Carving a Simple Spoon. 

Hi Gemma, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Sorry for the late reply, I have just done a giveaway video so had to wade through a hundred comments before reading yours. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Your quite right, a couple of basic tools and you can achieve quite a lot. I enjoy the simplicity of carving. A couple of knives, a piece of timber and the fresh air. Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Christopher, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. I think the safest oil for spoons and bowls etc would be a good food grade mineral oil. I have started using coconut oil and beeswax for my own spoons, but I tend to leave them untreated if I am sending one out to someone. You never know what allergies people may have. I hope you are keeping well during these uncertain times. Thanks again, all the best, Mark 😀🌲🔥.

Hi Rose, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) The Mora carving knives I purchased off Amazon, but the Ben Orford knives I buy direct from his website. I will leave you a link to Ben's website.... many thanks, Mark :) benandloisorford.com/

Hi 1 .1, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. Super glue..... mans best friend lol. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark😀.

Hi Two Feathers, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I like the tip of using a birch dowel to burnish the inside of the bowl. I will have to give that a try :) I use something similar to burnish the edges of leather, so I am interested to see how it works on wood. Thanks again my friend..... have a great day, all the best, Mark :)

@@markbailey2981 Hi Mark No problem, glad I could help. I hope you find this info. useful. I do leather work as well and use a round dowel-like Hardwood slicker with grooves of varying sizes that I made on a lathe in our school machine shop. I was a teacher in a vocational technical high school. Keep making those videos. I'm a subscriber. God bless: Two Feathers Proprietor of: The Mountain Man Emporium

What else would work, like leaving the spoon in a bowl of bleach over night to kill bacteria, or another non-toxic chemical?

Many thanks for watching my friend. I'm glad you enjoyed the video 👍😀🥄🥄.

@@markbailey2981 BTW, it was also good to see that you didn't use a hatchet. Those things make me nervous. Question: Was that green sycamore you were using? Seems like it must have been dry, if you put oil on it after. But I didn't understand how you controlled the cracks.

@@gtaylor2770Hi.... the wood was probably cut a couple of days prior to making the spoon. I find that after holding the wood for a while and the friction from sanding it dries quite quickly, especially if it is warm outside too. I usually wait a couple of days if it is slightly damp before oiling. I will leave you a link to Ben Orfords channel. He explains in better detail about how to split the wood to minimize the cracking. I noticed he has put some new videos up as well, so they might also interest you. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KW2DN46lrqk.html Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Josh, I hope you are keeping well. Thank you for the kind words. It means a lot as you are an awesome spoon carver. Mine aren't as neat as yours, but at least I can stir the sugar in my tea now LOL. You have a great week too Josh.... All the best, Mark. :)

Hi Paul, many thanks for watching. The trousers are a pair of dickies work pants. I either wear them or a pair of Carhartt as they tend to be harder wearing. Take care Paul, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Quinn,,,,, it is great to hear from you mate 👍👍. I am keeping ok thanks. Busy working a new job, so I haven't had much free time. I noticed you are doing some carving Quinn... I have saved your new video for later when I get home 👍👍. Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)

Hi D G, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. I first started off with the mora hook knives. They are great for the money and they have quite a pronounced curve so they can be used for both shallow and deeper cuts. The move hook/curve to the knife will help when carving deeper cuts for things like larger spoons/ladles cups etc. Nowadays I tend to use the shallower hooked knives for most of my spoons and find they work really well. For starting off, like I say the mora hook knives are a decent knife. Then the more that you do, start to add other hook knives to your kit. The same goes for the carving knives, Mora again make some lovely knives that are reasonably priced. I have a few different length carving knives. I tend to use the longer ones for removing most of the wood away and then use the shorter blades for more detailed and finishing off. If you check out Ben Orford's website he has a lot of tools on there and some good info. I hope this helps. Have a great day, all the best, Mark :) :)

Many thanks for watching my friend 👍. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)

@@markbailey2981 U 2 CYA

Hi Ja vy, I hope you are keeping well. Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)

Hi Jack, I hope you are keeping well 👍. Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I hope you have a nice evening, take care, all the best, Mark 😀👍.

Many thanks for watching Daniel..... have a great day my friend 👍.

