spoon contest rules?

Re: spoon contest rules?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>First, think challenge rather than contest. Of course you can start with milled lumber, no time adjustment. Not everyone has logs laying about; but for those who do, if you like, start the clock after you've milled the log.

Sorry about your split, what a bummer.

Pam

Re: spoon contest rules?

mike recchione

>"Sorry about your split, what a bummer."

Thanks, Pam. But it was a lot of fun, anyway. I haven't had much shop time in a while, and what I have had I've used to make hand spindles for my wife and her spinning guild. This is lathe work - enjoyable and rewarding, but not particularly physical. It was nice to do some woodworking that involved swinging axes and mauls and mallets for a change. Makes me feel like spring is really coming, even if the weather hasn't realized it yet.

I'll try to find a nice scrap of something - I got to thinking that I've been wanting a good pancake spoon for a long time.

Oh, that sinking feeling...

CONGER - The Irish diaspora in Munich

>... snap..., and you think that the bowl wont even make a useable eggcup!

-g- who extends his sympathy, because he has been there so often!

Crafts Auction-OT

Adam Cherubini, NJ

>Mike,

Are you going to the crafts auction? If so I'll throw some dogwood, or apple (I may have pear) into my car for you. If you're not, but Jeremy is, maybe he'd be nice enough to transport some pieces of wood for you.

Let me know if you're interested (or anyone who's going to the auction for that matter) any time before then.

Adam

Re: Crafts Auction-OT

mike recchione

>Hi Adam,

Thanks so much for the offer. I've got some dogwood (semi-dry by now - maybe 4 years old or so?), but would love to try apple if you've got some to spare. I didn't realize dogwood is non-toxic for cooking, but I guess it is. I hadn't considered using it for spoons. It's not the easiest wood to work, but I've been keeping this stash for things like turned mallets and chisel handles, which it's really good for.

When is the CRAFTS auction? If I can't make it there, I still plan to come visit you at Pennsbury one of these weekends.

- Mike

Is dogwood toxic?

Adam Cherubini, NJ

>Mike,

I don't know about dogwood, or even apple for that matter. Do people spray stuff on apple that would make it unsuitable for use as a spoon? I guess if you can eat the apples, you should be able to lick the wood. Yikes! Maybe one of our chemists will chime in here.

Pretty sure we have some pear at Pennsbury. And you're welcome to my apple. Let me know when you are coming and I'll be sure the manor joinery is well stocked and our axes are sharpened!

Crafts auction is a week from Saturday in Flemington NJ.

Adam

I don't think so.

mike recchione

>I Googled dogwood toxicity and the usual suspects said either "undetermined" or "non-toxic". Apple is definitely non-toxic - it's used for smoking meats, etc.

Thanks again for the apple - I'm not sure how hard it is to work, but it's got to be easier to work than dogwood with hand tools. And it sure looks pretty when it ages. Is the pear you have the fruitwood, or Bradford Pear? Bradford Pear isn't really a pear at all. Like dogwood, it's excellent mallet and chisel handle wood - takes a good pounding. Come to think of it, apple makes nice saw handles, molding planes and chisel handles. And spoons :-)

- Mike

Re: I don't think so.

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>I love to turn dogwood. It is very well behaved, and finishes very smoothly. I make all sorts of tool handles, bottle stoppers, carving mallets, etc. out of it, but have not tried carving it or working it in other ways.

I find apple to be easy to work. It has a lot of the characteristics of cherry, but seems to be a bit softer, and the colors are somewhat more muted.

Dogwood

mike recchione

>I had heard (maybe from Saint Roy?) that dogwood was used for weaving shuttles, bearings, etc - i.e. moving parts. I think the explanation was that it gets more slippery as it wears, providing what amounts to natural lubrication. I've been planning to try it for a spinning wheel flyer assembly. I also love to turn it. It isn't the prettiest wood in the world, but it's got other good qualities. And it sure can take a beating.

Lilac

Greg B�tit, Vergennes, VT

>I made a couple spoons out of lilac. I had to work with small branchy pieces, which was difficult and made the finished pieces susceptible to reaction cracks. But the wood is hard and you can come across an occasional streak of purple in the smooth white wood. The purple stays, unlike the spectacular colors of other woods like box elder. If the spoon is given to someone who is mourning the loss of a cherished ice destroyed lilac bush, it's a real point-getter. Just don't blow it by giving the second spoon to her sister. DAMHINT.

Greg

Re: Dogwood

Jim Reed @Tallahassee

>Dogwood was used for loom shuttles because the surface finishes nice and tight--no little fibers to snag the thread. It turns easily and polishes up well.

Lilac is a pleasure to work too.

Bob Hackett

>It a shame that it`s so unstable and prone to cracking.

I`ve made chisel handles and small bowls from some very old and colorful local wood.75% warped and cracked in drying even after being riven and the end grain sealed.

It does make nice treen though,some of my wife`s favorites.

MB