ASSEMBLE
ICE CARVING AND LOCKING TECHNIQUE
INTRODUCTION
Ice
sculpture uses ice
as the raw material. Sculptures from ice can be abstract or realistic . Ice
sculptures are generally associated with special or extravagant events because
of their limited lifetime. The lifetime of a sculpture is determined
primarily by the temperature of its environment, thus a sculpture can last from
mere minutes to possibly months. There are several ice festivals held
around the world, hosting competitions of ice sculpture carving. Clear ice
is generally preferred for carving. However, clear, transparent ice is a
result of the freezing process and not necessarily related to the purity of the
water. Clouded ice is often the result of finely trapped air molecules that
tend to bind to the impurities while naturally freezing. Mechanically clear ice
is usually made as the result of controlling the freezing process by the
circulation of the water in the freezing chamber.
HISTORY
The
history of ice carving begins with the harvesting ice. “Shih cheng” or “Book of
songs” written in 600bc was fount to be the first record of ice making,
describing the everyday life of shensi warrior farmers used ice to keep fish
fresh. When the water had frozen, the ice was cut into blocks and stored in
icehouses. In the 1600s,
native hunters and fishermen of the Chinese province of Heilongjiang, on the
border of Russia, designed ice lanterns for dark winter nights. The trend
spread, and people started hanging decorated lanterns from homes and parading
them in carnival Harbin became the home of the annual International Ice and
Snow Sculpture Festival.Currently, this festival features the work of thousands
of artists from all over the world.
The
first well-documented ice palace was built on the frozen River Neva, in the
winter of 1740, a shivering bride and groom spent their wedding night in a
building of ice.In 1834, Jacob Perkins, obtained a British patent for
the first ice making machine using ether. In 1859 Ferdinand Carre invented an
ice machine that used ammonia, a much more volatile liquid. Cans of water were
lowered into a 15 degree brine (Calcium Chloride) solution chilled by an
ammonia system. Air was bubbled into the center of the can to make clear ice
for carving. By 1920, 750,000 blocks of ice were made every day in the United
States alone.Since 1989, Fairbanks Alaska has hosted the annual World Ice Art
Championships. Over 100 sculptors come from around the world each year to
sculpt large blocks of pristine natural ice. The competition is broken down
into two main categories: Single Block and Multi-Block and each competition is
further separated into Abstract and Realistic sculptures.
INTRODUCTION TO ICE CARVING TECHNIQUES
The temperature of the environment affects
how quickly the piece must be completed to avoid the effects of melting;
if the sculpting does not take place in a cold environment, then the sculptor
must work quickly to finish his piece. Some sculptures can be completed in
as little as ten minutes if the carver is using power tools such as chainsaws and
specialty bits fitted to a die grinder. Ice sculptors also use
razor-sharp chisels and hand saws that are specifically designed for
cutting ice. CNC machines and molding systems are now commonly
used to create ice sculptures and complicated logos from ice.Color effects are
also possible by a number of techniques, including the addition of colored gels
or sand to the ice.The ice may be turned clear after carving by applying heat
from a Propane or Mapp Gas cylinder. This alters the opaque effect that is
obtained when carving. The ice turns clear after the outside is melted.
Sometimes distilled water is used for enhanced clarity
PROCESS OF MAKING A 3D ICE SCULPTURE
Template
Design and Trace – First it helps to have drawn your design a few
times freehand to get a solid grasp of the artwork. Then prepare your template
onto template paper or a cardboard cutout. Make a graph of what you want the
sculpture or carving to look like and then you can apply this template to the
ice. Trace this template onto your ice using a die grinder that has a tapered
or straight cutting end mill bit.
} Cutting
and Blocking – Using a chainsaw preferably, cut out the first
dimension and all ice you will not need to complete your carving. After the
first dimension is out, use a die grinder, sander or chisels to curve,
shape and square every line. Blocking during this process becomes crucial, as
you want to stand next to your carving and start creating your layers and
levels. Chisel work can come in handy here.
} Rounding
and Sanding – Once the levels and layers are there, you can begin
sanding and rounding the corners or edges.
