<p><strong>I think a chainsaw was used to get this look</strong>. The grooves seem deeper in the middle, suggesting a curved shape. The middle parts could then easily have been chipped away by chisel or hammer, or even broken away by hand.</p>

<p>Lots of <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=chainsaw%20wood%20art&amp;tbm=isch" rel="nofollow noreferrer">wood art</a> is created this way, and these grooves usually serve as a starting point for getting the rough form out of a block of wood. Obviously, it's quite beautiful on its own, as well, exposing and emphasizing the natural texture and shapes of wood.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-03T07:33:58.300Z
I only paid attention to the picture embedded in your post, by the way, not in the least because I think a question should contain all the information it needs to be answered.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T18:37:43.700Z
The kerf of the cuts shows this to be much wider than the large majority of circular saws I've seen, so this really hints at chainsaw being the tool used. Before I saw the dimensions of the piece, I would have said circular saw, but those grooves are close to, if not over, 1/4" wide. Most circular saws are only 1/16" wide.
computercarguy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T21:07:46.640Z
The more I look at the piece, I'm more convinced it's a chainsaw. I almost think the chipped out section is just done with tweaking/twisting the chainsaw to have it rip out the pieces automatically. There's almost a pattern to it, as if it follows a specific distance from the ends of the curs as well as the peaks follow the grain. Also, the cuts aren't perfectly straight and have "divots" on the edges, indicating a handheld tool or that it was twisted while used.
computercarguy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T21:14:19.180Z
@computercarguy Good observations, and exactly :)
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-02T08:45:40.620Z
2019-09-02T08:45:40.620Z
Joachim
<p>Miter saw was probably used to make the cuts, by moving the block of wood in half/quarter inch steps. Individual cuts have different depth (and thus the width) but more or less same center, which makes me think of miter saw. </p>

<p>Chopped up wood was then simply hammered out and the whole block was stained or burned with  gas torch to make it darker. </p>

<p>Finally, the front surface was planed or sanded, which turned the flat part lighter again.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T12:47:59.570Z
I would have said mitre saw and rough chisel work as well.
Matt
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T18:32:37.480Z
This piece is too big for most circular miter saws, and definitely not a hand miter saw.
computercarguy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T18:45:47.117Z
My mitre saw has rails so it is possible to cut boards much wider than the the diameter of the blade. Being careful with your fingers, one can hack the piece of wood exactly as on the picture. Of course one can also use table saw for this.
Congenital Optimist
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-04T21:43:57.377Z
2019-09-04T21:43:57.377Z
Congenital Optimist
<p>There are many pictures in your link, and they use a mix of techniques.  This will be easier to address if you identify specific ones.  The one you put in your question looks like two kinds of actions.</p>

<p>The slots look like a circular saw was pressed into the wood, centered over the textured area.  My first impression of the background texture looked like a wood carving wheel on an angle grinder used in different directions.  There are different types available.  Here are a few used for rough shaping (images courtesy of Home Depot):</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/7nPD2m.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/7nPD2m.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a> <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/2zZFjm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/2zZFjm.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Some of the initial rough shaping of the "trough" may have been done that way.  Some of the surface grooves are long arcs that are narrow and clean, so they may have been done with a sanding disk or reinforced fiber cut off wheel.</p>

<p>But the actual finished surface you see couldn't have been done that way. 
Closer examination shows that the texture stops abruptly at the slots, and varies substantially from one side of the slot to the other.  A large diameter circular tool couldn't be used to do that.  The only tool I can think of that would let you do flat, independent depths between slots would be chisels.  So a lot of meticulous work went into that piece, despite how rough it looks.</p>

<p>Update: computercarguy's comment on the question gives the size of the piece, which was a good catch.  The artist is American, so I assume the dimensions are in inches rather than centimeters, and that seems to bear out based on the width of the slots.  </p>

<p>I have to agree with the comment about the slots not being made by plunging a circular saw.  A circular saw could still have been used by setting it to a shallow depth and then moving it to achieve the desired slot length.  That would be a consistent kind of tool choice if the rough shaping was done with an angle grinder, and the angles of the slots would be consistent with making the slots by eye. </p>

