First attempt at spoon (not finished)

[mikergj]

Wanted to have a play with my new knife, so I thought I would give a spoon a go.

Also my wood i.d is not to good so any help with that would be good, that's if you can tell by the pics. One thing for sure is it is a tough old bit of wood, this took me nearly five hours ,so far,ha ha.

I dont think this spoon will be of any use if I finish it, but it is quite therapeutic doing it even if the final object is useless.

Thanks for looking
Mike

 

[trekkingnut]

you used electric tools?

 

[Harvestman]

Nowt wrong with that. Spoon sized, spoon shaped, I'd say its a spoon. Nicely done. Post a pic when it is finished so we can admire and say how much better than our first efforts it is.

 

[mikergj]

you used electric tools?

O no I didnt, I used a hand saw at the beginning, If I used any electrical tools it would not have taken that long, thats for sure. And also would not of been so labor intensive. I am a carpenter by trade,do you really think I want to get my tools out when I am at home. If you zoom in you can quite clearly see its been whittled .

 

[trekkingnut]

hahah i just meant on the original template like! not the whole spoon itself. how you going to do the bowl?

 

[mikergj]

hahah i just meant on the original template like! not the whole spoon itself. how you going to do the bowl?

I have not a clue at the moment, I do not own a spoon chisel. But I am sure I read some where I could use the embers from a fire, or did I dream that.

 

[trekkingnut]

I have not a clue at the moment, I do not own a spoon chisel. But I am sure I read some where I could use the embers from a fire, or did I dream that.

the one thing i can never manage is the bowl so you are asking the wrong person.... however it has been said you can use embers yes....

 

[John Fenna]

I have not a clue at the moment, I do not own a spoon chisel. But I am sure I read some where I could use the embers from a fire, or did I dream that.

No - not a dream!
This technique is one I have used several times ...but these days I mainly use my spoon knives!
It is best used with very dry wood.
To start a bowl burning session I make a small hollow in the top of the area I want to char.
I then get a small glowing ember froom a fire (a bit of charcoal is a good substitute) and place it in the hollow.
Holding the ember in place with a twig/nail/ bit of scrap whatever I then gently blow on the ember (as half my face does not work and I cannot purse my lips I use a tube to blow through to give a controlled airflow - most folk should be OK just blowing but a tube helps focus where the ember glows most.
The ember will char the bowl for a while but will be consumed.
Remove the dead ember/ash and scrape the charred bit of the bowl away (a cheap spoons handle is ideal - blunt, curved and replaceable!) and you get the bowl forming.
As the hollow enlarges so can the size of the ember but beware of over charring the bowl and ending up with a mini-sieve!
If the bowl burns asymetrically then hold the ember where you want more material removed.
Have fun!

 

[mikergj]

Thanks for that John,that is going to be the way I go, especially as I have a thing about making fires.

 

[John Fenna]

Thanks for that John,that is going to be the way I go, especially as I have a thing about making fires.

Take it slow and steady!

 

[Barn Owl]

Nice Mike, therapeautic is a good way to describe making stuff wether it works out or not.

 

[bojit]

Take it slow and steady!

Failing that get the router out !

Craig...............

 

[PaulSanderson]

thats a great first attempt...and much better than my first attempt too...thanks for sharing!

 

[WeThePeoplexfbm]

not bad for a first attempt ^^

 

[3bears]

I'm quickly becoming addicted to making these - gets me into no end of bother with woodchips all over the place lol

top marks on a 1st go dude!

 

[birdbrain57]

Looking good so far. The wood looks like a piece of ash.

 

[mikergj]

Glad you like my first attempt,even though its not finished. I think your right about the Ash birdbrain. I was in a pub last night and there was a pile of timber next to the fire, which I immediately recognized as the same piece my little spoon was being carved from. It was the bark that gave it away, so I asked some one in the pub and sure enough they said Ash.

 

[woodspirits]

''I think your right about the Ash birdbrain''

nice job, looking forward to the finished work.