**UPDATE 7/7/10**   Edwin Winslow won the die grinder and carving bit! More details here...

    Okay, the last contest is over with (Congratulations to Victor Dagatan, who won the ice sculpting book by Yukio Matsuo!), so on to the next contest. The prize that you’ll be vying for this time is a Makita GE0600 die grinder from Ice Crafters. This model of die grinder is one of the most widely used tools amongst ice carvers and most pro ice sculptors have several of these, each fitted with a different specialized carving bit. By the way, despite the photo above, die grinders don’t usually come with any bits included. However, so that the winner will get a tool that actually carves ice instead of one that only will carve ice after you spend more money, Ice Crafters is throwing in a half inch straight bit as well. This is the best contest prize we’ve offered yet and the total value of the prize is $160. Also, once again, you don’t have to do a whole lot to be eligible to win it.

    Here are the details:

Prize:

    Makita GE0600 die grinder from Ice Crafters along with a 1/2 inch 2 flute titanium-coated straight bit
    total value: $160 (shipping is also included in the prize, in most cases)

Eligibility:

1. 1)“Like” both the ice carving secrets and Ice Crafters facebook pages. You need to be a fan of both pages at the time of the entry deadline.
   

2. 2)Post an item or items on ice carving secrets Facebook page. You have a number of options for this requirement and each option will earn you a certain number of contest entries. The max number of entries for any one person is five, except in the case of a bonus entry or entries (see below).
   

            Discussion:     Start a discussion on an ice sculpture-related topic. The only catch with this is, for it to count, somebody else (another fan) has to continue the discussion before the deadline. Legitimate and fair (my discretion) discussions only. Earns 1 entry.

            Ice sculpture photo:     Posting a photo (your photo, not somebody else’s) of an oversized ice sculpture that you saw. A caption describing what you know about it is required. Earns 1 entry.

            Photo of your ice sculpture:     Posting a photo of an ice sculpture that you made (caption required). Earns 2 entries.
**BONUS** You earn a bonus entry if it’s your version of a design from the ice carving secrets design page. (Photos qualifying for the bonus, may be added to the design entry page on this site and/or added to the Visitors’ Gallery.)

            Ice video:     Post an ice carving-related video that you’re authorized to post. YouTube or similar doesn’t count unless it’s your video. Earns 4 entries.

3. 3)Send an email detailing how many entries you’ve submitted
   

4. 
   

Deadline for entry:     5 p.m. CDT, Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Determining the winner:     The winner will be randomly selected from all the eligible entries posted/received by the deadline.

    The point of this contest, aside from generating facebook “fans,” is to provide incentive for those interested in ice sculpture to share what they’re doing and share their ideas. The “Comments” feature on this site is currently not working properly because two software programs don’t work together well, so the ice carving secrets facebook page has become the real-time forum for comments and interaction. This contest and the ice carving secrets facebook page itself encourage you to post your own ice-related photo and information. Particularly self-promoting photos, videos, or otherwise will be tolerated, but only up to a point, so choose wisely.

    Finally, here are some additional niceties about the contest. The contest can be ended or modified at any point due to unforeseen circumstances, but this will be handled in as fair a manner as possible. Those not eligible to enter this contest include myself (Dawson List), persons associated with Ice Crafters, and persons associated with other advertisers on this site. The winner of the main prize in the previous contest is also ineligible. (For example, Victor is not eligible, because he just won the last contest, but Andy, who won the first contest, is now eligible again.) If you post an item to enter the contest, you are asserting that you have the right to post the item. The prize includes the die grinder and bit, along with shipping to addresses in the U.S. If the winner lives outside the U.S., then shipping costs may be covered, depending on the final destination (e.g., shipping to Antarctica: still NOT covered). Problems entering the contest or questions about the contest? Send an email describing your problem or question. Good luck!