<p>Close examination of an enlargement of the picture shows that the slots have varying widths.  The narrowest are 1/8" wide, which is the thickness of a typical full kerf blade.  The widest is roughly double that, which indicates that most of the slots were made in two passes, probably using a guide. </p>

<p>Congenital Optimist's guess of a miter saw is possible if it was a sliding miter saw and the artist used good depth control, but the cuts aren't parallel.  The piece could have been slotted at various angles, though.  Another possibility is a mini circular saw.  They have a small diameter blade that can be moved across the piece.  However, I think those have a thinner blade, which wouldn't be consistent with the slots.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T18:34:39.887Z
I also thought a circular saw, then I saw the size of the piece and changed my mind.
computercarguy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T20:56:27.543Z
@computercarguy, good catch with the dimensions.  Updated the answer.
fixer1234
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T20:58:46.130Z
The circular saw blade wouldn't be wide enough to make those cuts though. They are around 1/4" wide and a circular saw blade is generally closer to, if not narrower than, 1/16".
computercarguy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-02T20:54:38.853Z
2019-09-05T22:01:56.763Z
2019-09-05T22:01:56.763Z
fixer1234
<p>From the description in the link you provided. It looks like most of the cut marks were done with a flat chisel. </p>

<p>There a lot of textures going on in more than just one picture, to pin point exactly what texture is going on with each one.  </p>

<p>From personal experience working with tools for a living. That the texture appears to be done with a cutting wheel, or grinding wheel with angle grinder. As well used with a wood chisel, flat chisel.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-02T02:45:22.627Z
2019-09-03T00:15:55.173Z
2019-09-03T00:15:55.173Z
Lyssagal
<p>I would like to know what method is used to create those grooves in the wood? Someone has an idea? More images here : <a href="http://www.circlefactory.com/new-page" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Link</a><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/To3bC.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/To3bC.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T18:29:27.990Z
The description of this image is relevant to how this was done, I think: 2009 22x22x3 carved and painted oak.  The size of the piece might be an indicator of what was done to it.
computercarguy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-05T21:09:34.970Z
There's always the "Contact us" page to learn from the artist. Telling you the tool is unlikely going to give you enough info to recreate something like this. Many artists don't mind sharing this kind of info with people who are actually, truly interested in it. http://www.circlefactory.com/contact
computercarguy
<wood>
What method is used to achieve this look?
Jeremy Le Chatelier
# What method is used to achieve this look?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-09-02)

I would like to know what method is used to create those grooves in the wood? Someone has an idea? More images here : [Link](http://www.circlefactory.com/new-page)[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/To3bC.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/To3bC.jpg)

**Tags:** wood

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The description of this image is relevant to how this was done, I think: 2009 22x22x3 carved and painted oak.  The size of the piece might be an indicator of what was done to it.  
> **username_1**: There's always the "Contact us" page to learn from the artist. Telling you the tool is unlikely going to give you enough info to recreate something like this. Many artists don't mind sharing this kind of info with people who are actually, truly interested in it. http://www.circlefactory.com/contact  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-09-02. Score: 2

**I think a chainsaw was used to get this look**. The grooves seem deeper in the middle, suggesting a curved shape. The middle parts could then easily have been chipped away by chisel or hammer, or even broken away by hand.

Lots of [wood art](http://www.google.com/search?q=chainsaw%20wood%20art&tbm=isch) is created this way, and these grooves usually serve as a starting point for getting the rough form out of a block of wood. Obviously, it's quite beautiful on its own, as well, exposing and emphasizing the natural texture and shapes of wood.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I only paid attention to the picture embedded in your post, by the way, not in the least because I think a question should contain all the information it needs to be answered.  
> **username_1**: The kerf of the cuts shows this to be much wider than the large majority of circular saws I've seen, so this really hints at chainsaw being the tool used. Before I saw the dimensions of the piece, I would have said circular saw, but those grooves are close to, if not over, 1/4" wide. Most circular saws are only 1/16" wide.  
> **username_1**: The more I look at the piece, I'm more convinced it's a chainsaw. I almost think the chipped out section is just done with tweaking/twisting the chainsaw to have it rip out the pieces automatically. There's almost a pattern to it, as if it follows a specific distance from the ends of the curs as well as the peaks follow the grain. Also, the cuts aren't perfectly straight and have "divots" on the edges, indicating a handheld tool or that it was twisted while used.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 Good observations, and exactly :)  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-09-04. Score: 2

