ice sculpting tools & equipment
what this is (or will be 😬)
Impossible as it is to separate tools from technique, this page is an attempt to focus more on the tools themselves. Look at the techniques page for more about how to use ice sculpting tools and equipment. Sadly, so far this page is like some other pages on ice sculpting secrets: not totally working right yet. I’m trying to fix the techniques page first, and then I’ll turn my full attention to this dumpster fire 🔥. But I may sneak a few little fixes in earlier.
if there’s any place you need a giant selection of ice sculpting tools, it’s at the World Ice Art Championships in Alaska!
emphasis on SAFETY!
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to hear that ice sculpting tools are dangerous. A cold, sharp, and delicate medium combined with often extreme work conditions and speedy material removal? And maybe electricity + water too? Yes, that sounds dangerous. So we’ll start with the safety-related entries first.
chainsaw kickback hazards
dealing with electricity and water
power tool safety
wire mesh safety glasses
one of the most important ice sculpting tools is, of course, the chainsaw
ice sculpting tools: a wide variety
Experienced ice sculptors often employ a wide variety of tools to get the job done. Some are garden variety tools that you can get just about anywhere while others are specialized and hard to get.
my ice sculpting toolbox
basic tools
chainsaw: choosing a brand of saw
chainsaw: hazards of kickback
chainsaw: splitting a block of ice (video)
chisels: sharpening and restoration, before
chisels: sharpening and restoration, after
die grinders: Makita GD0800C &Â GE0600
electric blower
ice pick
iron
Junichi saw
nailboard
power tool safety
score stick
tools: bit by bit (die grinder bits)
Some of the most specialized ice sculpting tools are the bits that ice sculptors use in die grinders. These bits enable ice carvers to texture, shape, and cut the ice in many different ways. Artists will change out the bits on their die grinders depending on their needs at the time.
bullet burr bit, Makita GD0800C & GE0600 die grinders
conical end mill comparison (video)
Brice bubble bit
power tool safety
working on an American eagle in the freezer with a chainsaw
tools: CNC machines
As ice sculptors try various methods to efficiently create ice art and produce ice wares, new technologies are sometimes adopted. One of the most successful technologies available to modern ice sculptors is the CNC machine. Adapted to work in cold temperatures, the CNC offers remarkable precision that’s especially useful for ice logos and specialized designs in ice. ice sculpting secrets has a new section devoted to CNCs, but it would be negligent to not mention them here.
Saab ice car
man vs. machine
CNC: an ice carving robot
rise of the machines
ice portraits
display equipment
Ice art isn’t good for much if nobody ever sees it. Displaying ice sculptures presents a couple of unusual challenges. First, they melt, so you have to keep the meltwater under control. Second, they’re usually heavy, so trays and tables need to be able to handle the weight. And finally, a poorly lit ice sculpture is an invisible ice sculpture. So proper lighting is crucial!
emergency ice tray
tubing tips
basic LED lighting
pumps for ice bars
trays for larger carvings (bars, etc.)
meltwater drainage container
disposable display trays