More of a noggin rather than kuksa, it was a bit of oak from the firewood pile, the tree had grown to cover a dead branch and I just went with the bit of wood to see what I could get out:
kuksa/kasa design inspiration
- Thread starter robin wood
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That's a nice noggin jojo. What's a noggin?
here is a more up to date picture of the kuksas I've made. The three birch burls are from the same tree from which a friend helped me harvest 7 with his mountain ropes and skillful 'bear climbing'. There are about another 20 on there! One of very few trees I've found mind you. I've considered selling some of these but the thing is they're worth far more than any sensible person would pay, simply because the wood is so rare around here (the trees are nice and healthy...mostly).
My favourite is the most recent, the small one bottom left. I'm interested to hear the opinions of others as I've not had such elegant thought processes when designing some of them.
I treat some of them by simmering in tea-coffee brine which brings out the grain.
Here's my first one, carved last year from green birch (following a BCUK tutorial) next to one inspired by this thread with a more traditional handle, on left :
It was carved from wood cut last year, thought it might have split but it seems OK.
I coated both with linseed oil then beeswax.
Is it normal practice to coat the inside as well ?
Pete.
It was carved from wood cut last year, thought it might have split but it seems OK.
I coated both with linseed oil then beeswax.
Is it normal practice to coat the inside as well ?
Pete.
I know this is gonna sound stupid but, how do you pronounce "Kuksa" ?
I'm dyslexic and sometimes working out how to say a word is difficult, ATM I'm saying Cook-Sar, how wrong am I?
I'm planning on giving some as yule presents and I'd like to get it right when my parents ask "So, what do you call this?" (If anyone could give me a basic background on them. I know they're a traditional design of carved wooden cup, but where from etc would be handy)
I'm dyslexic and sometimes working out how to say a word is difficult, ATM I'm saying Cook-Sar, how wrong am I?
I'm planning on giving some as yule presents and I'd like to get it right when my parents ask "So, what do you call this?" (If anyone could give me a basic background on them. I know they're a traditional design of carved wooden cup, but where from etc would be handy)
That sounds about right to me but what do I know
Puub
They are very nice looking forward to seeing the next I think will make another sometime as I gave one away recently.
As for finish if you are going to use I would put any oil on it.
these are amazing. I'm going to give one a go in the next couple of weeks while I'm away. I have access to the following woods, green and well/not so well seasoned... oak, ash, birch, beech, willow, holly, hazel.
Which of these would be a good starting point? I've only ever carved a spoon from damson.
Which of these would be a good starting point? I've only ever carved a spoon from damson.
Willow is an excellent wood for beginners because it is really, really easy to carve with (we use it when teaching) It doesn't go too hard when it dries, so you can carry on working it as it dries but it's also not as durable in tough use - fine for a kuksa though! Birch was traditionally used and is rather harder to carve, but still relatively easy but it gets much harder as it dries. Oak and ash I would not recommend for a first kuksa as they are touch, chewy woods and you'll give yourself a hard time!
Good luck with it,
Nicola
thanks nicola! a willow came down in the summer rains that I have to process next week so I'll give it a go.
If it goes well, I'll move on to birch! Fantastic! I've got a project for my trip! Well, to go with all the other 'projects' and not to mention I'm supposed to be doing some work too... ah well!
hen
If it goes well, I'll move on to birch! Fantastic! I've got a project for my trip! Well, to go with all the other 'projects' and not to mention I'm supposed to be doing some work too... ah well!
hen
If you have sharp tools then green or otherwise wet birch should pose no problem. the thing with carving willow is that it rips easily, and the same quality renders it unsuitable for smoothing and finishing well, if that kind of thing bothers you. I've carved a couple of spoons from it for use in the kitchen and it suffices but I won't use it for kitchen implements again I don't think.
If you've cared damson then you needn't worry, fruit woods are typically hard, dense woods, and your naturally formed spoon is very nice by the way.
Hazel is very nice for spoons but you might have a hard time finding a big enough piece for a kuksa though. Whatever you do don't bother with the beech. Beech and hornbeam are tougher than oak in my experience. It took me five minutes to saw (with a brand new Bacho blade) through a hornbeam burl only 5 or 6 cm across, but all burls are tougher than the main wood.
If you've cared damson then you needn't worry, fruit woods are typically hard, dense woods, and your naturally formed spoon is very nice by the way.
Hazel is very nice for spoons but you might have a hard time finding a big enough piece for a kuksa though. Whatever you do don't bother with the beech. Beech and hornbeam are tougher than oak in my experience. It took me five minutes to saw (with a brand new Bacho blade) through a hornbeam burl only 5 or 6 cm across, but all burls are tougher than the main wood.
I know what you mean, it can be quite fibrous but you can work around it. The trick is not to worry about the finish at first, just ignore the furry bits (don't pick at them!) and get your basic shape right. Then leave it for a day or so to dry and give it a final once over with a sharp knife. Once dry it will take a good finish straight off the tool.
Nicola
Thanks for that, and I can well believe you but the thing with kitchen implements is that they get wet, and whatever the wood was like before won't remain. Maybe you have different experience, there are different varieties after all. I used Pussy willow. I haven't used the heartwood come to think of it.
I thought I had posted this after reading this thread I made anothe kuksa here it is
From birch (green) no sanding no oil or other finish
From birch (green) no sanding no oil or other finish
Rearly inspired by this thread look forward to giving it a go. :You_Rock_
And heres me thinking i'd run out of projects
Like the knot in the handle Brancho, looks like it sits in the hand well.
And heres me thinking i'd run out of projects
Like the knot in the handle Brancho, looks like it sits in the hand well.
Addo
the knot was a problem when carving it but it looks nice.
It is nice in the hand but not mine anymore as I gave it away recently and now SWMBO wants one for when we have picnics
So I will have to make another
the knot was a problem when carving it but it looks nice.
It is nice in the hand but not mine anymore as I gave it away recently and now SWMBO wants one for when we have picnics
So I will have to make another
You will have to email or phone though and dont expect to be able to hand carve it easily.
Exactly. I was working on a spoon last night that was made from very dry sycamore out of the log basket and it was such hard work. It is really stunning ripple sycamore and Robin couldn't bear to burn it so he made a spoon from it... and I was cursing him! It did look quite good at the end - I'll post a pic when it's oiled.
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