Miter saw was probably used to make the cuts, by moving the block of wood in half/quarter inch steps. Individual cuts have different depth (and thus the width) but more or less same center, which makes me think of miter saw.

Chopped up wood was then simply hammered out and the whole block was stained or burned with gas torch to make it darker.

Finally, the front surface was planed or sanded, which turned the flat part lighter again.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: I would have said mitre saw and rough chisel work as well.  
> **username_1**: This piece is too big for most circular miter saws, and definitely not a hand miter saw.  
> **username_3**: My mitre saw has rails so it is possible to cut boards much wider than the the diameter of the blade. Being careful with your fingers, one can hack the piece of wood exactly as on the picture. Of course one can also use table saw for this.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-09-02. Score: 0

There are many pictures in your link, and they use a mix of techniques. This will be easier to address if you identify specific ones. The one you put in your question looks like two kinds of actions.

The slots look like a circular saw was pressed into the wood, centered over the textured area. My first impression of the background texture looked like a wood carving wheel on an angle grinder used in different directions. There are different types available. Here are a few used for rough shaping (images courtesy of Home Depot):

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/7nPD2m.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/7nPD2m.jpg) [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/2zZFjm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/2zZFjm.jpg)

Some of the initial rough shaping of the "trough" may have been done that way. Some of the surface grooves are long arcs that are narrow and clean, so they may have been done with a sanding disk or reinforced fiber cut off wheel.

But the actual finished surface you see couldn't have been done that way.
Closer examination shows that the texture stops abruptly at the slots, and varies substantially from one side of the slot to the other. A large diameter circular tool couldn't be used to do that. The only tool I can think of that would let you do flat, independent depths between slots would be chisels. So a lot of meticulous work went into that piece, despite how rough it looks.

Update: username_1's comment on the question gives the size of the piece, which was a good catch. The artist is American, so I assume the dimensions are in inches rather than centimeters, and that seems to bear out based on the width of the slots.

I have to agree with the comment about the slots not being made by plunging a circular saw. A circular saw could still have been used by setting it to a shallow depth and then moving it to achieve the desired slot length. That would be a consistent kind of tool choice if the rough shaping was done with an angle grinder, and the angles of the slots would be consistent with making the slots by eye.

Close examination of an enlargement of the picture shows that the slots have varying widths. The narrowest are 1/8" wide, which is the thickness of a typical full kerf blade. The widest is roughly double that, which indicates that most of the slots were made in two passes, probably using a guide.

username_3 username_3's guess of a miter saw is possible if it was a sliding miter saw and the artist used good depth control, but the cuts aren't parallel. The piece could have been slotted at various angles, though. Another possibility is a mini circular saw. They have a small diameter blade that can be moved across the piece. However, I think those have a thinner blade, which wouldn't be consistent with the slots.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I also thought a circular saw, then I saw the size of the piece and changed my mind.  
> **username_5**: @username_1, good catch with the dimensions.  Updated the answer.  
> **username_1**: The circular saw blade wouldn't be wide enough to make those cuts though. They are around 1/4" wide and a circular saw blade is generally closer to, if not narrower than, 1/16".  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2019-09-02. Score: 0

From the description in the link you provided. It looks like most of the cut marks were done with a flat chisel.

There a lot of textures going on in more than just one picture, to pin point exactly what texture is going on with each one.

From personal experience working with tools for a living. That the texture appears to be done with a cutting wheel, or grinding wheel with angle grinder. As well used with a wood chisel, flat chisel.


---