Hi Neil, many thanks for watching mate. I tent to use a file and stones when sharpening an axe. I have used a bench grinder on some of the cheaper axes at work, as the steel doesn't always lend its self to the amount of time that you sometimes have to put in. I was once told that the grinder may heat the steel up and change the hardness of the edge, which can ruin a decent axe. A good video to watch about sharpening axes and knives is on Ben Orford's you tube channel..... he goes into good detail. As for a chopping block, you could try phoning a couple of local tree surgeons and ask them if you could buy one off them if they are felling any trees locally. If not it's a case of scouting in the woods for an old downed tree and cutting one off. They are a pain to carry back to the car, though. It is defiantly worth checking out Bens channel for sharpening axes though mate.... good luck with your endeavour Neil, all the best, Mark :)

@@markbailey2981 many thanks mark I will use my file for the axe lol I will look up Ben on you tube ..thanks for your reply mark 😃

Hi John, I hope you are keeping well brother :) Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I love the simplicity of carving. A couple of tools and you can make a lot. Certainly enjoyable on a camping trip. Have a great day John, all the best, Mark. :)

Hi Nidge, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Sorry to hear about your shed mate and tools getting stolen.... nothing worse mate. Yeah I am from Staffordshire mate. I have lived all over the country over the years, but back again now. Happy 2022 Nidge, all the best, Mark :)

@@markbailey2981 cheers mate I'm from Weston Coney my self so. Yeah we both local lol happy. 2022 to mark

Hi Stermensky Simon, many thanks for watching. I usually either buy a tin of walnut oil and beeswax mixed that I simply rub onto the spoon and work into the grain, or my friend uses walnut oil and soaks his spoons in that in a plastic box. I found it left the spoons tasting too strong of the oil, but each to their own. If you are using just the walnut oil, I would rub it on with a clean cloth and perhaps do a few coats. Another easy way is to mix beeswax and coconut oil by slightly warming them and melting them into a liquid and pour into a tin. Once hard, I put some on my fingers and work it into the carving. I hope this helps, all the best, Mark :)

@@markbailey2981 Thanks a lot for all the advice :). Very nice video. Keep it up :). Have an amazing day :).

@@stermenskysimon4559 You Too my friend.... take care 👍👍.

HI Get Smart, I hope you are keeping well mate. Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍👍. Once I can return back to work, that is what I tend to do for a living. I am a fly fishing guide and instructor, so I spend most of my day explaining and showing things to people. We started adding a few wild camping and bushcraft activities alongside a days trout or salmon fishing and people seem to enjoy it. Whether we tech them to cook the fish that they catch on an open fire or a pit and also teach them about shelter building, navigation etc. Most of the carving I do is for my own enjoyment, but even that has been popular to some. They like to sit around the fire having a go at carving a spoon whilst reminiscing about the biggie that got away lol.

Hi Lilly, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) You can carve the bowl of the spoon with a normal straight blade. It may take a little longer to do than using a hook knife, but the end results look good. Or another way is to coal burn the bowl. I have seen a few video on you tube showing these methods, so it might be worth a look if you don't have a hook knife, but still want to make a few spoons. I hope this helps, thanks again, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Pascal, I hope you are keeping well :) Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, and thank you for the suggestion. Yes, I will try and do a video on spoon carving without carving tools in the near future. There are a couple of ways in which it can be done. Like you say, not everyone carries or owns a set of carving tools. Thanks as always for stopping by. All the best, Mark. :)

Hi E M, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I'm glad you found the video useful. I'm sure you will enjoy your wood carving. It soon becomes addictive :) Thanks for the kind words, all the best, Mark.

Hi xyla, I know the feeling lol. It can take a while for your hands to get used to it. There can be more cutting and carving than you first think.... but great job on carving the spoon 👍. Plenty more to come now!! Have a great week, all the very best, Mark 😀🔥🌲.

