Have you ever wondered what goes into making those incredible sculptures made of ice? Art artists use a wide range of ice sculpting techniques and tools to get their creations from a block of ice to the intricate, beautifully chiselled works of perfection that they become. Like any masters of craftsmanship, the tools of their trade play an integral role in the finished results – meaning that every tool, and every technique used is essential in order to achieve the final outcome of the ice sculpture creation. Some of the most essential and commonly used tools and techniques include the following:

Basic tools:

• Rough cutting tools such as chainsaw and handsaw
• Shaping and smoothing tools such as flat chisel, six prong, angle grinder, keyhole saw and ice knife
• Detailing tools such as V chisel, V or straight bit on die grinder and straight bit or ice needle on a dremel tool
• Electric hand-held blower for cleanups and other freezer work

Ice Picks:

• Dismantle large carvings instead of removing them when they are whole 
• Create a rough, broken visual look for the base and edges of ice carvings
• Break part scrap ice to use at the base of your sculpture rather than blocks of ice for a more natural look
• Cheapest and simplest tool, which can change ice quicker that a chainsaw

Displays:

• Multi-coloured gels to add colour to your sculpture
• Solid foundation for your sculpture's base
• LED lighting for special effects
• Drainage container for melting and drips
• Pumps for ice bars
• Emergency ice tray for any last-minute fixes or touch ups

Techniques:

• Once the ice has been harvested, it is taken to location as a solid block
• The block is placed on to a plinth with lighting to get the best visibility for the artist to begin his work 
• The initial carving is done with chainsaws and other rough cutting tools to get the basic design, using a template of the overall sculpture design
• One the rough ice carving has been create, finer tools such as ice picks, chisels and small saws are used to begin adding details, to fine tune the carving into its shape.
• Smoothing and shaping tools are used to add the final details and get the finished effect, while the electric hand-held blower is used to remove traces of ice chips for a smooth, polished effect
• Gel, lighting and other effects are added once the display is near completion, resulting in the final ice sculpture, ready for show