My First Spoon

[Pict]

I'll admit that for the longest time I didn't get the fascination with wooden spoons. It seemed like every time anyone got out to the bush that they felt compelled to resolve the nagging lack of cutlery as if their life depended on it.

I think I get it now. It isn't about the spoon, it's about the knife and the hand and the brain and the wood. So here it is, my very first spoon.

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/898/spoon12099740.jpg

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/5102/spoon22138728.jpg

I don't own any hook knives so I did this one with my re-handled Mora #1 and some sandpaper. Poplar finished with Grapeseed oil.

Mac

[Jonesy]

It looks perfect. :)

How long did it take to finish?

[Rick]

Excellent job. Every piece of wood has something inside waiting to get out. It's just up to you to bring it out. Very nice!!

[COWBOYSURVIVAL]

Very nice Mac! Looks like you have some time in that spoon! How long do you figure you spent?

[panch0]

That is a great piece of craftsmanship. Isn't it something that a simple tool as a spoon can look so dang nice, and hand made to boot. Great job pict!

[Pict]

Poplar is fairly soft wood. I had a piece split from a fireplace log that was about seven inches long and triangular in cross section. It didn't seem to do for anything but I could see a spoon in there.

I started it Wednesday evening at about 6:00 and came inside when the skeeters were arriving and the light was fading and finished it up in the basement. Aside from the sanding maybe three hours. Very relaxing. Mac

[crashdive123]

Very nice work. I know you said it is your first spoon, but your talent in working with wood shows.

[welderguy]

WOW awsome work there Pict.

[Rockgod1619]

Gorgeous work Pict! I'd like to try something like that, but just am not sure I have the patience!

[crashdive123]

Gorgeous work Pict! I'd like to try something like that, but just am not sure I have the patience!

There's one way to find out.

[rebel]

Nice job w/ the spoon!

[Lorna]

Beautiful work.

[vthompson]

Good looking spoon, you did a fantastic job.

[Rockgod1619]

Right you are, Crash! I'll have a good bit of free time this next week and will find a good piece of wood to work with. Maybe I'll have to change my screen name to "Woodgod." I don't know though, that could make things hard...

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Hey Pict, that is a mighty fine spoon!! I just don't see how you carved the inside bottom of the spoon... so how DID you manage that w/ a straight bladed knife??? Scraping???

[2dumb2kwit]

Man, that looks great! *as he wonders how much Cap'n Crunch it will hold*

[Pict]

Hey Pict, that is a mighty fine spoon!! I just don't see how you carved the inside bottom of the spoon... so how DID you manage that w/ a straight bladed knife??? Scraping???

If you notice the bottom of the spoon is fairly flat. I drilled a hole with the knife and kept making it wider and deeper. I used the Mora to carve around the inside and had to score and chip out the bottom. That left the bottom rough which I sanded with strips of 100 grit and finer.

The only thing I did that struck me as novel was that I carved the bowl first about 1/3 down the length of the material to allow myself a hand hold on both ends. That allowed me to hold it either way with the bowl always above my hand and the knife working upwards and away from it. I only did the exterior cuts of the spoon once I had a deep depression of the bowl already carved out.

I think the frustrating part is that it seems most people start by roughing out a spoon shape with a handle and knob of wood on the end and then try to hollow the knob. I just started by creating a hollow in a triangular slab of Poplar and then made a spoon shape around it. If you leave enough wood on both ends of the hollow you can hold it either way. Anyway, that's what I did.

Mac