How I carve an eating spoon (narrated) + tips for intermediate spoon-carvers | Greenwoodworking

Hi everyone!
In this video I'm showing the complete process to carve an eating spoon with simple tools. I'll start with a small log of jacaranda wood and walk you through all the steps.
This video will help both beginner carvers to learn the steps and processes, and for intermediate carvers too, to pick up a few tips and tricks.
Since people usually ask about my tools, I'm using a sloyd axe by Anders Soberra, a 10cm sloyd knife by Adam Ashworth, and an open curve hook knife by Peter Trott, all with my own handles fitted. My saw is a Silky pocket boy.
Hope you found it helpful, and feel free to leave any questions in the comments!

[@mikenorris6769]

I'm interested in your axe, pretty cool!

[@SergeRobichaud-oq9wu]

Your toe nails match the Carhartt logo, on your shirt. You are very precise with using an axe.

[@DG-mv6zw]

Wonderful video Julian, thanks. I can totally relate to what you said about beginners trying to make the bowl too deep and the use of a really tight hook spoon. I'm guilty of doing both I'm struggling with carving the bowl and also putting a crank on the spoon itself. Very helpful video.

[@tomevans4402]

Great video. Thank you

[@vincentdeknock4186]

Attended one of Julian’s workshops in Perth and got to carve my first green wood spoon while being shown the technique in this video. If you are in Perth and want to try i really recommend his workshops. Had a grest 4 hours with just a bit of wood and two knifes

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

Thanks Vincent!

[@L3g3nd35]

Fantastic Julian, this is just what I was hoping for when I made my suggestion today.

[@paulsaunders3700]

Great narration with a great tutorial video 👍

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

Thanks 👍🏼

[@stirwoodcraft]

Really well presented video

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

Thanks Sean

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

Great work. This will help me a lot. Thanks and take care.

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

Great to hear! Happy carving

[@bearpickin]

Miigwetch for sharing your carving skills,very informative...Makwa

[@adrianfbird]

Holy shit dude your a machine good work 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@bonesthenorthwoodswarriors1854]

After watching your recorded Welsh cawl spoon demo on the RUAC channel, and now seeing this video, I'm convinced you've the perfect voice for narration. A wonderful video, I should really sit down and do a carving recording at some point as well. The weather looks beautiful there.

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

Thanks, that's very kind.

[@Jan290195]

You make it look so easy, I don’t know where I am going wrong. Most of my cuts rip using both knifes. I don’t know if my blades are just not sharp enough. Really good video.

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

If your cuts are tearing out the grain it's usually because of inappropriate wood choice. Also, it's easy to tell if your knives need to be sharper, if you gently rest the edge of the knife against the flat of your thumbnail, does it catch? or does it glide. It should be sharp enough to catch immediately. With experience you can tell how sharp by how it feels.

[@rickheller6779]

I always use the notch in my axe block to cut the shoulders, but I've never thought to use it for the crank! My front cut is always uneven because the axe never reaches the bottom of the cut. This is a great idea, can't wait to try it. Thanks!

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

Very happy to help!

[@NobodysSon]

Thanks for making this!

[@dean1004]

Nice 👍

[@sukhvinder_works]

I really adore your work. Appreciate your videos. One question, Where can i get this axe or the other one that you use in most of other videos?

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

Thanks mate. This axe is a slöjd axe by the blacksmith Anders Soberra @asoberra. It's fitted with a handcarved oak handle and box mask by me. The other axe is the gränsfors bruk Swedish carving axe. I'd recommend it to anyone, it's a great axe and widely available. Worth noting that it's much heavier but with some practice and strength building you can be just as precise with it. Hope this helps.

[@mikenorris6769]

Could you also please tell me what the description of that hook knife is, I can see exactly what you mean in terms of carving the bowl, great video, thanks..

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

It's a Peter Trott open curve hook knife, which I still use and recommend.

[@dkbuilds]

Thanks for this video, it was very useful to me looking to start carving spoons. One question: was the log you started with totally green, or was that dried out firewood? Thanks!

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

Glad to hear! I enjoy your content as well. The log this spoon came from wasn't totally green but it wasn't seasoned either. There's a sweet spot inbetween when the wood has 'mellowed' and it cuts really nice without too much risk when drying. You'll find your preference with experience. I'd stay start out with as green as possible.

[@dkbuilds]

@@jones_trees_and_treen Thanks so much for the quick reply! I am hoping to get some experience and making a spoon carving video soon. This video was an inspiration to me!

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

If you'd like to collaborate somehow, let me know.

[@ronnielynch4521]

thanks this is a great video, really easy to follow, what wood are you using for your spoon?

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

This is Jacaranda

[@ronnielynch4521]

@@jones_trees_and_treen perfect thanks

[@AaronTWas]

I love how well water color pencils show up when scribing the shape of the spoon, however I find as I do my knife work and handle the blank all over as I carve, a lot gets on my hands, and in turn back all over the blank. Do you just have so little pencil left on your blank by the time you finish you axe work that it’s easy to avoid? I know that finishing cuts can also eliminate most of the marks as well. Thank you!

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

I don't have that problem with my watercolour pencils, maybe try a different brand? I use Faber castel "Albrecht Dürer" pencils. When my lines get carved off I draw them back on.

[@AaronTWas]

Thank you so much! I’ll give those a try.

[@SmallGameHunter]

Nicely done Julian, Did you modified the old axe or is this a new one? Nice froe upgrade too!

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

I have a few axes, lighter ones, heavier ones. Definitely not necessary but good to have. The one in this video is a forged axe by Anders Soberra that I carved a handle and mask for.

[@RestorationShed]

I like it :)

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

Thanks!

[@RestorationShed]

New follower here. You doing great work :)

[@Michalis_Karakostas]

Silky pocket boy is suitable for dry wood also? Cuts easily?

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

Sorry for the late reply, yes - it is, but only if you get the fine tooth blade.

[@Joseph-yc6qb]

Hey matey, what kind of axe would you recommend for a beginner? I'd prefer a budget option but obviusly want something good quality. Am also in Australia, so thought you might be know some good options? Thanks :)

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

Best budget option is the wood tools / Robin wood carving axe, they're available from woodtamer in Sydney. I use them for my courses.

[@Joseph-yc6qb]

@@jones_trees_and_treen Okay cool, was thinking of getting that one. Cheers and Merry Christmas! :)

[@superhans2099]

Who was the axe made by ? Looks amazing! Also would love to see a video on you’re tools

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

The axe is a slöjd axe by @asoberra, I'll think about doing a tour of my tools some time.

[@willpardue9455]

What is the spoon knife you are using?

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

It's an open curve knife made by Peter Trott.

[@GnarledSage]

So, I need hundreds of dollars on tools to carve a 5 dollars spoon? That sucks 😢

[@jones_trees_and_treen]

who said that? and have you heard of hobbies?