SpoonCarving I0I - Do better Tools make me a better Spooncarver?

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Get one month access to my library of over 100 hours of carving, tool use, sharpening and decoration courses here for just 5€! boon.tv/woodsmansfinest?promo=FirstMonth

[@johnduffy6546]

I really like your humble philosophy. You axe skills are incredible! I would have lost a thumb for sure...Thank you for sharing your talent

[@CaptCanuck4444]

Your precision with that hatchet is impressive.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Thank you!

[@gbaughman3348]

After watching this you put to words what I have been thinking for years, been carving spoons for a long time, I never even knew there are special spoon carving tools until a few years ago. I just used a pocket knife and hunting knife. That is very good axe work, but the words and dialog are the gem of this video.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Cheers mate

[@h.h.7550]

mmh very wholesome video... I guess now's really the time for my Formula one and I shouldn't be afraid of it. In the end I already know how to carve, I should be confident in my learning new abilities. I've been carving with a basic hatchet and first price gardening saw, dreaming about an Axe and a saw that would allow me to work on bigger pieces of wood..Now's probably the time for new adventures, I'm gettint those new tools I've been dreaming of for years now ! Thank you :)

[@sdunca4864]

Late to the comments- just found this video- New to exploring the spoon and chip carving world... Bravo and inspiring words. Thank you- simply thank you for sharing.

[@geoffreyboyling615]

I've watched quite a few videos on spoon carving, and I think yours is the finest wood carving with an axe that I've ever seen!

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

That's incredibly kind and flattering. It was always important for me to show actual skills I'd love to learn. Since I learn by watching more than anything, I never understood people teaching before they had reached a certain skill level. But in our self broadcasting world its more important to put yourself out there than reflecting on what is it you put out there. I will be making more carving videos and I'm glad axing is something I can teach and demonstrate. The bold use of an axe to a quick and effective finish is the whole point of using one. I can't stant people teaching a 45 min approach to axing out blanks. Cheers

[@peterheinrichs7634]

True! There aren't many youtubers out there with his skill level!

[@03030367]

Thank you for the information and advice, I will not give up.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

For real training check out boon.tv/woodsmansfinest

[@cvcoco]

Very sensitive and well said. We've all known people who did great things with no resources at all. If you start off with F1 and crash, you'll likely never drive again. If you start in the old Corolla you'll be good and then the F1 lets you polish skills you already developed. Ive watched old Chinese men carve intricate things with an old and cheap pocket knife. He probably got it as a gift when he was a kid. Some tools help you get a job done faster but you make yourself better.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

that's to the point what I meant. Thank you for the encouragement.

[@ANAGNAP45]

spoon carving lesson as well as a life lesson

[@joshjspice]

COULD. NOT. AGREE. MORE!!! Excellent video, Max. Thank you.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Comment rocks. Thank you! Cheers

[@ronmccarty7537]

I noticed that your videos have taken a Quantum Leap in the right direction, your explanations are more concise and thought out as are your settings and photography and audio... just a pleasure to watch! Thank you!

[@MosnoAlMoseeki]

Thank you so much for this video, I'm very new to spoon carving, and the advice and analogy you gave was clear, eloquent, and to the point. I truly appreciate it. And the video was very relaxing to watch as well. I will start driving my "corolla" way more now. Thank you for the encouragement and sage advice :)

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Cheers brother! Keep at it and thank you for the comment! Check this out! Boon.tv/woodsmansfinest

[@billyevichjr172]

I know this video is a few years old but I can't help watching them over and over. It's not just the great information or technique but I also feel so inspired after I watch them. Honestly your outlook on carving relate to every day life also about not giving up and learning new things to accomplish your goals. I look forward to some new carving videos not just the Sunday spin. Thank you...

[@BrosephRussell]

Awesome great message as a beginner carving spoons and Kuksa cup it totally make sense to me thank you much

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

I'm glad you likes the video! Cheers

[@kjgas6945]

Very good sir!!!

[@lukehaubrick]

That was we'll put thanks for the awesome videos and inspiration to learn something new

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Thank you for the kind comment.

[@inthewoodswithbigfoot3941]

Excellent thoughts! We both share them. This is why I commented that I wasn't ready for a high end tool yet. I need to learn how to use an inexpensive tool well in order to use a great tool exquisitely... Thanks!

