carving my first spoon tomorrow

[Buggane]

I have some old mahogany and I am wanting to make a spoon out of it tomorrow on my day off. However the stuff is so hard it'll probably blunt my knife within seconds... does anyone know how to soften wood temporarily for carving or is it a case of downing a pint of 'man up' haha. cheers.

I'll post pictures sometime in the afternoon when i'am anticipating i'll be done.

 

[Mesquite]

Ideally you'd use green wood for carving spoons and the like especially your first one

Once it's seasoned there's not much you can do about it.

Just take your time and strop often to make sure you keep a sharp edge.

 

[dancan]

What Mesquite said .
My first spoon was out of seasoned pine which was nice to work with , I think I would have quit at the first one if it would have been a seasoned hardwood LOL

 

[Samon]

I've done most of mine from seasoned plumb, it's tough and your knife needs touching up regularly. The good thing about the tough wood is you will find it harder to accidentally shave off too much wooda and ablls the design up!

 

[Stringmaker]

I've carved with both seasoned oak and cherry; green birch is way easier!

I think to answer the original question it's a case of have fun with the hard wood and the pint!

 

[Dean]

Most of my spoon work is done with seasoned wood but I do use green wood when I am out or at the Moot.
As Mesquite as mentioned keep your knife sharpe. Take your time and learn patience as it will be tough on the hands.
Post a picture once your done.

 

[mountainm]

Soemone once told me you can boil up seasoned wood to soften it - I never tried it though.

 

[georann]

Just make sure you save the pint till after to take the pain from the blisters and cuts in your hands! Knives and alcohol don't go well together