The Art of Spoon Carving: Real Time Axe Work Techniques.

Having a mooch around near the debris shelter looking for a piece of wood to practice the art of spoon carving on, came across this piece of spalted Ash to try out some real time axe work techniques on.
Am always curious to see what`s inside a log, so split it apart and took a peek, a little poke with the axe to strip the bark off, then thought I ought to be filming this! ACTION! What you see is a real time take of how I went about turning this piece of Ash into a spoon blank, ready for attack with knives. I have taken liberties with the editing, to try to make it more interesting for you, changing angles, zooming in or panning ect, but the time line is pretty accurate, in fact I am slowed down by the filming and taking time to explain what I am doing, and more importantly why I am doing it that way.
I have learnt these skills by watching other spoon carvers, lots of practice and developing my own interpretation of the process. hope you find it useful, and please subscribe to not miss more content like this. Thanks for watching.
This gear list contains affiliate links. This means that Mark.A.Cornish makes a small commission from any sales made via these links, at no extra cost to yourself - a great way to support the channel. Thank you.
CARVING
Swedish Carving Techniques: geni.us/vAFT (amazon)
The Urban Woodsman: geni.us/tfsvCv (amazon)
mora 106 from Wood Tools: wood-tools.co.uk
Compound curve spoon knife blade only (left or right handed): wood-tools.co.uk
Open curve spoon knife blade only (left or right handed): wood-tools.co.uk
Vanquest FATPack (Gen 2) First Aid Pouch: geni.us/gVPI3G
#asmr #spooncarving #greenwoodworking

[@scottweaver7577]

Glad to see a left handed craftsman.

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thanks for commenting Scott, wouldn`t say I am in a majority, but have met far more left handed carvers than I would have expected, which is odd.😜

[@susanp.collins7834]

​@@mark.a.cornishMark, there's a reason for that - since teachers stopped BEATING left-handedness out of their pupils (the stigma of left-handedness endured all the years I was in school - 1961-1973) left-handedness has been increasing. In 1981 I was in an airline booking office. There were 6 of us including the four agents on duty. Four of us were left-handed... Also, one needs to be careful about labeling yourself left-handed because you WRITE with your left hand. So do I but I also do stuff with my right hand.

[@mark.a.cornish]

@@susanp.collins7834 I must of had an open minded teacher as was allowed to do everything left handed until I began playing cricket. The fielding team have to move everything around to adapt to you whenever you face the bowler and the PE teacher would not let me. Had to play right handed and consequently was never very good at it, but hold a bat right handed anyway. This had led to some unusual adaptions, I fish right handed for instance and carry things on my right shoulder...all because of a PE teacher. It is interesting!

[@johnnyzone1967]

I like the way you casually run through what are observing in relation to what need to do. It’s like I am there with you while I have a my cuppa tea. 😀

[@mark.a.cornish]

Every piece of wood is unique and tried to show that you work with it rather than imposing a fixed shape onto it. Thanks for taking a look. 👍

[@gam940]

Great advice on not raising the axe above the other hand. I get a little aggressive sometimes . I'll remember this!

[@mark.a.cornish]

Happy you found something in there useful, thanks for taking a look.👍

[@danielhanawalt4998]

Satisfying and relaxing video. I can see if I decide to make a spoon I need to get serious about sharpening my axe, or what I call a hatchet. Mine wouldn't chop off a digit but it wouldn't chop off much wood either. I was thinking of all the chips of wood could be used for kindling to get the fire started to do some cooking and you have a spoon to stir the pot already in hand. Nice work and video.

[@mark.a.cornish]

For splitting wood a dull axe works fine, but cutting across the grain is a different story. I sharpen my axes and treat them the same as my knives and chisels, stropped razor sharp edges makes carving safer and more enjoyable. The wood chips from spoon carving make excellent kindling for the next days fire, they will burn straight away but are a bit damp as I predominantly use moist freshly cut wood for carving. Glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for taking a look.

