Carving Precision Holes in Wood

Carve a precision hole with a bent spoon knife.

Carving precision holes in wood can be a simple task if you have the right tools. Woodcarvers used specialized tools for this purpose long before the invention of the electric drill. One of the more popular hand tools for carving precision holes is the bent spoon knife. It looks like a screwdriver with a sharp, semi-circular end on it. These hand tools come in different sizes that allow you to carve almost any size hole up to 1 inch or more in diameter.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2-inch bent spoon knife
• 1/4-inch wood chisel

Instructions

1. Hold a bent spoon knife perpendicular to the wood surface where you wish to carve a hole.

2. Push down on the tool with a moderate amount of pressure so that the tip of it makes a slight cut in the wood. Begin revolving the knife slowly to cut a circle with the end of the knife. Continue spinning to tool to make the cut. As the circle gets more defined, begin adding pressure to the handle.

3. Push and spin the handle as the knife cuts deeper. Revolve the handle in both directions. Focus on keeping the knife handle vertical as it cuts deeper.

4. Remove the bent spoon if you reach a depth of 1/2 inch and the center of the hole has not broken off yet. Insert the tip of a 1/4-inch chisel into the edge of the hole and pry out the center. It will pop out easily.

5. Insert the bent spoon back into the hole. Continue adding pressure as you spin it in a circle, both ways if you need to until you get within 1/16 inch of penetrating to the other side. Ease up on the pressure and spin the bent spoon slowly until you penetrate out through the other side.

Tips & Warnings

• Roll a piece of 100-grit sandpaper into a cylinder. Use it to sand inside the hole if you need it smoother.

• Wear safety glasses.