Baby spoons

[wildhare]

I just found out an old friends daughter just had a baby and I needed a gift fast. But my wallet was bare, so out to the workshop I went. I had just finished looking at Cliff's (Tucker) love spoon. I spied a small scrap of maple a cabinet maker gave me and I started drawing. I came up with three designs. One simple that I can burn the childs name on. One with a row of hearts, dyed with food coloring. One with BABY on it.
Two of the three were good but the third one flew out of my hands and the handle snapped off! poooo

Will glue fix it so it can be used or do I just use it for show?

Wanda

[tucker1931]

Wanda, you never cease to amaze me, you're so dang creative I can't believe it. I would say, burn the babies name in the third spoon and yer off the hook. Too bad ya broke the other one, I would save it as a reminder.
Cliff

[wildhare]

Cliff, you must have jumped on this thread as soon as I posted. I really appreciate compliments on my spoons from you. Kind of like when Keoma compliments my combs. Maybe that's why I didn't fall asleep so fast, my head was swollen!

So I guess there isn't a glue for broken spoons? RATS.
Wanda

[Lightningbolt]

The spoons look really nice Wanda! I like them all but the red & white hearts really step up and grab you. I hate that the "baby" spoon broke but that's the "breaks" if you know what I mean. Stuff happens. It's always a little hard to evaluate something from just a photo but I still think that I'd probably try to put a little wood glue on it but clamping looks like it will be a little elusive. I'd probably try to clamp it with some fancy finger maneuvering using just the right binding from the "right" rubber band, but that's still going to be a little tricky. If you're really determined perhaps you could fashion one or two small finishing nail(s) into the break of the spoon head after sharpening the other side so that you could stick it into the handle thus creating some clampage until the glue takes hold. That's gonna be a little tricky too with lining it up just right... but I have pulled off more impossible tasks before. Next time I would suggest probably leaving a little more wood directly behind the spoon head then gradually taper it off into the handle and that should provide much more strength.

You'd be surprised just how many of my carvings and wood projects have been seriously repaired over the years but nobody but me will ever know.

Nice job and glad that you're into the spoon thing!

[wildhare]

It is actually a very clean break with no pieces missing. I'd be a little afraid to use it though especially for a baby. I may just use epoxy and use it ONLY as a demo of a style of spoon.

I think I did get it a bit too thin, oh well next time I'll do better.

Yeah Dave, I'm into the spoon thing, hair fork thing and walking stick thing with an occasional Santa thrown in!
Thanks Wanda

[Sharon of the Dell]

Great spoons Wanda! I've used spring loaded clothes pins to clamp all sorts of things.If en it was me I would put some yellow carpenters glue on each side, then press the pieces together and put the clothes pins on each side of the break.It may or may not work!

[chuckbolton]

wanda-- how do u smooth out the bowl?

[wildhare]

Sharon, I think I will try to glue it to at least have it for show IF I can finish it without breaking it again.
Kevin, we can learn from our mistakes. I made sure the others were cut thicker.
Chuck, I use an old desk that has the pull out writing area. I clamp the handle to the pull out and use a Flexcut Ugouge I think they call it the fingernail gouge. I roll it on it's side to scoop out the bowl sides. I use it upright to deepen the bowl. That leaves U tracks so I again turn it on it's side (while handle is secured to pull out) and GENTLY scoop out the high spots. I only had to put a homade attachment in my Dremel and buff. It is @ a 1" circle cut from a rough brown buffing pad. The green Scothbrite pad leave green on your wood.
For rougher sanding you can use the rough brown stripping pads found in the Paint stripping section of most hardware and even some Wallyworld stores, (WalMart)
I only use 220 if any waves are present then wash them with plain water and allow them to dry. Any raised grain, I take down with 800 grit.
These were all maple and without sanding, they were pretty smooth just using the Flescut fingernail U gouges.
Wanda

[wildhare]

Chuck, Here is a picture of the gouge and the spot I "wedge it into" on my desk. I took off the wood clamp before snapping this picture.

Early on, I found out why they call them palm gouges! So I use a wood clamp to hold it in place when I feel vulnerable.

[chuckbolton]

i believe the style "fingernail profile" started with janet cordell and flexcut is the only manufacturer to produce the line-- she grinds her swiss made gouges to this shape--she is from NW ark and is my favorite instructor-- i was expecting you to tell me that you did lots of sanding and or had a bent gouge to do this-- i have several tools with the fingernail profile on them-- and will give it a try- im working towards a set of measuring spoons for my sister n law. hadnt thought about using scotch brite to sand with tho-- thanks for the information.