I've just finished making a ladle from a bit of spalted birch.
The bowl is the main trunk, and the handle is a side branch. I cut two logs of birch from either side of the knot where the branch comes off, and then realised that the bit left was exactly right for making a ladle.
It was really hard to get the bowl hollowed out because the wood was seasoned, and the dense grain made it too hard to carve easily. I ended up drilling it out and then sanding. The bowl inside isn't completely smooth as a result. I finished it with ground nut oil.
I'm very pleased with it.
I might add a lanyard for the handle, but I'm still thinking about that.
Thanks for looking.
The bowl is the main trunk, and the handle is a side branch. I cut two logs of birch from either side of the knot where the branch comes off, and then realised that the bit left was exactly right for making a ladle.
It was really hard to get the bowl hollowed out because the wood was seasoned, and the dense grain made it too hard to carve easily. I ended up drilling it out and then sanding. The bowl inside isn't completely smooth as a result. I finished it with ground nut oil.
I'm very pleased with it.
I might add a lanyard for the handle, but I'm still thinking about that.
Thanks for looking.