@@markbailey2981 thanks Mark

Hi Rick, I hope you are keeping OK mate :) Yeah, spoon carving is a great pastime. I haven't see the Beavercraft tools first hand, but Wade (woodswalker 1965) has recently done a review on them and a giveaway. They look like a decent set of tools from what I have seen and what Wade said. He is a good guy, so if they says they are good, then they should be good :) I hope you have been enjoying the sun. I've been with 20 kids, getting hot and bothered undoing tangles. You know what it's like, sweat dripping off your nose and its 'Mark we all tangled up together'. I was ready for home by 10am lol. Take care Rick, speak to you soon mate :)

@@markbailey2981 haha I can imagine, never ending cycle of tangles lol. Bet it was a nightmare. 20 kids on your own is one hell of a handful. You will be ready for a brew or a beer n put yer feet up tonight for sure. Hope there's less tangles tomorrow if you've got another day with kids 👍. Think it might be a bit cooler too 🙂. Cheers Mark, all the best fella

Hi BackOutside, I hope you are keeping well :) many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I'm glad you found the video useful and took something away from it. It is always nice to hear, so thanks :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Quinn, many thanks for watching brother :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Madura, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. Have a great week ahead my friend, all the best, Mark 👍😀.

Hi Ducati Charrua, many thanks for watching and for your kind words. Thank you 👍😀.

Hi Shaun, it is great to hear from you mate. Happy Easter to you too mate, I hope you have been keeping well. Take care 👍.

@@markbailey2981 I`m ok are you ok

@@shaundawson5639 I have been keeping ok thanks mate 👍. Busy working, roll on summer ay.... I hope you are keeping well Shaun... take care mate :)

Hi Carl, I hope you are keeping well mate :) I appreciate you trawling through the vids mate. I started watching your bushcrfat channel yesterday. You have some great content. I enjoyed the camp you had with Cornish Knives and the boys. I watched your axe carving video. That's a great axe for the money!! Robin Wood makes some nice tools. Thanks as always for watching Carl, have a great day mate. Mark :)

Hi Sam, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. I tend to use the more common types of wood for carving spoons. Woods such as birch, sycamore, lime (basswood) and fruit tree woods such as apple and plum. They are all reported to be a safe wood to use, plus they aren't too difficult to work with. I tend to avoid trees such as Yew which is toxic, plus a lot of pines etc due to the resin. There are some good websites which go into detail about the uses of different woods. But dependent of where you are in the world you may have your own tress that would be suitable or not. Thanks again Sam, have a great day, all the best, Mark 😀🔥🌲.

Hi Keanu, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark 👍😀.

Hi A Teleskier, many thanks for watching and for the nice comment, it is vey much appreciated :) I'm glad you found the video useful :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Ant, many thanks for stopping by mate. Yeah the weekend is going well thanks mate. To tell you the truth, I can't tell if it's Sunday or Wednesday anymore lol. At least with a routine, you kind of know where you are in the week lol. I have just been sharpening a couple for knives for people. The rock and roll lifestyle lol. Have a great day mate, all the best, Mark 😀😀😀.

Mark Bailey oh I’ll send mine down to you Mark lol. I’ve got one wet stone and about to pick up another from my dad, I’ll get some auto sol and see if I can get how to sharpen lol. I know mate these days are blending in to one aren’t they, glad your well bud

Hi Joe, yes warm soapy water is fine. Deepening on the type of wood that has been used you may need to re coat the spoon after a few washes.

Hi John, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Sure, the straight Ben Orford knife is called an English Sloyd knife. It is a great knife. Very comfortable and it easy to work with. Here is a link to the knife and Ben's website. All the best, Mark. :) benandloisorford.com/store/#!/English-Sloyd-Knife/p/34599486/category=8705023

Hi Phil, I hope you are keeping well mate 👍. Probably the most toxic tree in the UK would be the Yew tree. If you stick to woods such as fruit tree wood e.g. apple and plum etc. they are a nice safe wood to use. I also like sycamore, lime and birch for carving spoons and spatula's. Again it is safe, plus it is nice wood to carve and work with. Some people can have allergic reaction to some woods. My mate can't use certain woods as he is allergic to the dust, so it pays to try a few different sorts. The same thing can apply to the oil that is used afterwards. Most people like to use a food grade mineral oil which is safe for most people. This is a good option for people with a nut allergy, as I use walnut oil which some people don't like. Thanks for watching Phil.... take care mate, all the best, Mark 👍😀.

Mark Bailey hi Mark many thanks, it’s a great video keep them coming. Really really good, your very skilled

@@phillewis631 Thanks for your kind words Phil. It is very much appreciated 👍.

