Chainsaw Carvings Randy Boni Does Chainsaw Carving Like No Carving Horizontally Creates Some One Else

“Horizontal” Chainsaw Carvings Randy Boni does chainsaw carving like no Carving horizontally creates some one else. His nestled turkeys, bears, foxes, challenges. owls and raccoons are lined up across big “I make sure water has a way to drain off,” logs laying fl at on the ground. What makes Boni says. And although it’s impossible to his story even more amazing is that Boni was keep the wood from cracking, he turns the legally blind until just over 20 years ago. animal heads with the long grain of the logs He and his twin brother, Rick, were both so they aren’t as fragile. Randy Boni’s nestled animal carvings are lined up horizontally across big logs laying born with cataracts. They weren’t able to Two big commissioned jobs Boni received fl at on the ground. have them removed until they were in their from the email were for a fi sh-themed log for 30’s. a Florida restaurant and a cougar/deer log for The 60-year-old, Parrottsville, Tenn., artist a Calgary businessman. has been making chainsaw sculptures ever The Tennessee carver creates mostly since. He had a good reputation for his work vertical pieces. Much of his past work has locally but things really took off about a year been carving support beams and intricate ago when someone put pictures of his work mantels in log homes built in the Smoky on the internet. Mountain area, and he likes to travel at least “I don’t know who took the photos, but twice a year to do large commissioned pieces. Boni also does “tourist bears” starting at God bless ’em,” Boni laughs. An email Boni got started with horizontal carvings when a client wanted 2 logs on the ground spread throughout the U.S. and overseas. about $500, but admits he is happier creating alongside his driveway. The phone started ringing, and he received art pieces than carving for production. so many orders he had to turn some of them “It’s challenging to keep growing with the down. art form,” he says. “There’s always, what do Boni got started with horizontal carvings I do next to outdo this?” when a client wanted two logs on the ground Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Randy on both sides of his driveway. Boni had two Boni, store at Cobbly Knob Rentals, 3722 42-in. dia., 28-ft. long Engelmann spruce East Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tenn. 37738 (ph logs to work with. Each log took about 12 423 613-9673; www.abundance-acres.com). days to complete. His horizontal carvings include turkeys, bears, foxes, owls and raccoons. “Snow-Mower” Fools Deere Lovers When people fi rst see Wyatt Kram’s garden patterns before hand cutting side panels, a tractor snowmobile, they often ask when clutch cover, toolbox, and other pieces out of Deere manufactured the machine. 19-gauge aluminum. A couple stainless steel He then explains that he got the idea from a bowls made perfect covers for the clutches. digitally altered photo he saw on the internet. “All the side covers can be quickly The 23-year-old manufacturing engineer removed to access the engine area,” Kram spent 7 months of his free time building his says. Deere Snow-Mower out of a 1980 Deere For the finishing touches he had the Liquifi re snowmobile and a worn out garden machine powder-coated and accented with tractor. customized decals. He can interchange two His hybrid works better than he thought muffl ers — a tractor style with a fl apper or a and has turned lots of heads and won People’s straight pipe. Choice awards at vintage snowmobile events Altogether Kram spent less than $1,200 on he has attended. the project to rebuild the engine, pay for laser The lawn tractor’s high seat and muffl er cutting, wiring, aluminum sheeting, etc. He jutting up from the lawn tractor hood repaired one of the Deere mowers and sold it defi nitely sets Kram’s machine apart from to help fund the project. He credits his wife other snowmobiles. for her support and patience as she cared for “It’s higher and feels tippy at fi rst,” Kram their 3-year-old while he spent hours in his admits. “Since I can’t move my feet, I’m at workshop. the mercy of the trail and the suspension.” The Snow-Mower makes the sixth piece Fortunately he spent time designing the in Kram’s vintage Deere snowmobile Wyatt Kram built his “garden tractor snowmobile” out of a 1980 Deere Liquifi re snow- suspension with a 3-D computer program. collection. mobile and a worn out garden tractor. With the help of a fellow vintage snowmobile “It’s definitely the most interesting www.vintagesledders.com/forums/index. collector, he came up with a blend of vintage machine,” he notes, and he looks forward to php?topic=966.0. bogie wheels and modern long travel type taking it to shows in the region. It won’t stay Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Wyatt suspension, which allows him to ride on grass on the trailer just for display, he adds. Kram, 409 19th Ave. N., Fargo, N. Dak. 58102 as well as deep snow. “I built it to ride around and have fun,” (ph 701 866-9821; [email protected]). “I got my suspension set up right. A rear Kram says. Lawn tractor’s high seat and muffl er, shock supports my body weight, and the To see photos of the building process check jutting up from the tractor hood, sets front shock puts enough weight on the skis out a forum on the Snow-Mower at http:// Kram’s machine apart from other snow- so it’s easy to handle. This is the best turning mobiles. snowmobile I own,” Kram says, crediting the extra weight on the front and the carbide wear Yes! I want to be fi rst to learn about latest new rods on the skis. How To products. Please sign me up for FARM SHOW and send Kram started with the snowmobile’s drive train and used the lawn mower’s gas Subscribe me a FREE copy of your just-published new 168-page tank, grill, hood, seat, fenders, dash and “Buyer’s Guide To Best & Worst Tractors.” other parts. A 440cc liquid-cooled, 2-stroke To Check here to renew. Kawasaki engine powers the machine. FARM SHOW The conglomeration of parts boosted the United States Canada snowmobile’s weight from 400 to 580 lbs., (New & Renewal) $21.95 for 1 yr. $27.95 (Can.) for 1 yr. enough to make Kram cautious about getting $41.95 for 2 yrs. ® $53.95 (Can.) for 2 yrs. stuck, though he discovered late last winter $57.95 for 3 yrs. $71.95 (Can.) for 3 yrs. that the machine goes through deep snow Exclusive and climbs hills quite well. It travels up to 45 THOUSANDS OF FARMERS Buying “TELL IT LIKE IT IS” Tips! My check ($_________) is enclosed. ABOUT THEIR “BEST” AND mph, which isn’t bad for a vintage machine. “WORST” TRACTOR BUYS Buyer’s Guide Name Its mileage isn’t quite as good, however, To Best & Worst and with the lawnmower’s 3-gal. fuel tank, Tractors Address he needs to carry extra gas for the 20-mile vintage rides. City State /Prov. Zip © FARM SHOW Publishing, Inc. For Kram, the most challenging part of Take out a new subscription (or Make check payable to FARM SHOW. the project was making the side covers. He renew your existing subscription) Clip and mail this coupon to: hadn’t worked with sheet metal before, and and get a FREE copy of our new FARM SHOW, P.O. Box 1029, Lakeville, Minn. 55044 Phone toll-free 800 834-9665 or go to www.farmshow.com he spent a lot of time making cardboard 168-page “Tractor Buyer’s Guide”. VISA, Mastercard & Discover accepted. 44 • FARM SHOW • vol. 34, no. 4 • www.farmshow.com • [email protected] • 1-800-834-9665 .

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