[@danielhanawalt4998]

@@mark.a.cornish Makes sense a sharp edge would be safer and more enjoyable. You're welcome and thank you for your video.

[@maveraver]

"Symmetry is overrated" - Couldn't agree more.

[@mark.a.cornish]

😁👍

[@thedoghouseoutdoors4116]

Excellent ax work! Great tips to!

[@mark.a.cornish]

Great to hear you found it useful, and thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.👍

[@oilburner8548]

The first time I've ever seen a bump cut!👍and I've been carving a few years and watched a lot of videos!! Excellent I'll try that.

[@mark.a.cornish]

Glad it was useful for you, and thanks for watching👍

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Excellent

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thanks 👍

[@DaveCollierCamping]

My pleasure @@mark.a.cornish

[@badgerandthewoodsman]

That axe is a mini beast, great to see your skills in action

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thanks. Nice wet wood is a dream to axe into, a seasoned piece of Oak would be a different story! 👍

[@badgerandthewoodsman]

@@mark.a.cornishyeah I’m loving the grain structure more and more on ash with time, sometimes it’s ruler straight and easy to work, but that said that was one rapid rough spoon you made that might even be a world record .great production and tips, thanks. 👍👍👍

[@mark.a.cornish]

@@badgerandthewoodsman HaHa! thanks, some people are incredible with their axe and knife skills, they can produce a finished spoon in almost that time.👍

[@badgerandthewoodsman]

@@mark.a.cornish takes me a day or two, but that said I’m never really in any rush keep those videos coming ✌️

[@rogerthomas738]

Great craftsman you have inspired me to keep trying

[@mark.a.cornish]

It`s just practice, anything is possible with a little knowledge and a lot of repetition. Great to hear I inspired you though, we all need a little of that now and then to keep going.👍

[@calvinbass1839]

Excellent info. Thank you for sharing. Have a blessed day.

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thanks for taking a look👍

[@BASurvival]

nice video on spoon carving, a lovely piece of ash with a nice grain to it. Great tip about making sure that the axe doesn't split the bowl . thanx for sharing

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thanks for taking a look, and happy to hear it was useful. Appreciate the comment👍

[@rogermartin4726]

Nicely shown chap,gets a bit addictive once you start lol.👍🏻

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thanks Roger, just love to swing that axe, my favourite part of spoon carving, means I end up with a big pile of spoons that need to be finished though!😁👍👍

[@mikedoyle5362]

Thankyou. Very good instructions and great safety tips.

[@mark.a.cornish]

So pleased you have found it useful, thanks for taking a look👍

[@andrewsackville-west1609]

Very nice demo. Thanks!

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thanks for taking a look and appreciate the comment👍

[@treecuttertam]

Very nice. You make it look dead easy!

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thank you. Hopefully it will inspire a few people to have a go.

[@GusliMike]

Hi Mark. Maybe an unexpected notice, but so pleasant hearing the birds singing on the background. And good work, your channel and similar ones related to hiking and crafts have been lately the main thing that helps me to live through these emotionally difficult times. Keep going please! Greetings from Minsk, the capital of Belarus, and cheers to you! Mike

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thank you Mike, glad this one lifted your spirits a little, plenty more in the works👍

[@gazgf]

You made that look easy! Full of great tips…thanks for sharing 🤝

[@mark.a.cornish]

Your very welcome, and pleased to hear it was useful to you.👍

[@Kenbur]

great watch - nice work

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thanks for watching Ken👍

[@deanoboland]

Outstanding video

[@mark.a.cornish]

Cheers. Thanks for taking a look😀

[@TruekingoftheLeinstermen]

Great video lad

[@chilenitochile4596]

bruh at first glance i thought you were wearing chainmail

[@mark.a.cornish]

It would probably be useful😂

[@reluctantfellrunner]

Nicely done. Best wishes on the next. First time watching. New subscriber.

