View Full Version : I lak leetl spoons...
I've been wanting to carve one of those spoons like you find in Chinese restaurants but haven't got around to it yet. In the meantime, this has become my favorite spoon pattern for small spoons. It's patterned after a small Chinese spoon I found at a gift shop in a museum in Chicago.
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images9/smallspoonwalnut2b.jpg
am i showing my ignorance? whats that metal thing behind?
how do you light your picturs so nicely hoodoo?
tomtom, that's a wood scraper. You can get them at woodworking stores in different shapes. They give a real nice finish to wood.
I use diffuse light for my pics by surrounding my subject with a white sheet and having spot lights behind the sheet.
tenbears10
04-01-2005, 21:10
I agree. I love your carvings and the photos do them justice.
Bill
arctic hobo
04-01-2005, 21:53
:shock: :clap: :notworthy
Lovely little spoon.... ummmm off to find wood tomorrow :biggthump
Ed
Nightfall
05-01-2005, 01:27
Very nice! What kind of wood was it carved from?
Nightfall, that's black walnut. One of my favorites.
Thanks for the nice comments guys. Here's a shot of the backside:
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images9/smallspoonwalnut3b.jpg
Very nice spoon, and good pic as always :biggthump
Hoodoo, do you keep more than one of all your tools ? That knife and gooseneck scraper hardly look used.
The knife I just bought this past fall. Used it once to carve that spoon. :-) The scraper I've used several times. I have about 6 different commercial scrapers and some homemade ones. Use the end of a hacksaw blade a lot to scrape spoon bowls. The gouge I've used many times.
I have a fairly good supply of knives and very little carving time so it's hard to wear a knife out. :lol:
Here's the most "worn out" carving knife I own. :lol:
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/cache/articles/t2/ot4.jpg
Excellent ball and cage Hoodoo.
That ball's really spherical - nice work :You_Rock_
TheViking
05-01-2005, 20:05
Nice spoon and ball in cage Hoodoo... :o): And your pics are amazing aswell. :o):
Well geez guys, why didn't you say you like balls in cages. :wink:
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images9/ballsandcages1b.jpg
Awesome !!!
To say I was impressed would be a bit of an understatement. You must have carved a few of those to get that good?
Well geez guys, why didn't you say you like balls in cages. :wink:
:yikes: :yikes: :yikes:
:super: :super: :super:
:You_Rock_
That's all I can say !!
Cheers,
Martin
:shock: (at a loss for words)
Thanks guys! I thought you might like those. I used to do that kind of carving a lot years ago. I gave most of it away as presents. Kinda wish I had kept them. I still do some now and then and I've got several I'm working on right now but I put so little time into these projects that it often takes me months to complete (except for a simple ball and cage in basswood which takes only several hours). I need more carving time. :lol:
I have an online tutorial on carving a ball in a cage if you are interested. Once you do one and see how easy it is, you'll know there's no real mystery to 'em. :lol: I've been wanting to do one on carving a chain. Those are pretty easy as well, once you know how. These kind of carvings take more patience than skill. :-)
Ball In Cage (http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/cache/articles/t2/bic.htm)
........I have a fairly good supply of knives .....
:o): so I've noticed... :biggthump
Very nice carvings Hoodoo :You_Rock_
Has anyone tired these carving tools?
http://www.earthguild.com/products/woodwork/flexriff.htm
I use one of the Japanes flexible saws andit's brilliant, even when bent at right angles and cutting green wood, so I'm tempted by this advert.
Toddy
I have a few flexcut tools and they are top notch. They come scary sharp too. Would not hesitate to buy more.
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images9/flexcut1b.jpg
Squidders
20-02-2005, 17:05
Hoodoo - you have too many pointy things!
There aren't really enough superlatives to cover your collection :biggthump
[QUOTE=Hoodoo]I have a few flexcut tools and they are top notch. They come scary sharp too. Would not hesitate to buy more.
Now I'm *really* tempted... :-)
My dad used to carve matchsticks into little chains...think he did it just to prove he could, he liked miniature work. I've seen lathe turners make a wooden cage of balls, but to do it with pocket knives.....very impressive hoodoo :notworthy
Toddy
Paleoaleo
23-02-2005, 03:14
Hoodoo, beautiful spoon! I like the flowing shape of that. As a fellow spoon carver, I might have to "borrow" your idea! Your photo is beautiful too! Great work.
