Crook Knife - What Should I Start With ?

[mstaines]

Have decided I would like to make myself a spoon and would just like a bit of advice...

1. What make of crook knife would you recommend ?
2. What size of crook knife would be a good starter knife ?
3. What is the best source of wood to use ?
4. Should I coat the finished spoon in anything (For a useable spoon !) ?

Thanks in advance T^

Mick (Jester)

[JonnyP]

I would advise to start with a Frosts 164 crook knife http://www.lakelandbushcraft.co.uk/acatalog/Knives.html (second from bottom). Its not perfect but its a good one to start with and can be modded to make better. My mate Duncan makes a superb crook knife too http://www.bushcraftliving.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11301 He has been perfecting the knife for a couple of years or so and has been on spoon carving courses and has done pass arounds to learn whats needed for the best blade shape etc..
For wood to carve, I would advise you start with some greenwood from a fast growing hardwood tree, like sycamore, birch or alder etc. It will be easier to carve and still give you a useable spoon. Oil it once dry with an edible oil like food grade linseed oil, tung oil, or walnut oil. Don't use olive oil as it can go rancid. Soak the spoon overnight in the oil.

Use a piece of wood thats big enough to split in half, to make your spoon from one half. draw out in pencil (on the face of the wood) a picture of the spoon you want, and remove the wood to your spoon using an axe (and saw if needed). Dont go too close to your pencil line, and whittle the rest out with a sharp knife. Carve the bowl of the spoon out with your crook/spoon knife and finish the spoon with some fine knife work, or sand it.
Then put a picture of it up on here..
Good luck with it.. :0)

[CanadianMike]

I've got one of these, the Frosts 162 and it works really well.

http://www.lakelandbushcraft.co.uk/acatalog/162.jpg

[mstaines]

Thanks guys, some good info there... Just need to save up !!! Look out for my first spoon attempt !!!

[Wolftooth]

I tried the Frosts spoon knives and I couldn't get on with them although I'm no expert.

Got myself one of Ben Orford's Hybrid Spoon/Crook knives and I can't fault it. A joy to use.

http://www.benorford.com/CarvingTools.aspx

[mstaines]

Haven't yet got myself a hook knife, but did manage to find a carving chisel in my dads garage, that allowed me to do a make shift job...

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm94/mstaines/IMG_0264.jpg

I'm quite pleased with my first attempt...

[CanadianMike]

Looks like you took a pic of one I made last year. Lol, great job!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/38280_418426609206_510619206_4416558_8045827_n.jpg