Ordering a Vodka Luge or Ice sculpture is one thing, but knowing a little of the background and what was used to make your sculpture
is another!
Here is a quick run down of the terms you'll hear in our Ice workshop. If you ever come on one of our fun Ice Experience Days, you'll be using these very tools:
CHAINSAW
When a block of ice is made, the easiest way to create a rough design is to chainsaw the ice away. These chainsaws can be the large 'lumberjack' style ones to small delicate hand chainsaws.
CHISEL
There are many sizes and shapes of chisel. They are used generally to shape and smooth the ice. Ice is not as 'tough' as you might think.
CNC MACHINE
A CNC or Computer Numerical Control machine is computer controlled. By programming the 'design' into the programme the machine can accurately and at a great speed cut and carve away at large chunks of the ice block. When one sees VERY intricate designs, either the Ice Sculptor is very skilled or they have used a CNC machine.
DIE GRINDER
This is a tool used to polish and buff the ice; to make it smooth and 'finished'. Die Grinders can differ in size from small hand-held to large bench top models.
GUM FREEZE
When carving delicate or intricate detail sometimes, just sometimes it breaks! To 'repair' this we first of all spray the two 'bits' with water then use Gum Freeze to fuse the two broken ice pieces together. Gum Freeze is a an aerosol that delivers (sprays) super cold air. Water and cold air will stick almost anything (eh, ice sculpture wise).
HEAT GUN
When some part of the ice sculpture needs meting away as opposed to chiseling away, Heat guns (as used in wall paper stripping) are very handy and well used.
HEAVY DUTY SYRINGE
The only thing we are addicted to is making superb Ice Sculptures! These over-sized syringes are used for squirting water into areas we can't or don't want a hose pipe to go - such as when joining two blocks or pieces of ice together. Water is our 'glue'.
ICE CHIPPER
It looks similar to a dinner fork; however
the tines are in a straight line and of course are a lot tougher than a domestic fork! Used (as the name implies) to chip away at the ice
ICE PICK
Ice picks come in various shapes and sizes, they are used to break-up, pick or chip at the ice. Generally these consist of a wooden handle and a long tapering cylinerical steel barb.
ICE TONGS
Not used for putting ice cubes into your Gin and Tonic! These are used for moving the ice blocks around - up-ending or turning the blocks round. Made of heavy metal steel, they have two very sharp and tough prongs that grip the ice firmly. A handle allows us to move the block up, around or turn over.
JAPANES HAND SAWS
Like a domestic hand (coarse) saw but the teeth are more defined and larger. They are used for cutting ice or when trying to fuse two pieces of ice together. The two pieces of ice are placed on top of each other and the saw used to cut between the two block - thus creating a 'level'/even cut.
JAPANES TEXTURE SAW
From the handle of this saw the blade is 'triangular' in shape - pointed at the end. The teeth are not as defined or as coarse as a Japanese Hand Saw. As the name implies, they are used to add texture and definition to the ice sculpture.
SCRATCHY BOARDS
Most ice carving companies make their own; Take a block of wood (say 3"x2"x6" long) drive lots of small nails through the block - to resemble Hagrid's comb! We use these for taking off the high spots off ice. Of course, depending on the nails, size and type, different effects can be achieved (the secrets are coming out here!)
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