} Detailing –
Here’s where you want to choose the right tool and where the carving can take
action. Putting detail to the artwork such as eyes on a face, putting an animal
in more focus or making the water seem like it will flow. The more detail the
better.
} Cleaning –
Depending on the temperatures, this is where the end comes into light. Brushing
or sanding can come into play here, and if the ice is below 15’F the harder it
will be.
Types of Joints
Dowel Joint
} Dowels
come in different sizes
} These
joints are hidden and add strength to the joint.
} Dowel
holes are drill and fused with ice pegs
together.
Dado
•
Dado's are typically used in making vertical and
Horizontal joints,
•
Dados may be made with a dado blade on a table
saw
Rabbet Joint
} This
type of joint is made by using the dado blade.
} Each
side of wood is cut to a specific length, then glued or brad nailed to make a
stronger joint.
Lap Joint
} A
lap joint is when two piece are cut on a dado and glued or nail together to
create a stronger joint.
Mortise and Tenon
•
The mortise and tenon joint is one of the
strongest wood joints.
•
Mortise and tenon joint is normally formed by
cutting a square tongue (the tenon) on the end of one piece of wood and an
equal size square hole or slot (the mortise) in another.
Tongue and Groove
} Tongue
and groove or T&G is a method of fitting similar objects
together, edge to edge, used mainly with wood: flooring, parquetry,
panelling, and similar constructions. Tongue and groove joints allow two flat
pieces to be joined strongly together to make a single flat surface.
} The
effect of wood shrinkage is concealed when the joint is beaded or otherwise
moulded
Ice Fusing
There are 3 basic methods of fusing 2 pieces of ice
together. No matter which method you
select, You will need to know the 3 key factors.
} 3
Key factors-
◦ 1.
Cold Ice
One piece of ice should be no more than 25 degrees.
The temperature of the other piece is
not as important.
◦ 2.
Water
Either created by the fusion process (Aluminum) or
added with a syringe. Using cold water will increase the speed of the fusion
◦ 3.
Two flat surfaces
The flat surfaces can be prepared with Aluminum,
Nailboard, or Handsaw.
The three basic methods for fusing ice are
} Aluminum
method
} Nail
board method
} Hand
saw method
} Natural peg fusing
Aluminum method
This method produces a nearly invisible seam & can be used vertically. This method will break down in direct
sunlight
} Heat aluminum with a household iron set on low
Select a piece of aluminum slightly larger than the size of the seam.
} 2.
Flatten the areas to be joined on a warm piece of aluminum.
(one of these pieces of ice should be 15-25 degrees F)
} 3.
Press the flattened surfaces together.
Nail Board Method
This method allows you to join larger pieces of ice
& will not break down in
direct sunlight. This method is
difficult to use on small surfaces &
vertical seams.
} Using
the nail board, flatten the surfaces you intend to bond. One of the pieces should be 25 degrees or colder. Use the nail board in a circular
motion.
} Place
the flattened surfaces on top of each other. A screwdriver makes a good spacer.
} Squirt water into the seam. Quickly remove screwdriver & Wait 10 – 15 minutes.
Hand Saw Method
Handsaws are lightweight and travel easily. This
method allows you to join larger pieces of ice & will not break down in
direct sunlight. The hand saw method is difficult to use on vertical
seams.
} Place
one piece of ice on top of another. One
of the pieces should be 25 degrees or colder.
} Run
the Hand saw between the 2 pieces Repeat
until the top piece does not wobble back and forth and you cannot see any gaps between the two.
} Pour
ice water over the top block. Watch
for it to run into the seam. Mix
snow and water for any unfilled areas. & Wait 10 – 15 minutes.
Natural
peg fusing
} This technique is obtained from
ancient Greece and Roman architecture.
} The Greece and roman architecture
have been constructing massive temples and aqueducts with Column rising high in
to the sky with capable supporting weight.
} Long pillars were made with larger
diameter in the base gradually tapered to a smaller diameter on the top. With a
4’’ square depression on either flat surfaces of the pillar and the contacting
surface i.e., top and bottom. A rectangular cuboid of 7 ½ ‘’ tall is inserted
in either side of the joining edge.
