How to Carve Chopsticks

A simple set of chopsticks involve two simple pieces of wood carved the same shape and length.

Travel in Asia and you will find that the most common eating utensil does not include a fork or knife. Instead, chopsticks are the tool of use to eat. Used for thousands of years, chopsticks continue to be provided with a bowl and table when it's time to have dinner in Asia. Making these basic culinary tools is not hard; the process involves taking a basic piece of wood and trimming it down to a usable size. With a bit of practice, anyone can make his own chopsticks and be prepared for that weekend dinner of Asian taste bud delights.

Things You'll Need

• Wood dowel, 1/4 inch by 2 feet
• Carving knife
• Fine grit sandpaper

Instructions

1. Mark the halfway point on the wood dowel -- it should be 12 inches from either end.

2. Carve the dowel so that the remaining wood tapers thin from the ends to being thick in the middle of the dowel. Keep carving away until the tips are 1/8 inch in diameter while the middle of the dowel remains thick.

3. Smooth the sides and surface of the dowel using a fine grit sand paper.

4. Cut the dowel at the halfway point marked earlier using a small hacksaw. Make a clean cut resulting in two separate dowel pieces.

5. Coat the two pieces with a non-toxic paint or oil to finish the sticks, then let the paint or oil dry. Use the chopsticks as desired when eating.

Tips & Warnings

• Your skill at making chopsticks will increase the more you practice crafting them. Eventually, you may even want to start trying ornate or decorative carvings as you get better at handling wood carving.

• Wear protective gloves when carving and always be careful when handling a knife.

References

• Teknatool Woodturning Projects: Project No. 2 -- Chopsticks and Rice Bowl
• Japan Visitor; Japanese Food -- Bridging The Gap; Alan Wiren

Resources

• Just Bento: Bento Item of the Week -- Make Your Own Chopsticks Kit
• AsiaRecipe.com: How to Use Chopsticks