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thanks for watching, appreciate the sub👍

[@johnny30806]

I just found your channel, Very nice work

[@mark.a.cornish]

Thanks for taking a look, much appreciated👍

[@chloepereirademello1496]

An advice on a first small axe with a small diameter handle?,

[@mark.a.cornish]

Find some local to you carvers and try out their axes is the best advice I can give. Any axe works if its sharp tbh, and regarding handles you can make your own or thin down a handle you find a little chunky. I prefer a facetted handle as I find my hand tiers quicker with a smooth grip, maybe because I need to grip it harder. Most of it comes down to personal preference so try a few out.👍

[@DaveTalksDogs]

Was you initial billet a radial wedge or half a log?

[@mark.a.cornish]

Tangentially split from a larger lump of ash, and probably about 1/3rd of the log, think it ended up being bark up 👍

[@AirstripBum]

I enjoyed watching you work. I can tell that you have a lot of experience and skill. Will you be putting up a video of you finishing a spoon? Subscribing

[@mark.a.cornish]

Do intend to make more spoon carving stuff, and dive into kuksa`s and bowls as well. Carve spoons in a couple of other video`s ....kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKSlkI2Zj6yefK8 and towards the end of this one.......kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6G5qHWupaZoh8k but plenty more on the way. Thanks for taking a look👍

[@rogerthomas738]

Question for you sir.i have been carving black walnut spoons and had some people say you can't eat or cook with them we have been using them for years I'm still alive.your opinion wood be great.

[@mark.a.cornish]

I have never heard any reason to not use any of the walnut family. It is an exotic wood in the UK but have carved with English Walnut from a blown down tree. I think Yew is the only wood I would not make eating utensils from. Hope that helps😀

[@rogerthomas738]

@mark.a.cornish yes it does thank you sir

[@grabuszurijat3649]

Dobar , koja vrsta drveta...

[@mark.a.cornish]

I think it was a soft piece of spalted ash.

[@patrickgatons]

What sorcery is this? That level of craftsmanship can't be attained without a $550 handmade axe and a $378 Japanese crosscut saw 🙃

[@mark.a.cornish]

😁I know, a lot of people think you can`t learn skills without having the best kit. Very partial to this axe though, bought when I was 18 and had a lot of use before power tools took over. It does not look very bushcrafty though and have a rusty kent pattern head I want to refurb and put a handle on, should make for good content and encourage people to look a bit closer at old tools as well.😄👍. Thanks for commenting. appreciate it👍

[@susanp.collins7834]

Patrick, I recently made my first spoon. I don't have any of the stuff that Cosmic Law decrees you MUST have for spoon-making - axes, saws, hook-knives, sloyds, whatever. I used a wood carving gouge to carve the bowl. I used my Swiss Army Knife for such whittling as I actually did. I used an AWFUL LOT of sandpaper, notably p40. I think I may have used my teeth to chew in the finer detail at some stage or other. My spoon came out BEAUTIFULLY and I USE it. Tea, porridge, stew, allsorts. This evening I used it to dig into a container of yoghurt...

[@patrickgatons]

@@susanp.collins7834 Congratulations on the first spoon! I'm starting to collect different specialty knives and they do make carving easier. I still use gobs of sandpaper too. Totally love how they feel and don't care if I'll be accepted at the upper echelons of the spoon world. It's such a rewarding hobby. I give most of mine away and people love them

[@mark.a.cornish]

@@susanp.collins7834 Brilliant, nothing compares to making and using your own stuff. 👍

[@mark.a.cornish]

@@patrickgatons An old carpenters trick is to finish your sanding then wipe with a damp rag, this raises the fibres slightly. When dry repeat the final sanding and you will have a smoother spoon that bristles up less when in contact with liquids. Try burnishing as well, rubbing a smooth stone or even a metal spoon over the surface and pressing hard to squash down the fibres. It will give sanded spoons a little more "shine". always enjoy the process though, it`s about the mindfulness for me, just a bonus that sometimes end up with a spoon as well.😀