I’ve been watching YouTube videos on carving spoons and other stuff for a few months now and a couple of weeks ago I bit the bullet and bought an axe, sloid knife and a hook knife. I’ve only had a chance to sharpen up the axe and sloid knife so far, but yesterday as I was parking my car, I noticed a large branch that had fallen off of a tree. I grabbed my saw and took most of it home, cut off a chunk and went to work. 2hrs later i had my first butter knife and I’m really happy with it.

I need to go back and check the tree but i think its maple.

I've made a few eating spoons, but have been enjoying creating cooking spoons lately. Made from some beautiful Melaleauca in Victoria

First spoon I’ve finished from a log. I’d done a few from blanks, but this came from a log at the park. Was definitely more work, but I’m happy with how it turned out

Mein erster Löffel in Schweden am See geschnitzt aus einem Stück Birke

I’ve done a few spoons with pine/spruce for practice or random ideas. Always been curious if it would be a good idea for a ‘using spoon’.

I removed the unwanted background using ChatGPT.

Knife finished, oil, wax.

This has likely been asked hundreds of times but I’m kind of a newbie. In general, my wood dries just fine, I always remove the pith and carve my blanks to ~80% finished and then give it a few days in its own shavings. But I still get these fine cracks usually on one of the ends (bowel or handle). Before I just chuck it into the firewood pile, do you all have any ideas? I’ve considered CA glue but am not 100% sure it’s foodsafe.

Any and all thoughts would be appreciated. TIA

Made a coffee spoon for my Uncle. Used dried cherry. Got the color from sunlight and beeswax. Love working with cherry and the colors when exposed to sunlight.

4 oak butter knives finished with raw linseed oil

The black cherry was carved dry and I have honestly been struggling with the dry black cherry stock I have. It’s been prone to tear outs and knots and has been a pain, haven’t had one turn out exactly how I want it. I’m stoked with this greenwood sweet gum spoon though it came out great.

Sandpaper, oil, wax.

I’m new to spoon carving and one suggestion I got for gathering greenwood was to head out after a storm and collect from downed branches/treees. I managed to snag a couple big pine rounds with lots of knots for chopping blocks, but most of the wood I’ve found has been infested with what I assume is termites? I should have taken pictures, I know.

Logically I guess this makes sense since compromised branches would snap easier in the wind. What do you guys do to find uninfested wood without having to saw into it? Are there any other tells to look for?

Thanks and happy carving!

I’ve put together something I’m calling The Spoon Carver Survey.

Catchy name, I know.

https://tally.so/r/WOv6AJ

It’s a survey about who we are, how we learned, and why we carve. My hope is to collect responses from as many spoon carvers as possible, then publish what I discover in a report in January.

Survey takes about 6 minutes to complete. I'd also really appreciate it if you share the survey with any other spoon carvers you know.

Mods, if this breaks any of the sub's rules, feel free to remove.

The knot fell out but I kept carving. I really like this one. Good for stews not so much for soups

This turned out way better than I expected. The wood had been sitting in my parent’s garage for about 25 years. They asked me to clear out various old hardwood to use myself at my workshop. Apparently, this board came from a neighbors apple tree.

I finished this flipper today for my dear old mother’s birthday. I worked on it off and on when I had time this past month.

I used hand tools and carving knives for 90% but I couldn’t get the smooth finish I wanted. The wood is very hard and the curled grain pattern was a nightmare for my knives. I usually carve green wood so this was a new challenge.

I switched to an orbital sander using grits 80,120,180 and got the finish I wanted. Soaked in mineral oil for 30mins and here we are.

I think I will make many more utensils from this wood.

My first foray into love spoons as a gift for my friend's wedding! Quite pleased with how they turned out.

Teak wood finished with quick dry tung oil (ran out of time for normal cure times 😅)

After a few failed attempts at carving a spoon, I think I finally got it. I was really excited to get to use maple that my neighbor who has a tree trimming company gave me. I was going to leave all the carving marks but the wood was so pretty. I had to sand it before I finished it with tung oil.

Its turned out pretty cool, but way too fragile to use (already broke a couple of times and been glued), but basically...don't hollow out the spirals 😅😅

Carved from Huon Pine.