Many thanks for watching JT :) The Mora hook knives are a good knife and don't cost the earth. Once you get into carving it soon becomes addictive. I was thinking of getting rid of a few spoons. The house has become a tinder box lol. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)

Hi 4DRH, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. Have a great weekend my friend, all the best, Mark.

Hi Balloon Man, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark.

Cheers Sel :) I hope you are keeping well mate. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and got something out of it. Yeah I always tend to draw a template. But its not very often the spoon comes out like the drawing LOL. Thanks again Sel. Take care mate, Mark. :)

Hi Mark, many thanks for watching and for the sub :) It is very much appreciated.... have a great day, all the best, Mark :)

Hi CreativeMan.com.au, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Ide Rumah Pohon, Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Thank you for the kind words, all the best, Mark, :)

Hi Wade, I hope you are keeping well brother :) Yeah I know the feeling. Life can get in the way sometimes, but the woods will still be there when you have the time. Many thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment Wade. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)

Hi Dave, I hope you are keeping well brother :) You should give it a try mate. You can pick a set of Mora carving tools up quite cheap. A small knife and a hook knife and your away!! Thanks for the kind words as always mate. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)

Morning mate all's well this end thanks. Il have a look for a set when I get a bit of time. Life's a bit crazy atm the Mrs has her new lungs and home doing well but running me ragged lol. Have a great week pal. All the best Dave

I'm glad to hear that the Mrs is doing well mate. That's the most important thing :) I'm sure she is very grateful for everything you are doing for her. Your a top bloke mate :) You have a great week too mate...… all the best, Mark :)

Hi Joe, I hope you are keeping well brother. Many thanks as always for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)

Hi David, I hope you are keeping well. Many thanks for kind words and for stopping by :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)

Hi Mackenzie Z, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. Have a great week, all the best, Mark 😀🌲🌲.

Hi Sarah, many thanks for watching. I tend to use the wood when it is green as it is softer for carving. Then before oiling and using the spoon I let the wood dry out. Have a great week, all the best, Mark 👍😀🌲🌲.

Hi Feral Grandad, I hope you are keeping well :) Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)

Hi BCB, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Very kind of you to do so :) I have just subbed to your awesome channel. You certainly have some good stuff going on, so can't wait to start watching your videos :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)

Hi Giovanni, the wood is green wood. May thanks for watching 😀👍.

I like to use a variety of woods, but my main one is sycamore as it grows in abundance.

Hi Random Fox, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Yeah, the plastic bag has come to the rescue more than once for me too. If I'm not going to finish the spoon in one go, then I will put the work in a bag and spray a bit of water on the timber to keep it workable for the next time. I haven't tried putting the chips in, that is something I will have to give ago. Thanks for the suggestion. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)

Mark Bailey your very welcome I'm 43 looks more 27 lol your never too old to stop learning but another thing an axe be great to speed up job too i recommended highly you cheak out woodcraft hamster RU-vid he's a nice friend of mine from London give you some awsome tips too 💪🐺🐾👌😉

Your right there my friend, you are never too old to stop learning :) Yeah I often use a small carving hatchet when removing larger amounts of material, but I wanted to test out the new carving knife. I will defiantly check out your friends channel. I think I may have watched a few of his videos in the past. The name rings a bell with me. I will go over and give him a sub. Thanks again.... all the best, Mark. :)

Mark Bailey no problems has you got Facebook or telegram or hangouts I show you my carving ? I'm the same with new tools I get like a kid can't wait to test em I bought two Mora basic knives omg they is fantastic but I try to makes my tools in fire only made few medieval arrow heads 💪🐺🐾

Hi Random Fox, sorry for the late reply, I'm in and out at the moment. I too have a couple of the Mora knives. I love them :) Great knives for the money. Sorry I don't have Facebook anymore. I think I still have an account, but not been on it in a few years. I'm a bit old fashioned with computers and tech stuff. I'm not very good with it!! I checked out your friend channel. Great content. I have just subbed to him. I have seen a few of his videos in the past. I thought the name was familiar. If you have Instagram and your work is on there, I can look at your carving through that. It would be good to see. I like the sound of your medieval arrow heads. Forging is something that I have never done, but I would love to try it one day. I was watching a few blacksmiths forging steel strikers at the bushcraft show earlier in the year and it looked like a lot of fun. :)

Hi John, it is green wood :) I find it easier to carve than using hard seasoned wood. Especially hard woods :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Palle, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. All the best, Mark :)

I tend to use sycamore or birch for spoons. Lime is also good as it quite soft to carve when green and the woods are non toxic.

