Spoon knives: good and bad?

[Samon]

Hello chaps, I would like some advice on spoon knives.

Are the mora ones any good? I've heard mixed reviews in the past..

What sort of shape would be best for boaring out bowls, spoons and cups?

What sort of price am I looking at for one that will work and last?

If you can recommend one, can you please insert a link.

Cheers for any help

[Bardster]

I personally find the frosts mora ones to be terrible. I wrote an article in our magazine an issue or too back and showcased the five or six makers that i have spoons knives from. By far my favourites are still Nic Westermans (member here on BCUK) His spoons knives are around £30 sans handle and worth every penny.

[Samon]

ah ok, cheers! do you have any advice on what sort of shape would be best for an all rounder? I have plenty of plum seasoned and alive I intend to work on but not alot of money to buy multiple knives..

[Harvestman]

Mora ones do a job. I use one, and it is ok. There are better out there, but it is a useable tool.

[Samon]

aren't the moras like £20? would I be better off spending that extra tenner to get a hand made one?

[Kepis]

Nothing wrong with the Mora ones if you are prepared to put a little bit of work into them, Sean Hellman did a great video on the Mora spoon knives not that long ago that shows some of the steps needed to bring it up to par.



I use Mora spoon knives and some superb ones from Ben Orford, on an almost daily basis, Ben's ones are without a doubt a superior tool, but you pays your money and takes your choice, all depends on how much money you want to spend?

[Samon]

ah thank you for that video! was really fun to watch and clearly makes the knife much better. That workshop looks like beaver heaven!

[SimonM]

I started with a Mora and moved on to a Ben Orford...different beasts altogether.

They are the only spoon knives I've used, but the Orford is far, far superior.

simon

[Samon]

does Ben Orford have regular supply of spoon knives? and how much are they?

are there any spoon knives anyone would avoid altogether?

[southey]

I use a small right handed hooked gouge by S, Djarv Hantverk AB, been using for the last 6 years for spoons large and small, Cups and bowls, I takes and holds a very good edge, if you type "S. Djärv Hantverk uk" into google you'll find places to buy them gonna be adding a large right hand and a carving knife soon too

[Kepis]

does Ben Orford have regular supply of spoon knives? and how much are they?

are there any spoon knives anyone would avoid altogether?

Give him or Lois a call

http://www.benorford.com/CarvingTools.aspx

[Samon]

I use a small right handed hooked gouge by S, Djarv Hantverk AB, been using for the last 6 years for spoons large and small, Cups and bowls, I takes and holds a very good edge, if you type "S. Djärv Hantverk uk" into google you'll find places to buy them gonna be adding a large right hand and a carving knife soon too

they look very nice!

Give him or Lois a call

http://www.benorford.com/CarvingTools.aspx

Would you suggest I go for the small standard or the medium? I'll likely be doing small stuff and hopefully some cups so will need something that can go deep down in narrowish spaces.

I think I may go with one of these, they look superb and I want to help keep British makers going.

[Kepis]

Go for the medium, i use mine all the time on things from tea spoons to Kuksas and bowls, i have a small one as well and although i do use it, the medium gets used probably on a ratio of 10 to 1

[Samon]

Go for the medium, i use mine all the time on things from tea spoons to Kuksas and bowls, i have a small one as well and although i do use it, the medium gets used probably on a ratio of 10 to 1

nice one mate! I'llsee if I can get one in the next few days! thanks for the input fellas!

[brancho]

Look HERE to see some opinions

I should have said look HERE

[rg598]

I stopped using a spoon knife all together, and now just use a gouge. I find it much more comfortable, and it ends up stuck in my hand a lot less often: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2011...ge-review.html I use a small one because it is portable, but for larger projects, I would get a larger one, or perhaps a set.

[spandit]

I've got an FGYT spoon knife & it's great. I don't like the Mora double sided ones as they look dangerous to use - I like to be able to push my blade with my thumb

[Samon]

Look HERE to see some opinions

doesn't look like the thread has been updated in a long time.. maybe a revival is needed?