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

I think there are some great inexpensive but high value tools on the market. You should be able to still get great results.

[@BatiJuampe]

We can make our own tools! Good video man, just landed in your channel.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

You sure can Bro! The finest part of it!

[@Jana41951]

I think your race car analogy works really well. The higher the quality the greater the skill you need to take advantage of that quality. I’m just taking on the art of woodcarving with my son but I have a life long interest with handicrafts. I’ve worked with glass, yarn, and fabric and now it’s time to take on wood. In learning and relearning knitting I’ve found myself in many situations where I wanted to knit but didn’t have any needles. While not ideal, I have substituted real knitting needles with chop sticks, pencils, pens, and even my fingers. The projects turned out fine and no one would have known I wasn’t using the proper tools of I hadn’t said anything. Thank you for the video. It’s a good perspective.

[@rickeyearnest]

Very well put

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Cheers mate.

[@jeremyransome8010]

Sage advice , thank you .

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Thank you for watching and the comment.

[@leoseven9343]

So beautiful video. I like it.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Cheers for that.

[@nickfranklin8742]

I taught shop for over 30 years. I found that the better tools the students had to use, the better their projects turned out. An expert craftsman might be able to get acceptable results with poor tools but the novice will have better results with better tools and will probably have fewer cuts. Condition (sharpness) of the tools also makes for better results. In my spoon carving I have used the Mora 106 and 120. They are not expensive and when properly sharpened leave silky smooth cuts. When it comes to hook knives, I think that the shapes and cutting ability of custom knives far exceeds the Mora hook knives. My suggestion is to use a good sharpening/honing system and buy the best tools you can afford. You will enjoy your carving much more if you are not having to work so hard to produce a quality spoon.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Great writeup

[@katapilaro1823]

Great teaching and skills displayed with beautiful music.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

thank you very much!

[@NathanMaingard]

I loved this very much, just starting my journey, thank you! Your axe skills are epic!

[@neos1812]

Hi from Tokyo, Japan. You blew out the deep fog in front of me! Thank you! I will struggle and practice as much as I can with the tools I have! First, I definitely need be able to sharpen my hook knife! It’s a big challenge but I think I’m enjoying it!

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Konnichi wa! Renraku shite arigatou gozaimasu! Hook knife wa chotto muzukashi desu kedou, ganbatte kudasai! Boku wa, Sharpening Course wo oshiete imasu! Link wo mitte kudasai! Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu! boon.tv/woodsmansfinest

[@neos1812]

Thank you for the info. Unfortunately, it might not be the right time for me to become a member, but will consider it. Also, thank you for trying to write to me in Japanese! It’s so sweet! Sometimes my English might be not be right, but if you would reply in English, that’s fine for me. I used to live In US.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

@@neos1812 hi! I just wanted to let you know that there is an easy way to learn for just a few euro if you buy just one course at a time. just in case! I used to live in japan but my japanese is very bad so I try to practice! Maybe we should just do an exchange... carving lessons for Japanese lessons :-) Thank you for replying!

[@neos1812]

@@woodsmansfinest3814 I’ve gone to Austria four or five times with my anti and her friends, mainly in Tyrol in summer! That was more than 30 years ago! Sounds nice to do that kind of exchange lessons, but if I find my time, I should pay for your lessons!

[@lyngerandenbrding7453]

I have watched this video a lot of times - such a important message and really beautifully produced! Love it!

[@zachtaylor6377]

Very good point, I wish I would have found your page before I jumped right in and got all the pro gear. I think it’s important to learn the whole process first

[@suecollins3246]

I am a keen bird photographer. I use a real bottom-of-the-ladder camera - a Canon Powershot SX60HS. In fact now that Canon have discontinued it it's fallen _off_ the bottom of the ladder. But that camera taught me all I know about photography and a load of stuff that has nothing to do with the actual camera. As for the _joy_ it's given me... The only _bad_ tool is a dangerous, unsafe tool.

[@einarekholm4507]

Good video and helpful advice, satisfying carving, you are very skilled.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Entertainment with some food for thought... If I accomplished that for you, that's what I wanted!

[@johnmutton799]

Adler hathets are very good quality, great handles, great grain orientation. They have 600g, 800g, and 1000g hatchets.

