Is a dogwood tree suitable to make a spoon?

CrimsonTideShooter

CrimsonTideShooter

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Oct 23, 2010
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I chopped down about a 4 inch thick dogwood tree with my Esee 5 and I'm wondering if dogwood is suitable for making a spoon. I want to try my hand at whittling and I figured a spoon would be a good start. So is dogwood ok? Also does anyone have any good tips for a beginner? Thanks!
 
I think any wood is ok for spoon. Soft woods carve easier. The best way to learn is by doing. After you get in into rough shape with a larger knife thats when I would switch to a smaller blade.
 
Tips for a beginner? Don't use dogwood. It's hard as hell once dry and it cracks something vicious. Now, if you *could* get a big enough piece of uncracked, seasoned wood, and have a lot of patience you could make a bombproof spoon.

Until you figure out what you're doing and have the process down, I'd go find some willow, tulip poplar, or sassafras (or other soft wood). It's not something you'll want to use in the kitchen (the soft woods are porous and will trap food and get nasty), but it can be a decorative piece.
 
Dogwood is hard as hell. Id pick something else....

Cottonwood bark carves awesome spoons. Super easy to carve.
 
I think there are 2 schools of thought here, and I think a question needs to be answered first.

Do you want to learn, or do you want a spoon?

If you want to learn, I would go to a local craft store and buy a lump of bass wood or balsa and learn the process on a 2 dollar lump of wood...then apply those skills to any other piece you want.

If you want a spoon, any piece of wood will do, but you may find yourself taking a lot of time and using several different knives and methods.

Personally, I like to waste time carving for fun...and I refuse to use anything more than the knife I have on me (and I do not use coals to burn out the bowl). It is all about how you want to proceed, what you hope to end up with, and how soon you need to be there.
 
Dogwood is a really hard wood. It, and Persimmon are among the hardest in America. They were actually used as wedges to split wood by loggers. Find yourself something else.
 
Also remember some woods are toxic to use around foor. From what I have gathered from the Google, Dogwood is safe.

For food use I would get some maple as it has some antibacterial properties.
 
That's right Fiddleback- they're called gluts. (the wooden wedges)

I think dogwood should make an excellent spoon precisely for those reason- It is hard and dense- should be easy to keep clean and bacteria free.

If you should have a great deal of trouble: 1. seek the proper tool for such work, and/or 2. Learn to sharpen.

You could work it down to rough shape while still green. Then coat it with some kind of sealer and let it dry some before final shaping. Could be beeswax, or spray paint, elmers white glue- lots of choices. That will slow moisture loss enough to prevent cracking. the main parts to cover ; the end grain where the bowl radius_s and the end of the handle. you just dont want to choose something hard to carve through later like a thick coat of titebond 3 or 2=any yellow carpenter glue.

but if you want to cure the rest of the wood a not too thick of titebond 3 is an excellent choice for the ends which will prevent splits and checks 90% of the time.
 
Dogwood is a really dense hard wood. It is used for gluts, bearings and mallets.

If you got it use it, you can always burn your mistakes or just use it for whittling stock.

The bad part of dogwood is that it will crack/check on you if you try too large a piece. Dry it slow and when not working on it place it in a sandwich bag with a few damp shavings or dry it in a similar fashion. Working on smaller pieces will keep the likelyhood of checking down too.
 
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