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Fast work on a spoon.

bladz

bladz

Joined
Feb 12, 2008
Messages
432
Well, I made my first spoon for fun yesterday in about 15 minutes. The Small Forest Axe made quick work of it. I guess I did about 90% or more with the axe before finishing it up with the knife. This was a lot of fun. Any advice on getting the scoop cleaned out in the field besides bringing a specialized carving knife?
thanks,
Steve

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nice job. i agree on the ember idea. i watched a Ron Hood video with a guy using a ember and straw to burn out a nice spoon.
 
I was thinking also about the hot coal for hollowing ou the spoon.. I plan to try scraping or maybe using rocks for this also later on when time allows....

Nice work !!:thumbup:
 
Place a coal on the part you want to hollow out, and use a straw for an inspirator. After you do this for a bit, you'll see that you can direct the burn by how you 'inspirate'. :rolleyes:

Don't use too big a coal at one time because it may cause the wood to crack. Other than that, it's a piece of cake.

Doc
 
Here's a spoon I coal burned. I used the instruments pictured: A couple straws, one of Cow Parsnip the other bamboo, a mussel shell scraper, and sandstone and Equisetum to polish and olive-oiled.

This one is about four years old. I like coal burning as a method, esp. while the fire's already going!:D

A few tricks with coal-burning: as Doc stated, the straw is your guide. A smaller straw is best. Another point is that I burn the bowl prior to carving out the rough shape of the spoon, as you will find it harder to control after the shape is started. Wiping water will be a good way to establish boundary lines on the width of the burn.

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It may be better to carve this one out with a knife, but it is up to you! I don't own a crooked knife, and do most of my carving with knives. To form a bowl with only a knife, I either carve a 'V' down the middle of the bowl area and continue to widen, shaving the walls of the 'V.'

You can also tip drill in the center of the bowl area with a knife and then work it, shaving the walls.....


Good luck!:thumbup:
 
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Exceedingly nice work, paleojoe, on not only the spoon, but the other implements, as well. My spoons have all been of a far cruder nature, but you may be spurring me on to greater heights.
 
Hey paleojoe,

That's an excellent looking coal-burned spoon. Much nicer than mine - maybe I'll post a picture later.

BTW, for all the non-Latin oriented members, Equisetum is commonly known as Horsetail. It contains silica and is thus used as a sanding tool.

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Hey paleojoe,

That's an excellent looking coal-burned spoon. Much nicer than mine - maybe I'll post a picture later.

BTW, for all the non-Latin oriented members, Equisetum is commonly known as Horsetail. It contains silica and is thus used as a sanding tool.

Doc
Click to expand...

Isn't it also known as Scouring Rush, Doc? I think it grows any place that I'm not, because I haven't been able to find any around here.
 
dawsonbob said:
How are you feeling now, Doc?
Click to expand...

Not too bad today, thanks for asking. This stupid stuff has been ongoing for a couple of weeks and it seems like it moves around your body - sore throat for a day or two, then coughing, etc. My daughter and her family had it for 2 MONTHS!!!

I think vegging out yesterday helped, and I'm getting a good start on that today, as well :o but I think I have to get my ass moving and get some work done around the apartment.

Doc
 
I hope you get fully recovered soon. That type of lingering stuff is miserable.

"Nothing better than rest and whiskey to set a man right." That's coming from a tea totaler (me), but the idea is sound
 
Thanks guys for the ideas on coal burning. Paleojoe has inspired me to refine my skills on this one.
 
Thanks for the kind words gents!:D


The refinement is really on the amount of finish work done, i.e. sanding, which may not be as necessary on a quick field spoon or in a pinch, but definitely removes the charcoal taste!;) Refinement can always come in time... This one has gone through a few stages over the years. At one time it was spork!


BTW, the wood of the spoon is cedar....


Doc, I hope you get well enough in time for the new year!:)
 
G'day Steve

I agree, an axe / hatchet sure makes the bulk removal of material much quicker :thumbup:


paleojoe said:
......
You can also tip drill in the center of the bowl area with a knife and then work it, shaving the walls.....
Click to expand...
This is the way I typicall do it (for me it is faster than using a coal, albeit not as pretty :D )

Shavingoutthebowl1.jpg





Kind regards
Mick
 
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