Shopsmith Forums

It started one fine day when my wife showed me a badly worn wooden spoon and said "This is my favorite spoon do you think it's ok to use?". After something more than 50 years with her a person would think I would know when I am being sucked in. In hind sight I should of said the dollar store has them in packages of three for a dollar but instead my macho self said "I can make a new one".

So the first thing I had to find some wood to make the spoon. After explaining my predicament to the boys at morning coffee one of them came thru with a chunk of birch firewood. My next challenge was to break it down to a manageable size for the band saw. My neighbor came thru with an ax. Why someone living in the desert needs an ax is a mystery to me. When I split the round I followed the natural cracks. But then I realized the grain was going the wrong direction which meant some creative band saw setup.
After cutting on the band saw there was enough wood to make 14 spoons. Now for the next problem. After turning the first spoon handle I realized that a steady rest was needed. This is what I come up with for a steady rest. PS I still don't have the spoons finished.

Looking forward to the rest of this post!

Those are fantastic!

I love them! Like algale, I look forward to the finished product(s)

It's funny how hints can drive us in different directions. It looks like you're working with dry wood. I'm looking for a suitable piece of green wood because of my wife's hint. This is what she bought me:

https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/fro ... knife.aspx

By the way, I love those spatula-shaped spoons for cooking.

Very cool.

Hey, three for a dollar? Why didn't you just buy some, wait a few days and give them to her. "All finished. I made you three." The things we will do for love (of woodworking).

I would say you got more out of that then all the dollar store spoons in the store. +1

Well I finally started cutting out the rest of the spoons and the picture shows I broke a band saw blade (add another $15 to the spoons). Next finish turning the spoons. After turning the spoon blanks I realized I needed tools to carve the spoon bowls so I made tools and sharpening strops. After I finished carving the bowls I found a bug hole in one so now there are 13 spoons and one very nice looking paint stirring stick. For a food safe finish I mixed a batch of mineral oil and beeswax in a homemade double boiler. After slathering a generous coating on the spoons I preheated the oven to 200 deg (after sending the wife out for more beer) and waited for the mixture to start melting. I turned the oven off and let it cool. Examining the finish it appeared to have entirely evaporated or soaked in I suspect a little of both. On the second try I preheated the oven to 190 deg and repeated the process. Finished!!! PS. lesson learned: be careful when your machismo does the speaking.

Yes you could buy them at the dollar store but then they would be mere wooden spoons and not Creations By Glenn ! Very cool.
Paul