Spoons

[Marc Himes]

Hello everyone. Happy day after Thanksgiving. I hope your holiday was wonderful. I am a woodturner. I enjoy making salad bowls for my family and friends and wood like to make spoons out of the same wood I use to turn the salad bowls. I am looking for information about carving spoons. What kind of equipment to use, hand tools vs power tools, sanding equipment etc. I saw the Guinevere sanding and polishing kit at the AAW woodturners convention last summer and saw some of the power carving tools demonstrated but would appreciate some advice from others who have had some experience. Are there any videos avaliable on carving spoons? I can't find information on the wood turning forums.
Thanks for your thoughts.

Marc Himes

[Kevin Adams]

Marc--

There are a whole host of articles, books, and sites available out there. A couple that I enjoy are:

www.bodgers.org.uk/ (http://www.bodgers.org.uk/)

(check out the "Greenwood crafts" section under their "Ask and Answer Forum")

http://www.robin-wood.co.uk (http://www.robin-wood.co.uk)

Rob and his wife have also posted some neat spoon carving videos on You Tube that you might find useful.

Take care,
Kevin

[Marc Himes]

Thanks Kevin. The videos were helpful. I was amazed to see what could be done with the axe alone to get the basic shape. I was also interested in the curved knife used to hollow out the center. Their tool was more like a knife than a chisel. It looke like it may be easier to use.

Thanks again for the information.

Marc

[Michael Kieta]

Hi Marc,
We have similar interests coming from opposite directions. I've been carving spoons for awhile, and I'm interested in learning to turn bowls and/or carve them. I don't know if you're working with dry or green wood, but I have the following recommendations.

http://www.countryworkshops.org/knives.html

This is Drew Langsners website and store. He offers great tools for carving treen. Any of the tools will also work with dry or green wood, but it's a pleasure to carve the green wood with knives, and sometimes a chore to carve dry wood. I have the Karlsson hook and sloyd knives and they are very good. Drew also offers workshops.

http://www.pinewoodforge.com/catalog.html

This is Del Stubb's website. Coincidentally, I just received one of his hook knives today and I'm anxious to go and try it out. The knife is a work of art. If it works half as well as it looks, I'm going to be happy. The website itself offers a wealth of information and links on spooncarving, and other carving and decoration.

When my spoons dry (or when I start with dry wood) I like using the ball sander from the Guinevere system with a 3450 motor and chuck adaptor. It works very well for smoothing the bowl of the spoon. It's not necessary, but it's nice. It throws a lot of fine dust out though.

I think they're out of print now, but Jögge Sundquist's book and video were very helpful to me getting started. I think you'll find a lot of info online these days.

I gotta go and try out that knife!

Michael

[Kevin Adams]

Marc--

I can also strongly recommend the tools that Drew Langsner sells. I have several of his gouges for both bowls and spoons. I also use crooked knives (mine are in the style of the NW Coast natives), but the hook knives that Drew sells are also first rate. You might also consider Drew's book, "Green Woodworking", which I bet is available through your local library if you don't want to buy it right now. He gives some step-by-step instructions for carving spoons in it.

Take care,
Kevin

[Marc Himes]

Thanks Micheal and Kevin. The book and a hook knife seem like a good place to start. There were also several interesting videos on the web site you referenced, Micheal. You both have been very helpful.

Thanks again,

Marc Himes

[Randy Schaffer]

Marc,

I too will toss in my 2cents for Del Stubbs hook knives. These are my main tools along with his sloyd knives for most of my spoons.



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