miniature spoons in progress

[bubba~n~tenn]

I am so happy to have found you all. I know when I post this you will have some understanding as to the detail and work involved. Please feel free to comment and offer any constructive criticism that may help me become a better spoon maker/carver.
These are small spoons (between 3 and 4 inches long) that I have drawn onto some scrap wood from previous projects. Some are going to be a set of measuring spoons (smidgen, pinch, and dash) but the rest are just ornamental miniature spoons . The idea is to cut them on my scroll saw, then begin using my Dremel with a sanding sleeve to shape them in a way that they appear "twisted" when I am through. Some are from 100 year old barn wood and somewhat difficult to work with, not only because of the hardness of the wood but because it is loaded with small, hidden voids. Sometimes this can add to the character of the end item but other times it can completely ruin it.
I will go to my shop as soon as I post this and get busy. Maybe later today I will have some to scan and show you my progress and how they turned out. I may have to use my camera to take better pictures than these. They are okay but the camera does a better job, I think.
By the way, the finished spoons and the quarter are for reference as to size.
See you later today.

Bubba

[Claude]

Nice work! I like that one below the quarter in the second photo.

Claude

[Sharon Dell]

Those are nice Bubba! You 're doing great! I use a sanding sleeve in my dremel and also the high speed burrs. I like carving little tiny spoons too, but yours are much nicer.

[bubba~n~tenn]

Thanks Claude and Sharon.
Claude, the spoon below the quarter was one of my first attempts. It's the one that got me interested in trying more "twisty" shapes.
Sharon, I've already seen some of your work and it's amazing. Much better than I will ever accomplish, I'm sure.
Well, here is my first of the ones from the scrap wood I pictured before. It is one of the smaller ones because I wasn't sure how I was going to achieve the shape I wanted and thought a small might be easier. Boy, was I wrong. LOL
I forgot the coin for a reference, but this spoon is 3 inches long and a nickel will cover the bowl. It took me about an hour of steady sanding to achieve the shape I was looking for. Definitely a learning experience. How the heck do you guys accomplish this with carving tools? You must have the patience of saints.
Anyway, please criticize (gently, please, lol) and give me your suggestions. I know there is a lot of sanding to do yet but I want to cut and shape several more while there is daylight and do the sanding after dark when I can't do much else. I have lights in my shop, of course, but when the sun goes down it gets a bit cool.

Bubba

[Josef]

Hey Bubba, nice work on the spoons, really. I love the twisted shapes, the wood and all. If it were ME....I would definitely be using some of that lovely bark run and all together delightful 'defects' in that lovely timber in photo #3, to make OUTSTANDING spoons. Don't get me wrong, your work is already many grades above mine, I would just use the timber you have to its fullest. Joe.

[bubba~n~tenn]

Originally Posted by Josef

Hey Bubba, nice work on the spoons, really. I love the twisted shapes, the wood and all. If it were ME....I would definitely be using some of that lovely bark run and all together delightful 'defects' in that lovely timber in photo #3, to make OUTSTANDING spoons. Don't get me wrong, your work is already many grades above mine, I would just use the timber you have to its fullest. Joe.

Joe, I agree with you and I do try to use the natural attributes of wood in my projects, like the voids and holes in barn wood. However, with bark it has been my experience that it dries and loosens its grip on the wood and then your left with, well, naked wood. Anyway, all of the wood I used for these spoons was already "barkless."

Bubba

[Sharon Dell]

Bubba, Leave a piece attached to what you are working on so you have something to hold onto. Makes it easier to do whatever step you are on.You can remove it later. Hope that made sense! I've learned the hard way and got my fingers bit and had my little things go flying through the air! I power carved a little tiny pipe for my first cottonwood bark spirit and forgot to leave a handle on it, It flew quite a few times and I had to hunt it down. LOL Diamond burrs are good for shaping and sanding if you have them, just don't push them hard or they burn the wood and get all gunked up. I hand sand alot too. Thank you for the nice words about my carvings. I always see lots of room for improvement with my own stuff! You are already carving some really nice spoons!

[Ashbys]

Nice , work , I can not offer any suggestions look like you are doing very well .

[Timberwolf]

Great work Bubba!

I've been carving for just over a year now and am trying all different genres of carving. Have yet to try spoons, but want to try spoons very soon.

Welcome to the site and keep the spoons coming!

[bubba~n~tenn]

Thanks for all the nice comments. I really appreciate them.
Today I received my gold Kutzall and a sanding wheel from WoodCraft. The first thing I tried my Kutzall on was one of these small spoons' bowl. Worked like a dream. I was so pleased I decided to try it on a spoon I cut from Purple Heart. Big mistake!! It immediately became so clogged up I had to stop and clean it the best I could with paint thinner and then tried some mineral spirits. Later tonight I am going to try some oven cleaner as was suggested. I finally got it clean enough to use on some soft wood and some oak spoons but I will never use it on Purple Heart ever again! I thought I'd ruined it the first day I had it.
Anyway, I used it to go back and re-do some bowls on some spoons I had already made. I will be buying some different grits and contours, for sure. What a great product.

Bubba