[@alisonburgess345]

I've just started spoon carving and i think one of the most difficult things to try to get the hang of is THE GRAIN OF THE WOOD! It's tricky and you don't need expensive knives for this bit, at least...

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Sharpening is everything.

[@alisonburgess345]

@@woodsmansfinest3814 While you're right there, my first spoon (apple wood) developed a small split at the top of the bowl - is that a ruined spoon Max?

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

@@alisonburgess345 superglue it, use it, learn from it.

[@alisonburgess345]

@@woodsmansfinest3814 Will do - thanks!

[@suecollins3246]

Alison, fill it with clear epoxy resin - the kind used for crafts and jewellery and such. Put about two _tiny_ grains of bronze or copper glitter (not gold) into it so it just catches the light. Should look awesome...

[@norfolkyeti]

Enjoyed that thank you

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

thanks for the comment! cheers

[@danmottesheard5294]

Very well done w a lot of thought

[@GOLDSMITHEXILE]

There was a well known iconic photographer, Brassai, he was an awesome photographer because he saw things, he had uniquely perceptive vision, and knew exactly how to frame a shot. But IIRC he only ever used a simple box brownie camera, no fancy lenses, lights reflectors filters etc I have owned and used a mora163 for approx. 10 years. It has been altered and modified over that time and works awesome for me. Last year I thought I'd go up to a "formula 1" tool and got a robin wood spoon knife, thinking it would improve my finesse and quality of finish, especially after the relentless "mora's are CRAP" groupthink. But I was disappointed (and delighted too) My personal mora was every bit as good as robin's For what its worth, if I was starting out carving treen etc, personally I would learn several things as priorities:- 1/ How to sharpen 2/ How to feel 3d form 3/ how to read wood structure Its way too easy to be bogged down agonising over "tool choices" Same with drums and drumming, if you cant do it with a bass drum, snare and hi hats, then you wont be able to do it with a 22 piece kit with 12 cymbals. Anyway, I enjoy your video's. That pearwood looks like velvet....

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

I hear ya point! Great example. Not a big fan of Robin Wood tools personally. I'd take a mora over those any day... There is enough meat on there to be modified while Robin's are like tin foil. Westermann and Schwartz are off the chart though. I don't buy any hooks from knock offs though and there are enough out there... Thanks for the input!

[@GOLDSMITHEXILE]

what do you mean by knock off's? Do you mean to say there are actual spivs selling dodgy blades these days? Surely not, I find that hard to believe.. I heard that Westmanns tools are very good but almost unobtainable, although there are some of his and Karlsson's on ebay right now if your interested.... As it happens I made my first successful blade recently, for an elbow adze, using a huge band saw blade offcut. I must have had beginners luck with the harden/temper because it takes a wicked edge, didn't chip and didn't roll either. It goes in pitch pine (dry) like velvet and handles oak (dry oak) just as well. Its springy (which is exactly what I wanted for a finish adze) and it hasn't broken in use. Plus its a joy to use! @@woodsmansfinest3814

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

@@GOLDSMITHEXILE sweet. Nothing like making your own tools... I've made a lot of knives in the past. Even some with differential heat treat and clay hardened hamon. Forged an axe and made my own mocotaugan and hooks... But what I meant by knock offs is people taking certain design elements from other makers that are theirs specifically. They didn't invent the hook of course but they innovated them into their own... Which is in my opinion a personal design and achievement... I don't want to start this debate here. I've been doing this for a long time and got my opinion. Well... I've got about every tool that I need and then some and it is the time for others to get their Westermann unicorns.

[@dangolfishin]

Wth? With an axe and 15 minutes you got to where I'd be with 40 minutes of axe work and another hour of knife work. Beautiful work man!

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Cheers man... Means a lot... But I'm a few thousand spoons down.

[@dangolfishin]

@@woodsmansfinest3814 I'm on No. 8 but loving it so far

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

@@dangolfishin congrats on that

[@bjellison905]

Lol, I started wood carving with a kukri and still use it for roughing a lot.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

There ya go!

[@MS-watch-YT]

Great video, love the new style. Being able to create such good results with very few and basic tools is one of the amazing things about spoon carving. Having said that I have put myself on the Nic Westermann waiting list after watching your video on the twca cam.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Thank you! And you should... By the time you get it you'll be ready! I just wanted to clean up with the wrong believe that you can't start without having brand tools... It's the opposite... You shouldn't. Cheers mate and thanks for the comment!