} This technique used in ice carving
makes the fuse almost impossible to detect, as it blends in within the
naturally flowing lines of the sculpture.
} When attempting natural peg fusing
in warm and melting environment both pieces have to be freeze separately. This
stops the ice from melting and preventing water from dripping into the fuse
holes which will expand after freezing and causes ice to crack hence it is
important to use only required water.
Making
templates for ice carving
} Opaque
Projector method
} Overhead
Transparency method
} Tracing
method
} Copy
and Poster Machine Method
} Print
Method
Tools
For making Templates
} Opaque Projector: Versatile than
overhead projectors. Projects images, photographs, magazine, drawings onto
template paper.
} Template Paper: Projected
images are traced later placed on ice.
This comes in 2 forms: newsprint, and on large white rolls.
} Water Proof Marker: These pens are
used to mark design on sculptures onto to the template papers. These are
prefered as they won’t bleed into ice.
} Square: This is a ‘L’ shape
carpentery tool for making right angles.
} Metal Yardstick: These provide means
to draw a straight edge or to measure distance and dimensions.
Opaque Projector method
} The
sculpture draws his own design on a small 5”X5” paper or uses an existing
design. Place the design in an opaque projector. Tape the template paper to the
wall. Be sure it fits nicely within the edges of the paper Turn off the
lights, & trace the design using a magic marker.
Copy & Poster Machine method
} Start
by creating an original drawing that is exactly 5″ x 10″ Take that drawing to
the copy store and have them blow it up 400% (this will make a template that is
20″ x 40″)
Print method
} Start
by Creating the artwork with drawing software. We use Corel Draw, others
use Adobe illustrator Then print the design onto template paper fed through a
plotter. As you can see we made wooden extensions to hold the big roll of paper
away from the plotter.The plastic keeps it dry.
Tracing/Hard templates
} You
can also make hard templates of designs that you use regularly.
} Some use thin plywood or Cardboard. We used plastic. Cut the design out
using a jig saw. Hold the hard template against the ice & trace with an ice
pick.
Overhead
Transparency Method
} The artist first makes an overhead
transparency design in photocopy machine of any picture, logo, sketch or other
design as source. Later projects onto a wall mounted 20”X40” Paper using
Transparency Projector.
} The advantage of this method is the
Vast availability compared to opaque projector.
Colored ice
Paint + Base from Left to Right – Milk Solids
Heated, Milk Solids, Whole Milk Heated, Whole Milk, Heavy Cream Heated, Heavy
Cream, Glycol Heated, Glycol
Tools and accessories
} Power tools
◦ Die grinders
– Large
– Medium
– Mini
– Cordless
◦ Sander and grinder
– Angle grinder
– Pistol grip sander
– Mini sander
◦ Chain saw and parts
– Chain saw
– Lumber mill
– Bars and chains
– Chain saw sharpners
◦ Miscellaneous
– Power compass kit
– Blower chill
} Sanding and grinding discs
} Hand tools
◦ Ice tongs
◦ Chisels
◦ Hand saw
◦ Ice pics and chippers
◦ Nail and scratch bords
} Fusion tools
◦ Hand saw
◦ Nail bord
◦ Water heater
◦ Strings
◦ Aluminium
◦ Gum freeze
} Apparel
◦ Apron
◦ gloves
Power
tools
Sander
and grinder
Miscellaneous
tools
Bits
Sanding and grinding discs
Hand
tools
Fusion
Tools
APPAREL
SPECALITY
TOOLS
Equipment
Transport
and lift equipment
Lift
technology
} Heavy tall ice carving are carved at
workstations and are parted into section to assemble in natural peg fusing
method.
} Heavy carved sculptures are lifted
to required height using winch kit lift if under 500lb and to a moderate
height.
} If the carved sculpture are too
heavy and are to be reached to greater heights hydraulic operated cranes are
used generally crawling cranes.
Pneumatic
Ice Carving Tools
References
} Ice sculpting the Morden way by
Robert Grarlough-Randy Finch-Derek Maxfield.
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