Well I’m trying to get some Christmas presents done in between subbing stretches at school.

During our Armed Forces spaghetti dinner, two of the ladies from my doctor’s office said they really liked the heavy duty wooden spoons that I had made. So, I’m making them some for their gifts.

Spoons are easier to make from green wood. I got this piece from the local landfill. I’m pretty sure it is Maple, judging by the bark. It measured about 5†in diameter and roughly 4’ long. Enough to make 4 spoons.

First thing was to cut it in half length wise. Next, split each log down the center. By splitting the log and then using the half log, it creates a spoon from a section of wood that dries with less splitting. I made a quick little sled to hold the log while splitting it on the bandsaw.

The blue painters tape provides a reference to guide the log thru the saw.

Four pieces ready for turning

A piece mounted on the lathe

Turned round

Shape the round blank handle and head. The partially completed spoon could be sanded some at this point but the wood is very wet and really clogs the paper.

Next, the shaped pieces are taken to the bandsaw and the “spoon†end refined. I use a magic marker to roughly define the finished outline.

The bowl of the spoon can be hollowed using chisels and gouges but the amount of material needed removing would make this a long process. Instead, I used Forstner bits to hog out the bulk of the material and then refined the shape with gouges and a scorp (it was on sale from Woodcraft!). This picture shows the spoons in various stages of carving.

Even though the wood is green and easily worked, the tools must be kept sharp. Honing is made easier with a homemade strop mounted in the drill press.

Once most of the carving is finished, I hung the spoons under the heating vent to help speed the drying process. Two of the spoons, ones with the smaller heads, need additional carving work. I’m waiting for them to get drier (and harder) before finishing that part. In addition, they will need sanding- LOTS of sanding.

I’ll post the finished spoons on another Wednesday.

Safe Turning.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

Couple of questions.

1) for the unfortunate of us without access to a bandsaw, how would you recommend splitting the wood?

2) I worry that drying the pre-finished spoons under a heater might cause excessive warping. I know that the one spoon I worked on (whittled not turned) warped quite a bit even without a high heat drying process.

Thanks for the questions, Justin!

Not sure what tools you have available. Hand saws can be pretty labor intensive. I used a pruning saw to cut the logs into 2' lengths. I suppose it would work to split the piece. It would be a great workout! Not exactly sure how to hold the piece securely, however. A small chain saw would work also, if available. A table saw would probably not give you enough "height" although maybe you could create a jig that would allow to saw half way thru then flip the jig and saw thru the other half.

Straight grained/no knot pieces could be split with wedges and maul. Really works out the aggressions!

As for drying, our home has a hot air system and the vent is located at the end of a long run. By the time the air hits the pieces, the temperature is now to just "warm" so the drying is just a little better than nothing. They have been there a week and still need a lot more. I'm hoping they don't warp/crack. So far so good!
Justin Hughes said:

Couple of questions.

1) for the unfortunate of us without access to a bandsaw, how would you recommend splitting the wood?

2) I worry that drying the pre-finished spoons under a heater might cause excessive warping. I know that the one spoon I worked on (whittled not turned) warped quite a bit even without a high heat drying process.