Tom
Help yourself. I stole it from a Chinese exhibit at the Art Institute in Chicago. :lol:
This is one I carved out of mahogany:
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images5/smallspoon2.jpg
This is the Chinese spoon I picked up in the Art Institute gift shop that I based it on.
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images5/smallspoon3.jpg
Paleoaleo
26-02-2005, 06:29
Beautiful! Thanks...you're inspiring me to new projects! Which is why I visit this great website. Thanks bro.
Tom
Beautiful! Thanks...you're inspiring me to new projects! Which is why I visit this great website. Thanks bro.
Tom
He has that effect :wink:
Hoodoo,
All I can say is bloody hellfire :eek: :eek: :eek:
Way too good! Do you do commissions...need a 7 piece dining table and matching oak kitchen ;) :D
Sean.
Eric_Methven
26-04-2005, 22:31
Yup, nice little spoon. I like the nice finish. I tend not to finish mine as I use them in a living history context where they would have been rough and ready anyway.
These were done in the field from half logs.
http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/spooncarving/spoons.jpg
The welsh love spoon was done for my beloved last valentines day.
http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/spooncarving/lovespoon.jpg
This is the portable jig I put over my knee when carving as it leaves both hands free. A piece of cord goes from the leather strap, under my raised heel and back up to the strap on the other side. When I lower my heel the strap tightens like a vice trapping the spoon nice an tight. When I want to move the piece, I just raise my heel. I'll be bringing it to the paleo weekend.
http://www.btinternet.com/~e_methven/spooncarving/portablefront.jpg
Eric
Beautiful spoons Eric. That carving jig is absolutely brilliant! :cool:
innocent bystander
07-05-2005, 18:00
I have a few flexcut tools and they are top notch. They come scary sharp too. Would not hesitate to buy more.
Don't know if anyone know's, but i have just noticed that Axminster power tools are selling the carving jack now...
theorsmeister
29-06-2005, 23:45
Lovely stuff
How long did it take u to carve like that
and got any tips
btw, were those tools in the photo, the only ones u used on it
wish i had some walnut near me
i only got beech, chestnut, oak, birch
and a couple of others, but the wood is either quite plain, or too hard to work
(specially for a novice carver, such as myself)
I'm sure you can find yourself some Lime. Very easy stuff to carve.
theorsmeister
30-06-2005, 21:34
Nice job!!!
Wish i cud do that.
Can u use the back of a knife blade, or do u actually have to buy a scraper.
Or cud I use my metal ruler??
Anyway, good work there
Your work is beautiful.
Having just bought my first carving knife, I’m waiting for my hands to heal before having another attempt at a spoon. I would just like to echo some of the other questions – how long and any tips?
My first attempt started as an unpromising lump of wood transitioned through a stage where one might recognise a spoon and finally formed beautiful nesting material. It doesn’t bode well for my future abilities!
Since there are a couple of us here that have posted spoons, I'm not sure who you are addressing. I guess since someone mentioned scrapers, that's probabaly me. The spine of a knife can make a good scraper if the metal is hard and the edges are not rounded. For scraping the bowl of a spoon, you need a small scraper that is rounded. A short piece of hacksaw blade will work but it's hard work because they tend to be flexible and you have to choke up on them pretty good. If you can find some hardened steel, you can use a grinder to shape it and make your own scrapers. Commercial scraper though are usually pretty cheap.
As for how long, that depends on the type of wood you are using, how much experience you have at carving, and how complicated the design is. Soft woods carve a lot faster obviously.
Eric_Methven
01-07-2005, 20:43
Good points Hoodoo and also woth mentioning that freshly cut unseasoned wood carves much easier than seasoned wood. A bit like moulding with clay and carving a brick.
Eric
FeralSheryl
03-07-2005, 14:41
Darn that Carvin' Jack, what a great little tool. I want one now. :p
Nice spoons Guys.:)
arctic hobo
03-07-2005, 14:48
Nice job!!!
Wish i cud do that.
Can u use the back of a knife blade, or do u actually have to buy a scraper.
Or cud I use my metal ruler??
Anyway, good work there
Call me picky but I know a lot of people on the forum prefer to use normal English - it's clearer and more pleasant to read.
I had a go at copying that spoon you did Hoodoo, mine is not as good but I will put up a photo when my camera is fixed. Where does the design come from?
Very nice work though HOODOO :cool: