Tuesday, 9 April 2013

SPOON # 14 - Sunday 7th April

I've done quite a bit of carving this weekend, some quite ambitious, but things really haven't gone my way. So, I've got three spoons to present this week, all of which have been something of a disaster!

Spoon number one - a nice piece of apple. I thought this would make a lovely spoon, having as it does a bit of heart wood on the handle. Just as I'm getting toward the finishing stages of the spoon, I notice a dirty great split opening up along the length of the handle. Bah!

you can't see the crack very well, but believe me, it's there
Spoon number two - I came across this folding sporran spoon amongst the amazing collection belonging to Stuart King some time ago and thought, I've got to have a go.

I tried once, about a year ago, and got right to the end before realising I'd made a fundamental error which meant the spoon wouldn't actually fold. Then, when I came across this post on Lloy Kahn's blog,
http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/sculpted-wooden-spoons.html
I felt all inspired and thought, with a year's more carving experience under my belt, this would be an impressive doddole. So, with a nice piece of willow and a different, less intricate design, I set about making another. Just getting to the point where I need to start cleaning it up, and off breaks the hinge. Damn!

Spoon number three - and finally, knowing the weekend was fast coming to a close and I needed a spoon to post, I thought I'd have a go at the same design as the one above, but not folding. Again, it was a design I saw in Stuart King's collection and did one once before that I was really pleased with. I'd got a big chunk of lilac still, with some lovely purple heart wood, so thought I'd give it a whirl.
 

 

And would you believe it, the darn thing split! Drat!

Oh well, we live and learn. I'm hoping for better luck and results next week.
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4 comments:

  1. Tom Greenway9 April 2013 at 13:08

    Still very impressive attempts though Richard!

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    Replies
    1. Richard9 April 2013 at 14:37

      You're too kind, Tom. How did your party go? Did the weather hold out for you? Your preparations looked impressive. You certainly got your money's worth out of that froe!

      Delete
  2. Julian Heath9 April 2013 at 13:14

    I sympathise with you Rich, I've just been carving some lovely wood that I picked up today with dark, rich heartwood (Laburnum?) , only to later find a split going through it.

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    Replies
    1. Richard10 April 2013 at 07:46

      I don't know about you, but I think I've just gotten too used to carving fairly dry hardwoods that I don't even bother putting in a bag half way through. I think a more careful approach to these softer, greener fruitier woods is what's needed.

      Delete

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