[@chrisnagel2356]

I've been following your instagram for a while, and only now subscribed to your channel. I have to admit, I'm kicking myself that I didn't subscribe sooner. I'm enjoying your content. This video was great. There is a certain romance to the way you describe learning the craft, and i think that adds to the enjoyment.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

I'm really glad you see exactely what I want to share about this... Skills and an approach similar to living in a different time, at a different speed! Thanks mate!

[@kaizoebara]

Now everybody will be on the hunt for the fabled rusty "Baumarktbeil". XD

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Lol... There are enough out there for all of us!

[@garynipp5415]

You have said it butifley. You can have the best tools made but if you haven't learned how to use them you can't carve. It takes time and effort. Thank you.ATB

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Great comment! Thank you for the support!

[@LarsKiel]

Well said 👍

[@kevinorr6880]

This applies to so much in life.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Thanks brother! Hope you enjoyed the vibe.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

@@kevinorr6880 absolutely true. Great observation! True for a lot of carving principles.

[@mauriciokolencwoodturning2112]

Amazing video as always! The other day I was looking at some photos of a famous basque spooncarver of the past... he only had one axe, an adze, a straight and a curved knife. If we do not do better today with the acces we have to tools , something is wrong with us,or our approach to the craft. I remember watching Robin Wood in 2007, I was amazed, Inmediately took an old chisel and forged it into a hook, (now I made better ones), With that hook I managed to carve a good deal of spoons. Iam a Turner but carve as a hobbie.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Great comment! Cheers for sharing!

[@leosantoro1852]

well said mate.

[@billyjoedenny]

new here my friend , awesome video and caring .. billy joe

[@acjack1169]

Hi Mr.Max here from land of the sleeping giant. NICE Video Mate. Having great muscle memory like yours would also be beneficial. THANKS again bye for now..

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Well, it's just years of repetition. I believe that everyone ca do this. Cheers for the support!

[@user-wc3jn4eo6b]

잘보았습니다 감사합니다 ㆍ 👍

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

고맙습니다

[@robertcesena6329]

MAN!!! At 5:45 were you really as close to your hand as it looks? I know you have a great deal of confidence with your tools. Still that's pretty impressive. I saw a guy on another video doing something similar, he said it's all about knowing the grip position which i understand. He further went on to say it came with experience and not without blood. I believe it. Thanks for the post.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Bold tool use is the way to go and often it looks closer than it is... I can also lock my body against bad hits. But yes.. There is a rest risk. Boldness comes with confidence which comes from smart and cognitive repetition.

[@villain1409]

My tools are all cheap,but very sharp,as i spend a lot of time lo0king after them. Every cut i make is a well polished finished lo0k.

[@uhavemooface]

My Corolla gets me from A to B so I don't really need a high end car that goes from 0 to 60 in 2 seconds. So I will stick with the cheaper tools when I get them. I have yet to get a set of wood carving tools but I want to learn how to wood carve. I just need the right kind of wood. I really do need the tools for wood carving though. That will be a while before I buy my first set. Thanks for the video.

[@MagnitudeUK]

With spoon carving, It's not about the tools - It's how you work with them, how sharp they are and how long they last.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Sure. Which is about the tools... Steel, Edge geometry, design and quality... That's exactely about the tools wouldn't you say so? Just that within the tool range there are vast differences of what is necessary.

[@MagnitudeUK]

@@woodsmansfinest3814 It is a fine irony, don't you think? Don't get me wrong - it is about the tools - Just not about which tools specifically. I think if you're comfy with what you have, you can maintain them and you can keep putting a wicked edge on them, even the cheapest tools should last a lifetime. You can work with a single adze or a spoon knife, 3 carving knives 6 gouges and an adze. It's more about which tools are good for you.

[@justvicisfine8620]

Thx for this. I finally have some extra money that I can finally buy a few tools,but not the best. I’m a nail artist by trade & when I was starting out I didn’t have all the fancy drills that everyone was using back in the 80’s. I did all my filing by hand. It turned out to be a good thing. I’ve been collecting wood from an arborist down the street but until now haven’t been able to even start carving. If you could only afford a beginner set of 3 tools, what would they be? I was thinking an axe would be the most important?

