from this entry on the ice sculpting secrets Instagram account or the facebook page. You can comment there as well as below. And if it won’t LET you comment below, then definitely comment on fb and/or IG instead. Thanks!
