Questions for the spoon carvers - Printable Version +- Woodnet Forums (https://www.forums.woodnet.net) +-- Thread: Questions for the spoon carvers (/showthread.php?tid=7270777) |
Questions for the spoon carvers - MauleSkinner - 04-22-2016 We had to do a bit of tree trimming this week, and I ended up with a couple of small Bradford Pear branches to try some spoon carving with. Couple of questions...assuming I get to carving in short order, how much do they need to dry before they can be considered finished and/or usable? Does one apply any sort of oil or finish for use in the kitchen? Thanks David Re: Questions for the spoon carvers - Pedder - 04-22-2016 I'm fare from bein a spooncraver, but made a few (years ago). It is easier to shape them wile the wood is wet. For the last finishing cut I'd let them dry after shaping, wich is fast because they are thin. This has worked for me on a few spoons of swedish juniper. Not sure if that works on other woods. BTW dou you use the inside of the treee to become the upper side of the spoon or the lower side? Cheers Pedder Re: Questions for the spoon carvers - eg54string - 04-23-2016 A good soaking of flax seed oil, or similar. My son rigged up a capped 4" pvc pipe to hold the oil while the spoon soaks. Re: Questions for the spoon carvers - AHill - 04-23-2016 Green is always better than dry. Air dried will cut better than kiln dried. I made a spoon from some almond a couple of years ago. Wood was green and it shaped marvelously. There's a tendency to spit on the ends. I soaked mine in mineral oil. No issues since. I didn't rough it out and then finish it. I did it all at once. Steve (Bibliophile) will chime in soon. I consider him the forum's spoon expert. Re: Questions for the spoon carvers - MichaelMouse - 04-23-2016 MauleSkinner said: Re: Questions for the spoon carvers - Bibliophile 13 - 04-23-2016 If you're lap-carving with a hook knife and a straight knife, by all means shape them while green. You can keep them from drying out for a bit by putting them in a plastic bag. You'll want to split them, of course, and remove the pith before carving. Once you've shaped the spoon, you can let it rest a few days to let the surface dry before finishing, but there's nothing inherently dangerous about finishing them immediately, letting the finish cure, and putting them right to work in the kitchen. If you plan to carve them at the bench with a gouge and spokeshave, you can rough the spoons out green, but you'll want to leave them sit a couple days until the surface is dry to the touch before you do a final shaping/scraping/sanding. Scrapers and sandpaper don't like wet wood. Re: Questions for the spoon carvers - Timberwolf - 04-23-2016 Quote: And carving will be easier on dry wood if you spray it first with a 1/3 rubbing alcohol and 2/3 water.. Re: Questions for the spoon carvers - eg54string - 04-23-2016 Thanks for that tip. We have much more birch and pear and maple and hickory and apricot, etc, laying around turning to stone, than we have time to work it. Eric Re: Questions for the spoon carvers - MauleSkinner - 04-23-2016 Thanks for the replies...that helps a lot. David |