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Wait a few more days and I'll have The video for you coming up! Thank you for watching!

[@DominusFeles]

Victoria Brooks - Let me answer with a question, what do you want to make? 🙂 It's much easier to pick the correct tools when you have a specific project in mind.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

@@DominusFeles sure thing... Still talking about spoons I think!

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

An axe isn't the problem... Get a light old hatchet off kijiji or a yard sale. Learn sharpening it with an axe file... Might run you under 10$ together. Then get a mora 105 and mora hook through my amazon link in the description box or a beavercraft spoon set. Amazing value and gonna be with you for a long time. There are several videos about affordable tools coming up... Maybe wait a week and have your questions answered.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

There is also a video on my channel about the tools you need on a budget!

[@billastell3753]

You can take the best tools and put them in the hands of an unskilled carver and you will get nothing of note. you can take a skilled carver and take away his good tools and he will do a pretty good job with what he has The video shows this. The bottom line is, better tools make a job easier. A novice may get discouraged with bad dull tool. Get the best you can afford!

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Word

[@alementary4065]

Better tools make you a better carver. But only if you learned to do it on crappy tools. If you don't have the basics down, the best tools in the world won't help. But if you have the skills, good tools enhance it.

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

Having made my living with tools, I differ. A tradesman's craft isn't affected by his tools. However, using inferior dull tools make him work harder and there's more of a chance that he will make mistakes in his work and that they will be less safe. However, better tools in those sames hands will yield much faster, much more efficient, much better results easier. And any craftsman knows money has nothing to do with the quality of tools unless one is buying new tools. With the right knowledge, one can find the best tools at the lowest prices if they know what they are looking for, but the thing is that by the time they've reached that level of expertise, they've gone through a lot of tools already. So by then, they know what to look for and all those tools they went through cost them money unless they borrowed their mentor's tools. As far as the Corolla example goes, you're comparing apples to oranges. A better comparison would be the Corolla to a BMW 3-Series because both cars were designed for the same purpose; Commuter transportation. And no one can say that the Corolla is a better vehicle than the BMW 3-Series and that the same driver wouldn't be a better driver in the BMW because of all the tech it offered over the Corolla.

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

For the record, my father taught me that an apprentice learns with entry level tools and as their skill level grew, they earned their way into higher grade tools even though any know-nothing could buy the best tools starting out.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

Nitpicking but I agree... I am sure I got the point across though and being a craftsman by trade and having forged my own tools in the past I also agree with your point but nobody talked about dull tools. I talked about the need to maintain and sharpen tools, learning about them and what makes a good tool. Studying what you like and don't like about your tools... Bevels, radiuses, handles, steel choice. I've refurbished my fair share of cheap but highest quality vintage tools so I agree there too... But as you said... By that point you've been in it for so long... Etc. Cheers for the comment. Great perspective.

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

@@YankeeWoodcraft great point... I put that type of restrictions and limitations on myself when I started out. I appreciate the knowledge!

[@GOLDSMITHEXILE]

sharpening is an under rated but vital part of any wood working. What use is a BLUNT westmann hook? The current logic suggests that when you buy a "good" knife or whatever, its ready-to-use and saves time for the beginner, a "short cut" to success. But that pristine maker-produced edge soon goes, then what does the novice do? Gotta learn how to hone sooner or later....@@woodsmansfinest3814

[@woodsmansfinest3814]

@@GOLDSMITHEXILE I was hoping I brought across that point successfully!

[@thatguyonabicycleofconsurv3908]

Really been having a lot of hard time with my Facebook account it keeps locking me out so I can't get to my account and I don't know why that is sorry about that

[@random_julian]

I think better tool makețs you better crafter from the beggining, just to have someone near you to learn how to be gentle with them because are expensive and are precious, but better tools in any domain will make you a better worker and faster...If you are not a propper person for carving, or drawing (if you buy a wacom) or photographer 9if you buy an expensive DSLR) your care for those tools and how you manage them will tell something about you, some of us they will learn from mistakes, they will fell the cost if they are not working propperly. But the most important thing when you start something it is to ask, listen, search information because if it is chep it doesnțt mean that it is not a good tool, this is what i find out about Mora carving knifes and hooks, very good until i will afford some Westerman tools :)