Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Banda.
Rob, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
6 yrs ago, I had a tree fall in my backyard and had to borrow a huge, heavy, Stihl farm boss chainsaw to cut it up. I decided to leave a stump instead of digging it up, I just started carving a bear. I saw someone do it a while back and thought I’d give it a shot. I carved on that bear for a week. The most hitious thing you’ve ever seen. It still stands in my back yard and I leave it there as a reminder of how far I’ve come and how much I’ve improved. This was the first time I’ve ever held a chainsaw, and of course having a friend show me how to hold and start it safely.
Eventually, I had to return the saw and my wife was kind enough to buy me one for Christmas that year. In two weeks time, I had a backyard full of unfinished, trial and error carvings.
The more I carved the better I got. The better I got the more I wanted to carve. I gave away more than I sold. A handful of people convinced me of how awesome it would be to do this for a living. Within a few months and zero business knowledge and just a hope and prayer I sold my old truck, bought a trailer and started Robs Creations. With some help from friends and family, I developed a website, found an investor, and carving yard that has tree stumps at my disposal. I travel anywhere and everywhere my truck and trailer will take me. The best part is meeting wonderful people and seeing their eyes light up, and sometimes cry when the carving is done. I believe that I’m doing something that is a lost art. If I can bring joy to someone’s heart by carving that’s what keeps me wanting to do this for as long as I’m able.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the first few years, I didn’t make any money. I was either fixing something on my truck, buying or replacing tools or stressing out about finding people that actually wanted me to carve for them. I had no schooling for this, there was no art degree, I could sketch but far from being and artist. I was a self taught carver. A lot of times I would catch myself looking thru the job sites and thinking I should just go back to sales and be happy. I just wanted to quit, because that’s the easy thing to do. I started up my saw and I just kept carving, I put myself out there, a leap of faith, hoping that my parachute would open.
Robs Creations – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Robs Creations does free standing and on-site in ground stump chainsaw carvings. I specialize in wildlife any birds or animals, but can pretty much carve anything as long as the stump is big enough. I’m most proud of Robs Creations for the legacy I’m leaving behind. When I’m long and gone all these stumps will still be here with my heart and soul carved into them. My son will be able to tell his son/daughter that your grandpa did this. I think what sets me apart from others is my work ethic and always wanting to learn as much as I can about different styles and techniques and tools used by other carvers. There have been a few times that I would start carving from sun up to sundown, without eating or taking breaks. That only has to happen once or twice before you to learn not to do that again.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
My proudest moment has been having carved on the Irving Texas Campion Trails. My goal is to carve the walking trails from Irving Texas to Ft. Worth Tx.
Contact Info:
- Address: 142 W. Irving Blvd.
Irving Tx. 75060 - Website: Texaschainsawcarver.com
- Phone: 214-803-4984
- Email:robbanda@hotmail.com
- Instagram: Robs_creations
- Facebook: Texas Chainsaw Carver Robs Creations LLC
- Other: You tube Robs Creations
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