I stopped using a spoon knife all together, and now just use a gouge. I find it much more comfortable, and it ends up stuck in my hand a lot less often: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2011...ge-review.html I use a small one because it is portable, but for larger projects, I would get a larger one, or perhaps a set.

that is interesting! how does it fare on bottoms of bowls and such tasks like that? (your blog is very good btw, really informative and a good read!)

[Bardster]

have a look at Nic's site for some alternatives. www.nicwestermann.co.uk
One of the good things about my spoon carving courses i have been told is that folk get to try lots of different knives and can find whats comfortable for them. Maybe find someone in your area that will let you try some out before you buy?

[Samon]

have a look at Nic's site for some alternatives. www.nicwestermann.co.uk
One of the good things about my spoon carving courses i have been told is that folk get to try lots of different knives and can find whats comfortable for them. Maybe find someone in your area that will let you try some out before you buy?

If my local shops stocked this sort of thing I would have been there and had a mooch already! you guys are the only people I can ask for opinions and advice.

maybe I need to move to a shire with all the other bumpkins?

[jorn]

I've got an FGYT spoon knife & it's great. I don't like the Mora double sided ones as they look dangerous to use - I like to be able to push my blade with my thumb

Although you're right, they are quite dangerous, i find i do use both sides of the blade. Especially on bowls if i want to work with the grain. Don't you guys have trouble with cutting against the grain with a one sided crookknive? Or do you own two knives, a left and a right one?

[spandit]

Ideally I'd have more than one knife - need to get a right handed one made

[Biker]

I stopped using a spoon knife all together, and now just use a gouge. I find it much more comfortable, and it ends up stuck in my hand a lot less often: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2011...ge-review.html I use a small one because it is portable, but for larger projects, I would get a larger one, or perhaps a set.

Being a carpenter by trade I also find using a gouge much nicer when carving hollows such as the spoon bowl. I suppose because i am so used to holding a chisel and using them effectively, so switching to a new method of using a spoon knife just didn't seem to work so well. I was able to get much better result with a gouge and there was no issue with working against the grain either. Basic precautions need to be put in place and having the tool sharp makes for a lot easier working system.

I've owned two spoon knives - a Frost and the Flexcut. Both were fine and dandy but I found myself using the gouge more often than not. If you're used to using a knife more than a chisel then go with the hand tool that suits your working style best. But that's just my opinion.

[Kepis]

AOr do you own two knives, a left and a right one?

Exactly that, i have a variety of Ben Orfords spoon knives in left and right handed models

[sandbender]

I use a small right handed hooked gouge by S, Djarv Hantverk AB, been using for the last 6 years for spoons large and small, Cups and bowls, I takes and holds a very good edge, if you type "S. Djärv Hantverk uk" into google you'll find places to buy them gonna be adding a large right hand and a carving knife soon too

Another vote for the S.Djarv tools, I have several. I haven't seen Ben Orford's spoon knives, but I know his work, well worth a look too.

I stopped using a spoon knife all together, and now just use a gouge. I find it much more comfortable, and it ends up stuck in my hand a lot less often:

http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2011...ge-review.html I use a small one because it is portable, but for larger projects, I would get a larger one, or perhaps a set.

That is something I have thought about, for the ease of carrying and size if nothing else, thanks for the link.

[Samon]

I had a chat with Ben Orford on the phone earlier and have made an order for the medium right handed knife. Should be here by friday and Ben was a great guy to do business with! I'll follow up with some pic's.

[rg598]

that is interesting! how does it fare on bottoms of bowls and such tasks like that? (your blog is very good btw, really informative and a good read!)

Thank you. It does well, although, it has a smaller cutting area than some spoon knives like the Mora, so if you are working on a larger object like a bowl, it will take longer. If i was going to carve something larger, I would switch to a larger gouge. This one does well on smaller items like spoons and cups.

[brancho]

I should have said look HERE for info on hook knives

[mountainm]

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89197

£30 for these will see you right.

[Big Stu 12]

Although you're right, they are quite dangerous, i find i do use both sides of the blade. Especially on bowls if i want to work with the grain. Don't you guys have trouble with cutting against the grain with a one sided crookknive? Or do you own two knives, a left and a right one?

I have brought one of these and yes you do have to be careful, but like the way it cuts in both directions, think the answer is with these type is to make sure its realy sharpe as you dont have to use much force.