During carving, an ice carver makes a series of choices. The carver chooses to make a particular change to the work in progress and then chooses the tool to make that change. The choices affect the safety and efficiency of the process as well as the quality and effect of the finished piece. This entry looks at some general tool actions and effects and groups tools according to the way that they’re used. Many tools will fit in multiple categories depending on how they’re used.

Major Subtractive tool actions

Ice is primarily a subtractive medium, meaning you have to remove all the ice that won’t be part of your finished work. There are three main ways to remove ice: shaving, chipping, and melting.

Shaving (plane edge) action: A sharp cutting edge is used to shave the ice. This action is applied to the ice to divide it into sections, shape it, or add details. As long as the edge is sharp and applied in the correct direction, the resulting surface is generally clean. The most basic example of this type of tool is a flat chisel:

(image courtesy of www.icecrafters.com)

    Examples of shaving action tools: In other cutting tools, the basic flat cutting edge is distorted or multiplied. Examples of tools that can create this effect include: chainsaw, die grinder (with endmill or fluted bits), v-chisel, gouge chisel, handsaw, and bandsaw, among others.

Plane edge tools can sometimes simulate chipping tools (see below) if the direction of the tool’s application is changed. For example, the corner of a flat chisel could be used as a point, although that’s not advisable. Chainsaw chains also have a chipping aspect as well, as the chain’s cutters first contact the ice at a sharp point.

Chipping (point) action: Tools based on this action generally shape the ice by chipping it into small particles so that it disintegrates. The resulting surface is rough. The most basic example of this type of tool is the ice pick:

(image courtesy of www.icecrafters.com)

    Examples of chipping action tools: In other chipping tools, the pick point is multiplied and applied to various shapes. Examples of tools in this group are: six prong, die grinder (burr bits), nailboard, handsaw (tips of the teeth), angle grinder (abrasive disc).

Melting action: Some sort of heat is applied to the ice in a controlled manner, converting the ice into water that usually flows down and away from the sculpture. This method is used less often to shape a sculpture than shaving or chipping, but it’s certainly an important part of carving ice.

   Examples of melting action tools: Propane torch, iron, steam gun.

Secondary actions: Secondary actions are more specialized processes that are applied as needed for some sculptures. They’re often not subtractive in nature, but can have very important roles in creating a sculpture.

    Focused Freezing: This action involves freezing a specific area of the ice, in particular welding two pieces of ice together. Usually refrigerants such as butane are used for this sort of action. Ice itself can also be used. One example of this would be when very cold ice is welded to melting ice. The cold ice is used to absorb energy from the warmer, melting ice, which supplies water. If the weld surfaces are properly matched, freezing and welding results.

    Surfacing: This action is defined by its depth. Surfacing would be considered work on only the outermost layer of the ice, often in order to control how light travels through the sculpture. Cleaning snow or slush off the sculpture is also included.

   Molding: This action involves shaping ice by freezing it in a form. Snowfilling is included in this action, as clear ice is used as a form for freezing white snow/ice.

    Radiant/Environmental: Placing a carving in the sun or in the freezer would be examples, as would thermal shock resulting in internally fractured ice.

    Impact: This action includes physically shocking the ice such as hitting it with a hammer, or dropping it. If the ice doesn’t break completely, the result can be ice that’s white at the impact point from many small fractures. Lesser impacts can also result in smaller internal fractures.

Complimentary actions: These actions compliment or enable other actions.

    Guide:  A tool used for this action guides the effect of another tool. Includes jigs, Alaskan mills, lathes and even portions of CNC machines.

    Control: This is the use of a tool to control the movement of ice, either to hold in place or move it to another. Given the slippery and delicate nature of ice, these tools are very important. Tongs, handtrucks, lifts, and various vises are examples of tools used to control ice.

This entry involved a bit of thought on my part as I tried to decide on the best way to present my ideas. I went through several versions of these ideas as I tried to logically organize tool actions on ice and the tools involved. Realizing that I could probably keep reorganizing them for a while, I decided to present the best ideas I’d had so far and ask for comments and suggestions for improvements. Let me know what you think...