Finally, Kuksa finished

[Sundowner]

Last touch to the kuksa i made some time ago.
Tomorrow I'll start a new, more traditional one!!

 

[Toddy]

Looking rather mellow
What did you coat it with ?

 

[Van-Wild]

So cool! If my spoon carving comes out ok maybe I will brave a kuksa!

Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk

 

[crosslandkelly]

Great job. What wood and finish did you use?

 

[Sundowner]

Cut a log off of some birch tree that had just been felled. Did a video at the time. I'm pleased as I did it all by hand, no machines. Just put some stain on that I found in the neighbour's shed. Kind of "reappropriation !!

 

[Robson Valley]

Good result. The insulating properties of wood for hot drinks is a bonus.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Looks like it will hold a decent brew.

 

[Onelifeoverland]

Nice. I've just started one with a full handle. Itll be the first full handled one I've ever tried. How did you get on with the hole part?

OLO
www.onelifeoverland.com

 

[Mesquite]

Nice work, I bet your drinks taste all the better from a cup you made yourself

 

[Herman30]

In Finland the kuksamakers boil them in saltwater, that takes the tension out of the wood. Otherwise the kuksa might crack when filled with hot liquid. And they are not supposed to be coated with anything.
And a kuksa shall never be washed or even rinsed after use.

 

[Sundowner]

Nice. I've just started one with a full handle. Itll be the first full handled one I've ever tried. How did you get on with the hole part?

OLO
www.onelifeoverland.com

For a start I don't have the full round 1" chisel. You can see that in the video. So to smooth the inside I used my hook knife.

 

[Sundowner]

In Finland the kuksamakers boil them in saltwater, that takes the tension out of the wood. Otherwise the kuksa might crack when filled with hot liquid. And they are not supposed to be coated with anything.
And a kuksa shall never be washed or even rinsed after use.

I read about this saltwater boiling but didn't fancy tea or coffee tasting of salt for months after. I watched a YT video in which the guy wrapped his kuksa in paper, really tight like a mummy. Then put it in a shoe box, more paper into the box and then let it dry. I did that and apart from a few very small cracks it really worked!!!

 

[TLM]

The idea in the salt treatment is to get some salt into the wood, salt is hygroscopic so it keeps the wood moist and not cracking. There are other possibilities like keeping it in acetone or MEK for a few weeks. Or treating it with very strong acetic acid.

 

[Sundowner]

Made another one, now I ran out of birch!!