Let's get into it a little more! After carving a spatula • Wood Carving: Spatula,... I decided we should step it up a notch and carve a nice spoon for the woods.
You're the only person I've seen who can make a knowledgeable spoon carving video under 13min. I've watched 1 hour + videos on spoon carving and I think I took more away from this video than those.
I know I'm 6 years late here, but... what are you talking about, brother? This guy doesn't know the first thing about carving a decent spoon, and he has no business... NO business... trying to make an educational video on spoon carving. Would you want to eat your cereal every morning, with the thing he came up with? Quality craftsmanship aside (since there isn't any present), the design of that spoon is completely inadequate... no crank, no keel, etc. He starts out with a piece of advice that immediately demonstrates his ignorance of spoon carving. When he pulls his tools out, you can see that he doesn't know how to use those, either. Call me crazy, but I think it's immoral to set yourself up as an expert, then abuse the trust of your viewership. Sorry for the rant, but... I've ended up being the person who has to unteach the bad habits taught by others, many, many times. It's absolutely maddening.
Dan, you called it right on the money. My first spoon actually looked pretty good, but was much too deep, and should have had a longer handle. It makes a great coffee measure, but a poor eating tool. Spoons are great projects to develop knife skills and carving techniques since they have straight, angled, round, flat, concave and convex surfaces, plus make you conscious of grain and the natural properties of the wood. From what I've learned from spoons, I'm going to try and apply that to making a kuksa which will be my biggest bowl/hollowing project so far.
Carving a spoon or spatula is one of my favorite activities in the woods. It is just relaxing and usually means that I have time to just sit and work with my tools which is a real joy for me. I have been practicing this more lately and I seem pick up something new with every different design I make. The best feeling is seeing something you are halfway proud of appear out of the wood. Great info and presentation as always Dan!
The Bob Ross of bushcraft! I love you man! I watch at least one of your videos each day. Thank you for being awesome and I look forward to taking your class in the future.
Thank you for the great tutorial! I have wanted to learn how to carve a spoon...now I have to buy the tools and find some green birch...and give it a go!
but what if i don't have a tool specifically for carving scoops? tbh i was disappointed when you pulled out that curved carver tool. i was hoping to see how to do it with just a knife.
Love the new intro really cool. Instead of carving a spoon you could have called your buddy Zack Fowler and had him mail you one because he carved about 238 while in Patogonia. He has about 4000 chopsticks too I think! One phone call and you could have been having an IPA by the yurt instead of working... Just kidding sir! Awesome video once again , you make it look so easy. Once again the best bushcraft teacher out there. I got my patch you sent me today . Thank you so much! 😀😀
Awesometip on making the bowl first. I too make spoons and somehow I accidentally figured out oif the spoon is "approved" then we can proceed with the rest. I always make the bowl first! Great tip! TY!
Awesome once again this vid will come in very handy my pop is wanting to make some spoons for our bushcraft site, I just ordered him the carving tools thanks again for the great knowledge
I'm finding myself listening to this video, (your soothing voice reminds me of Bob Ross)....the day before the 1st Christmas I have nothing to give, no way of celebrating Christmas with/for my children. As I fight back tears daily, after two years of complete and utter loss after loss...your videos, for some reason give me a sense of peace. I simply wanted to say THANK YOU for creating content that I can stomach in these dark days. ❤💔❤💔
Great video, nice tips! I started my first teaspoon yesterday, and as you (painfully 😖) pointed out, bowl too deep = rookie mistake 😆 But! I'm gonna finish it just to get a feel of the process, and improving skills along the way :) Thanks for awesome and useful content! 💗
Nice, a 13 minute master course on spoon carving! Sequence of steps is the best method, technique is correct and safe. I think it is worth adding this, do not leave the very center of the tree as part of the finished item. It is almost guaranteed to split or check. Great content Dan.
Dave C. just put out a forge video of a working gouge to carve the bowl on a spoon, another option. I often will use a hatchet to shape the rough shape of the spoon or whatever, then work the bowl and finally tune with the knife. Pat the cat, get the grain going with the flow. Nice thinning on the bowl, I see a lot of spoons the many are afraid to thin out the bowl. Scrappers are a cool tool to finish with too.
I’ve done this out in the woods but made a beard comb! If I could send a pic on here I would, I turned out so cool. Used a small file to make the teeth. It unfortunately lost a couple teeth over the years but man it was relaxing to just sit in the dirt and make something from nothing. Great vid man!
Thanks for a great educational experience. You are an excellent teacher. I've seen several spoon carving videos from "masters". Yours is for me--a beginner the best by far.. A kuska video would be much appreciated.. Jim
Every spoon I’ve made has been very simplistic because I didn’t really know what I was doing. I’m going camping next week and can’t wait to try again with this knowledge!
You know I like watching all your videos you have a way of having awesome video you draw my attention not what it is questions So I got turned on by Uk are being spoons and statue so I went here with me my knifes. So me and my dog Tuggy We Drive checking trailer and I brought my kit with me so I can widow thank you thank you God bless
You should use the corkscrew on swiss army knife to make a lanyard hole on your wooden spoon handle. Next challenge is to carve a fork and knife out of wood.
Now that was pretty nifty ... I think I am going to try that, just for the fun of it... BUT ... Where did you get the knife to cut the bowl of the spoon ???
I’m gonna try to do this. I don’t know how or if I will actually be able to... *I need that hook knife first, right??!* Unless I can do it with a regular knife...? Hmmm.
Do you just use the spoon s is or do you coat it with anything? I have made two spoons and the first one was terrible, the second one came out like if been carving spoons for years. I'm so proud of the second spoon. I used Birch for both but didn't do the second one with fresh wood and I took a lot more time with the second one so it was hard wood when carving.
I don’t let them dry quickly. I keep them in a cool dry place. Where I store my gear is basically same temperature as outside so they just dry with time
Good job,, and thanks.. If the wood is green and full of sap,, what keeps it from splitting and cracking when it drys out? And do you think a hot beeswax treetment would help? Keep up the good work and thanks again. ..
Willy Bee - great grampa used to put bearfat on his wood utensils to keep them from cracking. Just cause he had a lot of that type of fat. Great Gramma always had good utensils that didn't crack. So I guess today you could use any good fat available.
How did I miss this video!! Nice looking hook knife who made that if you don't mind me asking? One little tip tho, the neck needs to be thicker the narrower you make it. Does that make sense? When looking at the spoon from above it can be thin as you dare. From the side profile that neck area needs to be thicker to help keep it strong. It is a great spoon Dan thanks for all you do!!!
So looks like you got 3 blanks there?! (Most folks have forgotten how important oil cloth is.) If don't have that bowl cutting tool is there another way to do that part?? The chipping away with the grain I got back as a kid. Just couldn't figure out how to get that bowl area without ending up with a spatula.
Edie Boudreau , one alternative, traditional way is to put a small ember from the fire in the bowl part, and blow on it. It will burn a depression and leave char that can be easily scraped off by your knife. Burn, scrape, repeat until you have the shape pretty close to what you want. You can finish by rubbing a small, smooth stone in the bowl (some folks also use coarse sand and use the stone or round an end on a stick to grind the bowl with the sand). Alternatively, you can use a bow drill (same as making a fire) and make your divot(s) that way, then again finish with scraping with your knife, or use the stone/sand method.
Ive been watching your videos for a really long time and something has been bothering me, so il ask. What is your axe...? Its different, looks beat up, looks awesome!
