Every kitchen has a wooden spoon but it’s great to have one that you’ve carved yourself. When practicing anything I like to end up with, or at least work towards, making a practical item. I think it’s better to have an idea of what you’d like rather than just whittling away until you end up with a tooth pick.
Yesterday I had a go at turning the spoon blank on the pole lathe, which if it goes right leaves you with two blanks. I got the idea from Mike Abbott’s Green Woodworking book.
you start by cleaving the log though the pith and then rounding it off on the shave horse.
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Next you turn a spoon shape on the lathe and remember to -as I forgot- leave a stub at the end to avoid the mark made by the metal centres.
Then the scary bit cleaving the blank into two. Be brave.
Then you have to carve out the bowl using a spoon carving knife.
Here are some that I’ve carved free hand.
good to see you back!