how to hollow out a spoon?

greitz · Post by **greitz** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:46 pm

How would you go about hollowing out the bowl of a maple spoon?

I used a small carving gouge, and smoothed it using my half-round bowl scraper held like a cabinet scraper. (Yeah, I know, it sounds funny but it worked fine.) I also tried a rotary rasp with my Dremel tool. Both methods work but are much slower than I expected. Maybe I just need more practice. Any advice or alternate techniques/tools?

Gary

paul269 · Post by **paul269** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 4:44 pm

Nice spoon.

I used this high speed cutter bit with my dremel tool.

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Attachments ... px?pid=134

But follow this link below and select the instructions at the bottom. You will find instruction on how to mount the spoon on the lathe to hollow it out. I have not made a spoon in this fasion YET. But have the stock, and plan on doing so soon. (I hope) 30 hours of overtime this week kept me out of the shop.

http://www.woodturningonline.com/Turnin ... poons.html

The only issue I see is the length of the handle is limited to about 8 inches or less. This is the distance to the ways. So the bigger the scoop or bowl of the spoon then the shorter the handle.

Can’t wait to use it to eat the gruel my wife cooks.

greitz · Post by **greitz** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 6:22 pm

Thanks for the links, Paul! I don't have that same Dremel bit, but a similar one. I noticed the instructions say to cut with the side of the bit, not the tip. Maybe that's what I was doing wrong.

I'm not brave enough yet to attempt the "propeller" technique. In fact, I use a Oneway safety center whenever I'm "turning air". I got a bad catch with the first spoon I tried, and the pieces bouncing off my face shield have made me a little cautious. Practice, practice!

Sorry about your work hours, hope it tapers off a bit. Can't help you with your wife's cooking!

Gary

horologist · Post by **horologist** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:55 pm

greitz wrote:How would you go about hollowing out the bowl of a maple spoon?

I used a small carving gouge, and smoothed it using my half-round bowl scraper held like a cabinet scraper. (Yeah, I know, it sounds funny but it worked fine.) I also tried a rotary rasp with my Dremel tool. Both methods work but are much slower than I expected. Maybe I just need more practice. Any advice or alternate techniques/tools?

Gary

Gary,
I got a quick lesson in power carving at a Woodcraft in store demonstration. The instructor let me try carving a bit on a spoon he was working on. He used a Foredom tool similar to the one shown in:

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2005541/16476/Foredom-5200-Deluxe-Kit.aspx

I was able to remove material quickly using cutters like:

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000943/10245/Carving-Burr--Silver-Coarse-Grit-Set--14-Shank--Set-of-Four.aspx

I'm guessing that you have the standard Dremel tool, Dremel makes a flexible shaft attachment to fit the standard tool. I have one that I use for cutting wood and metal, it is much more convenient for detailed work than trying to hold the whole tool. However, the Dremel is probably underpowered for carving.

Troy

keakap · Post by **keakap** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:33 pm

Lee Valley has an interesting 'dome' sanding form and sandpaper to fit. If I remember correctly it is used on a drill press. By the looks of the thing one could whip out a spoon in a few seconds.

Check Sanding section of catalog. Could be an idea you could use.