Hi Rich, I hope you have had a nice weekend :) I have never tried tallow on spoons before. As long as it doesn't go off I'm sure it would work fine. It is certainly food safe. You will have to give it a try. Just don't give it to a vegetarian lol. On the subject of beeswax, I have recently made a few small batches of beeswax and coconut oil conditioner which seems to work quite well on wood. I've tried it on knife handles and it soaks in cleanly, plus it is food safe so I may give it a try on a few spoons. It is also great for leather sheaths and steel, and with the coconut oil being medicinal it can also be used as an antibacterial cream for the skin. Take care Rich, all the best, Mark :)

@@markbailey2981 Another good idea. Have a great week Mark!

Thanks Rich, you have a great week too my friend :)

Hi Shane, I hope you are keeping well and enjoying the weather. I bet the Island is busy at this time of the year!! Many thanks as always for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great day mate, all the best, Mark. :)

Hi Ozark Mountain Man, many thanks for watching :) Have a great day my friend, all the best, Mark. :)

Hi Mr Meowgi, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great week, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Mark, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I have never tried American Hornbeam, we have quite a lot growing near to where I work, so I will try and harvest some next time I'm out. I always like to try out different woods. I suppose you could use just beeswax to seal the spoon after. I know people who use wax on wooden knife handles with good results. So it is always worth a try. I have also used coconut oil in the past and that worked really well. It is amazing stuff with a myriad of other uses. Have a great day Mark, all the best, Mark :)

Hi TC, I hope you are keeping well :) Many thanks for watching as always my friend. I'm glad the video will come in handy for your next spoon :) Yeah I love the new knife. It is very comfortable and easy to work with. I've carved about 3 spoons and a couple of small figures with it and it is still sharp. Thanks again TC, you have a great week too. All the best, Mark. :)

Many thanks for watching Junkabella 👍. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Tech and Tactical, I hope you are keeping well :) Thank you as always for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great weekend, all the best Mark :)

Hi Gary, I hope you are keeping well mate. Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Shane, many thanks for watching and for the kind words, it is very much appreciated. Yeah, Ben makes some great tools, plus he is a real nice guy in person so it makes buying his tools a pleasure :) Thanks again Shane, all the best, Mark. :)

Hi bigearedmose17, I hope you are keeping well :) LOL Yeah, that's a problem that I run into as well. Knowing when to stop is the hardest part of carving. Thanks for watching as always, all the best, Mark :)

Hi Brian, Many thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment :) Have a great day my friend, all the best, Mark.

Your welcome Shaun. Have a great day :)

Thank you Joel :) It is something I play around with when I get the free time. I find something satisfying about carving nice wood with a sharp blade :) Thanks as always Brother.... all the very best, Mark :)

@@markbailey2981 Yeah, I love carving as well, my favorite wood to fiddle here in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Gordonia Wood. I use it for everything....such as scale when I make knives, I made 2 cigar pipes, spoons and so much more. Having a reliable crooked knife and sharp detailing knife is always great. Happy Easter Mark and all the best to you and yours. - Joel

Hi Shaun, I hope you are keeping well mate :) I'm sure you enjoy it will enjoy it when your hook knife comes. I would start off with a nice soft wood like willow, sycamore or lime. Apart from being nice wood to carve, there is usually plenty of it knocking around most woods. Have a great weekend Shaun, all the best, Mark. :)

Hi brother, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great weekend, all the best Mark.

Hi Quinn, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I have just subbed to your great channel. It looks like you have some interesting topics. Can't wait to start watching :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)

Thank you very much Mark. I made one spoon made of Pussy Willow, nice and light. I have wood to make more spoons. I have a wood lot to get wood. Take care.

Cheers Kevin :) I hope you are keeping well mate, all the best, Mark :)