Spoon Carving- From Log to Billet

[@markluke8447]

Thank you for this informative beginners guide to learning this craft.

[@HuronSpoonCo]

My pleasure 😊

[@richardyonker1964]

Great video!! Thank you Sean!

[@HuronSpoonCo]

Glad to help!!

[@daveebert7747]

Thank you for taking the time to touch on the basics. I just carved my second spoon so I am a beginner. I have watched a lot of different presenters and you are one of my very favourites. Clear concise intelligent information always thoughtfully presented.

[@HuronSpoonCo]

Well thank you so much for the compliments! I try to explain things in a manner that folks can understand. I worry sometimes I’m giving too much information but I’d rather give people more info than they want than giving them less than they need.

[@kimolsen4879]

Really like your videos

[@HuronSpoonCo]

Thank you 😊

[@teapeaster]

Great. Thanks mate :)

[@lesliehunt2117]

Thanks Sean, this is what I needed

[@HuronSpoonCo]

Glad to help!

[@inthewoodswithbigfoot3941]

Thank you! I just scrapped a beautiful peice of rainbow poplar due to a crack from not soaking my billet. Many Thanks! Keep up the great work!

[@HuronSpoonCo]

Thank you! That’s a shame though about the Rainbow Poplar. Such pretty timber!

[@inthewoodswithbigfoot3941]

@@HuronSpoonCo I have a bit more and I just hope that I can get to it before it's too late.

[@NorthmanAquatics]

Such clear and precise info well presented!

[@HuronSpoonCo]

Thanks buddy!

[@egbluesuede1220]

I agree with a lot of the other comments. Your instruction is fantastic and really helpful for a beginner like myself.

[@HuronSpoonCo]

Thank you very much!

[@chesterthompson6835]

Nice job. Love the info that you're willing to share.

[@HuronSpoonCo]

Good to hear! Thanks for watching😊

[@sandrazern649]

Thank you. I really appreciate you taking the time to video this and share it. I was wondering if you could take the time to explain how you made your chopping block that is in your house. I really like the various cuts you made in it and how you use those to rest the wood on when axing out different areas. I assume you used a chain saw but I'm not sure. My chopping block is just flat at the moment but I'd love to add the various notches and steps that you have. Thanks again.

[@HuronSpoonCo]

Yes, you’re correct! I used a chainsaw to make the notches. In retrospect, I wish I would have made the top platform taller to support longer spoons. On the next one I’ll definitely make an adjustment!

[@sandrazern649]

@@HuronSpoonCo Thank you.

[@PeteMcDermott]

Love all your videos bud there a great help to a newbie like me. Do you plan on doing any videos on making the birch bark knife sheaths or maybe the little box cover for a spoon knife. Thanks

[@HuronSpoonCo]

Thanks John! Definitely a possibility in the future!

[@4StringSling]

Hi Sean what is your favorite sloyd knife? Which sizes do you use most often? I have only 1 knife as of right now a Wastermann 85mm sloyd and I need a second knife so I can have a dedicated finishing knife and roughing knife. Also, should a finishing knife be smaller/thinner then a roughing knife? Thank you!

[@HuronSpoonCo]

My favorite Sloyd for roughing is a 3.75” from Matt White and my favorite finishing Sloyd is a 3” one from him as well. As far as thinness or overall size, I think anywhere between 3-4” is perfect for taking care of just about any spoon.

[@quentingallea166]

Very very informative! Thank you. Just something that I could not solve yet. After carving greenwood how long should you wait before applying milk paint and oil (also for oil, I can buy natural hemp/linen oil for cooking?)

[@HuronSpoonCo]

I personally don’t use hemp oil. I prefer either Mahoney’s Walnut Oil or 50/50 Tung and Citrus, which is made by The Real Milkpaint Co. As for the application of Milkpaint or an oil finish, I wait until my spoons are fully dry, them make finishing cuts and chamfers, and apply whatever finish I choose once I’ve burnished the surfaces with a polished piece of antler

[@quentingallea166]

@@HuronSpoonCo thanl you very much!

[@HuronSpoonCo]

@@quentingallea166 you’re very welcome!

[@fontafox]

How long can you store the billets in water before processing them?

[@HuronSpoonCo]

I’ve managed to store billets in water for well over a year. The key is keeping the water clean so you’ll want to change it out minimum once per week.

[@chrispoteet5327]

Great info. What kind of axe is this?

[@HuronSpoonCo]

The one on this video is the Gransfors Bruk Large Carving Axe

[@TheOrganicPharmer]

If my woods dry can I still soak it? Its 2yr aged red oak. Its hard as hell to work with. I wish I watched all these before starting.

[@HuronSpoonCo]

Red Oak isn’t the best for spoons honestly. As far as reintroducing moisture to wood, it can be done but very slowly. Generally once the wood is dry it no longer easily allows water back in since the cells have shrunk. You can get a couple growth layers to have increased moisture but, from my experience, the water doesn’t permeate very deep

[@TheOrganicPharmer]

@@HuronSpoonCo Thanks for the response. Ok I will start over. I'll just make a Firesteel handle out of this. I'll grab some birch when I'm out and about next. Cheers from Ontario.

[@Sklallamstrong]

So you store them submerged in water?

[@HuronSpoonCo]

I do, yes. Always making sure to keep the water clean is important however.

[@miloslavseda4697]

Jak dlouho skladujete dřevo ve vodě? Díky

[@HuronSpoonCo]

During the warm months, I change the water no less than once per week. I’ve stored wood in water for over a year successfully