Whittling project - Traditional knives??

[waynorth]

My neighbor was drastically cutting back an ornamental Cherry tree - beautiful in the spring, but alas, no fruit!!
It has been over 40 years since I whittled and carved useful objects consistently, and now that I am retired (mostly) I figured I had a little time to use a few of these knives I own.
I usually used Alder, Maple, Cherry and other fruitwoods. They carve nicely when green, and won't crack as long as you slow the drying. I place the objects in plastic bags between sessions, leaving the bags open slightly, and keep them in cool, dark
places.
Here's the tree last spring:

This spoon is carved from a 5" branch split in half.
I used old Boiley, and my Bose WT for a some of the outside trimming, but most of the work was done with traditional Frost's Swedish carving knifes. I will add a pic of them bye and bye.

It is about 2/3 done. I need to refine the shape and decorate it a bit.
I am enjoying this immensely! I might even move the rocking chair out on the porch, and enjoy it even more!!

 

[liamstrain]

Very nice! Most whittled spoons are too shallow to be much use. That looks great.

 

[kamagong]

That's a good looking spoon Charlie.

My favorite whittling project is the ball-in-cage. Since my preferred blade shape is the wharncliffe, my go-to slip joint is a Norfolk pattern Winchester.

If I'm lounging around at home I like to use a fixed blade because of the increased comfort. Pinewood Forge's sloyd knife is a good one. They also offer hook knives, I gotta pick one up so I can try my hand at making spoons.

Here's a fun project to teach kids basic knife handling skills. Once my little girl is a little older we're going try making some.

- Christian

 

[t.sous11]

Fantastic spoon Charlie! it looks supremely functional. What was used to hollow out the bowl?

Christian, I really like those sloyd knives, it reminds me of a miniature puukko. How thick is the spine?

 

[Jack Black]

Nice work Charlie. Good to see you keeping busy

Jack

 

[jwren]

That's a really nice spoon, Charlie!
Love how deep the bowl is, and cherry is a beautiful wood.
Look forward to seeing your carving knives :thumbup:

 

[kamagong]

IIRC it is 1/8" at its thickest. Thicker than a slipjoint, but wicked sharp.

- Christian

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Great work Charlie. I like how you pinned down the spoon in the pic too. Very smart! I think I'll try that.

I've gotta get some fruit wood!

Christian, that's a fine sloyd. I've been eyeballing those for a while now. Do you have others to compare it to?

Just my experience, but I've got a spoon carving knife, and a palm gouge, and I much prefer the gouge for hollowing.

 

[t.sous11]

Thanks :thumbup: It will probably be my next knife purchase. I have the harley knife already and that is just an insane slicer, but it's ground to thin for general purpose.

IIRC it is 1/8" at its thickest. Thicker than a slipjoint, but wicked sharp.
- Christian

 

[waynorth]

Great work Charlie. I like how you pinned down the spoon in the pic too. Very smart! I think I'll try that.

I've gotta get some fruit wood!

Christian, that's a fine sloyd. I've been eyeballing those for a while now. Do you have others to compare it to?

Just my experience, but I've got a spoon carving knife, and a palm gouge, and I much prefer the gouge for hollowing.

Striga, that is a wood screw propping up the spoon on my scanner!

 

[kamagong]

Sorry, I only have the one. I don't want to get sucked into sloyds like I did with slipjoints.

I do have a puukko for rough carving though. And I plan on picking up a Mora 120 and 122 to set aside for others' use. I've read good things about those.

- Christian

 

[waynorth]

Here are the tools, as promised.

This is a carver's hatchet, for roughing the shape. You choke right up, with your fingers under the "beard". You might be able to see where I roughed up the handle by dragging a saw blade down it, for grip.

Same hatchet with a curved knife for hollowing the bowl, to compare the sizes.

Here are the knives - this is my first project with this set. They all came nicely honed, and have only been stropped thus far. Nice cigar box keeps them apart and safe from knicks.
Two have to sit at an angle to fit in.

These guys did some time on the outer surfaces, when I was too lazy to go get the Frosts!

That's a fine knife, Christian! I can see it being very comfortable, making it easier to stick with the job!

 

[Woodrow F Call]

So, when are we going to see a Barlow Whittler? I wonder what would that look like?

 

[Omega Leather Works]

So, when are we going to see a Barlow Whittler? I wonder what would that look like?

I would want a wharncliffe main and pen (or coping) secondary, but I'm just getting into carving with (non-locking) folders.

Charlie, I love love love that axe, and I'm super jealous. If you want to see a great demo of a carving axe and adze being used check out the dvd Carving Swedish Woodenware by Jogge Sundqvist. Very good stuff.

Christian, I hear ya about getting sucked in. It does happen!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Wow, I always thought that a very soft wood was used for whittling, but man that is some fine work there Charlie, makes you want to go Whittle something!

 

[meako]

What a beauty! I immediately thought of Goldilocks and the three Bears for some reason.

 

[kamagong]

It looks like you have a complete set of Moras there Charlie. Hard to beat their value and utility. Since the blades are laminated steel hardened to 62 RC they should stay sharp a long time. I've had my eye on the top two for a while.

You're a bit lucky that your hook knives came sharp and ready to use. They often need reprofiling to perform properly.

- Christian

 

[bakerg2g]

Well done Charlie! Looks like it will be a dandy..

Jason

 

[OHALLUM]

Great Job on the spoon Charlie. Too bad about the Cherry tree though, it was a beautiful tree. But then, a beautiful knife came from it, so it will live on. I had some ornamental pear trees cut down out of my front yard, so it has me wondering if I missed out on some good carving wood. It was all shredded by the utility company, that cut them (5 of them) down for free. Oh well, hindsight strikes again!

Blessings,

Omar

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Great Job on the spoon Charlie. Too bad about the Cherry tree though, it was a beautiful tree. But then, a beautiful knife came from it, so it will live on. I had some ornamental pear trees cut down out of my front yard, so it has me wondering if I missed out on some good carving wood. It was all shredded by the utility company, that cut them (5 of them) down for free. Oh well, hindsight strikes again!

Blessings,

Omar

It really is a nice spoon even at 2/3 finished. I should really start whittlin.