About
Making Wooden Spoons
Wooden spoons add personal style to your kitchen space can be carved on your own as long as you have patience and focus. It is not an overly complicated procedure and can be completed in a few hours.
Wood
-
There is a bevy of woods to choose from, but consider that a wooden spoon is exposed to various liquids that can stain the wood. Select a wood that is hard (to withstand heat) and a darker hue. Cherry wood is either white or dark pink and tends to darken with age. Select a piece of wood that is about 11 inches long, three inches wide and one inch thick. Select the part of the wood in which the circles circle toward you; this is the top of the spoon.
Choosing and Cutting the Pattern
-
A spoon's use determines the shape: Sauteing requires a longer handle and shallower bowl, whereas ladling requires a deeper bowl. A standard spoon is 10 inches long with a 2 1/2-inch-long bowl. You also can take an existing spoon from your kitchen and trace its pattern.
Once you have drawn the pattern on your wood, cut the excess wood with a band saw or a hand-held power saw. Use a vise to keep the wood steady. Cut outside the pencil lines of the pattern.
Carving
-
Start carving from the back of the spoon to create the spoon's bowl. Place the wood in a vise and use a rasp with smooth sweeping motions to create a rounded back. Work with the wood grain. The spoon's back is rounded enough when it doesn't rock after being placed on a flat surface. Use a goose scraper to smooth the back more. Work the handle into a round shape by squaring the handle and then smoothing down the edges.
For the bowl, draw a circle 1/16 of an inch toward the center of the bowl. Place some cloth on your leg and use a piece of leather with a thumb hole to prevent blistering. Take a palm carver and slowly remove pieces from the center of the circle, working outward. This takes a while, but it is important to move slowly and consistently.
Finishing
-
Sanding takes quite a while; use 80-grit sandpaper to remove all of the bumps on the spoon. Wipe the spoon down with a damp cloth and continue with 120-, 150-, 220-, 400- and finally 600-grit sandpaper.
eHow Article: Making Wooden Spoons
