Saw Art by Cindy Chinn

EDIT: This is an older post, and my saws are looking even better! 😀 Check out theSawLady.com for my latest work.
Here’s a look at some of my recent Saw Art. I started working in metal a couple of years ago (June 2015) and in an attempt to learn how to use my plasma cutter I started making designs on some old saws I bought at a yard sale. Little did I know that these would end up extremely popular – both locally and internationally.
I ended up having to build a new website just for saw art. 😀
Here’s a video of me working in my metal studio, if you have any questions about my metal art, feel free to contact me! 🙂
Click on any image below to view it larger
I start with an old hand saw and trace out a design on it. Once in the shop I do my best to see the lines and stick with the original design, but sometimes the metal has its own ideas! Many of my saw art designs will feature parts that I weld on to add a 3D element to the saw. For example, this “Cow Saw” uses rebar or old square nails for the fence and annealed steel wire for the fence line.
I’ve done many variations on this design – including some with a broken section of fence and cows on the outside. I’ve also added ranch names to the ‘cow saw’.
I try to make each saw unique, even if it’s a small change. I have a library of cow reference so I can arrange the cows a little differently each time.
Some times I’ll just get carried away and go crazy! 😀
Another thing I’ve always enjoyed doing is mixing together two or more art media in a single piece. Here I used an old bow saw and welded some shapes to the original blade and then backed the design with stained glass. Note how I turned the blade upside down to have the saw teeth look like grass.
Another series of plasma saw art is when I use the large two man saws. These are trickier to design, but they have a certain ‘wow’ factor when completed.
The saw above shows a classic scene of the pheasant hunter taking aim as the birds take flight. Behind him, the deer watches it all unfold.
Here’s another saw I did for a local farmer. It has a lot of elements in it and includes a hand built wire pivot. Note how I add color by exposing parts of the saw to water. This process helps define specific areas of the design.
Of course, sometimes I get carried away. This next saw was made for the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum. They are using it as a fundraiser. I wanted to design a piece that had some wow factor – including propellers that spin!
Here’s another video of me working on saw followed by a photo gallery of my designs.
Here’s a gallery of some of the saw art I have done – check out “The Saw Lady” website for more – as well as ordering information through Amazon and Etsy.
Good Evening Cindy,
Your work is beautiful! I have saws from my grandfather and father that I would like to have turned into this type of artwork. My question is 2 parts. Do you take customer saws to work your magic? If I provide you a photo of the ranch style home they built together is it possible to cut the daw to look like the house? What would be the cost per saw? Thank you for your time and consideration! Brenda
Yes – I have quite a few people send me saws to work on. 🙂 I’ll send you an email with more info. Thanks! – Cin
do you have any patterns for a army scene on a hand saw. I would like to see some and if I like it . thanks linda