60 minute spoon
Luke Herzberg
>Well I launched my spoon project tonight, missing Survivor in the process, and here are the results. I snapped pictures at intervals, and included in the photos an extremely precise chronograph for accurate recording of progress. : )
I started with a chunk of Doug Fir 2x4, some old stuff with good grain, about 16" long. Time 7:50 pm PST. Hopes high. Anticipation thick.
Next was some basic layout. A few lines scrawled here and there, and then the spoon cavity carving began. I used my 1/2" chisel for the bulk of the work while finishing up a bit with a gouge. Time 8:07. Perspiration begins.
Next task was to saw off the bulk of the waste. Between my D-8 and my Sears backsaw, I whittled it down to a respecatable spoon-like shape. Time 8:22. Thinking I should have sharpened some tools first.
Now onto shaping the back. I used my 1" chisel for the bulk of this work. It's feeling a great deal lighter than the 2x4 it started from. Time 8:39. Perspiration heavy. Hungry for pancakes.
With the business end mostly done, the handle begins to take shape. Used the chisel plus my marking knife, which I guess is really a carving knife anyhow. Hmmmm...shoulda taken more material off with the saw first. With the clock winding down, I quickly round of the end of the handle, dress up the opposite end a bit more, and this is the result of one hour of labor. Time 8:50. Release the breath I took at 7:50.
Not too shabby. Certainly a bit rough. Cavity is not real big...closer to a typical wooden spoon than a pancake dipper. Didn't touch it with sandpaper or the like, but probably could have some kitchen-worthy with another 15 or 20 minutes of detail work.
Immediately after completing it, I brought it in to my wife who was ooohing and aaahing over it. Myself, bleeding, sweaty and tired was quite proud, and then she announced, "It's not as pretty as the one the guy made on TV." : )
Yeah, I know...here's a close up.
And now here is the spoon arrayed with the extent of the tools that were used on the job (includes the clamp on the floor).
