Makings Spoons ~ Requirements

[WombleWill]

Hey Folks,

Just wanted to post this as I have a few questions about Spoon making, firstly I have no tools, ( Except - Knife, Axe, Saw ) I know I need a Crook Knife, but I might purchase one if I can get the basic shape!

Best wood for Spoons ?

Best Budget Crook Knife ?

Good Books or Websites referencing Woodcraft ?

The only woodcraft i've done has been making a pencil ;D i got a little bit of kindling and make a rounded tube and smoothed the edges and drilled a hole in the top for string, and drilled a hole in the very end of the pencil through half the length of the wood, and added the lead (Will Upload Pictures Soon!)

[sam_acw]

Best budget crook knife - none. You can carve shallow bowls easily with a Mora, or coal burn deeper ones.
If you want a Native American style crook knife and you're really on a budget go to your local saddlers or agricultural supply shop and pick up a hoof knife.
If you're only looking to make bowls/spoons a carving set may be cheap i.e.Draper carving tool set on amazon
I have a frosts spoon knife - rarely use it as it's such a one use item it sits at home.

As for books, "Whittling Twigs and Branches" is interesting, but not really about spoon carving.
There are a good few e-books on Sloyd carving over on bushcraftUSA and on project Guternburg.
Robin Wood has even written a book on spoon carving though I've never seen it as it's not been released yet.

[WombleWill]

Thanks a bunch for the post! Very useful, will probably be buying a Mora and will be looking in my local library for a whittling book ;D how do I Burn a bowl? :D

[sam_acw]

google search for "coal burning a bowl" gives 10.4 million hits :)

[Tony1948]

2870Best wood is new or wet birch2869

[Tony1948]

28722872:confused2:Sorry not the right photos,but theright wood[2873

[MikeWilkinson]

Hey Will,

Check out the resources thread in the beginners bushcraft section for plenty of links to sites with plenty of woodcarving/woodcraft projects, in particular visit Jons bushcraft for tutorials on spoons/kuksa and dish carving - it is the site that inspired me. As for wood - Birch, Sycamore, Willow and Lime are all pretty good for beginners. Mora Crook knives are a reasonable price and well worth it.

[Martin]

google search for "coal burning a bowl" gives 10.4 million hits :)

T^

[bikebum1975]

Best budget knife is a Mora or go to a tractor type supply if they have horse supplies and get a hoof knife never used one of them but they sell pretty cheap. If you can though I have been using a Mora 164 was gifted to me but I absolutely LOVE it if I had to buy one myself would be the best 20 bucks spent and that's 20 in US dollars

[bikebum1975]

Oh forgot to add you can make a spoon without a crook knife just make straight cuts requires a good deal of sanding after but it takes a little pratice way more time than a crook but still gives decent results. Angel your blade a bit and take small triangle pieces out of the wood goes pretty fast to once you get the hang of it.

For woods first ones I used were maple Love it but best carved green willow good to also best carved green

[fatsnacka]

clas ohlson do a mora crook knife for about £14 ish if you have one near you
thats next on my list to get ;)

[WombleWill]

just having a look now, ta.

[WombleWill]

UPDATE - First Spoon finished, I managed to cut a small hole and just ember burned it the rest of the way, sanded it and then oiled it up :D

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Hopefully the pictures will work ? ^^

[Tony1948]

Well done WillT^:rock-on::jumping-joy::jumping-joy: