Metal spoon
- Thread starter JL12 ML
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having just gone through this myself my advice is buy one.
however if you absolutely have to do it...
pick up some thin gauge stainless steel (no thicker than 18 gauge for your first try).
cut the general shape of the spoon from the blank (i used a hacksaw).
carve a spoon-shaped indentation into a block of wood (i used a scrap of hard maple).
start beating the center of the spoon on an anvil, this will start it. don't wale away at it, tap it gently it will begin to form.
when you have the beginning of a bowl, transfer your work to the block of wood and finish it there (i have used ball pien and teardrop plastic auto body hammers for this step).
when you have the shape you want you will need to sand and sand and sand some more. then polish it up.
if you have to do too much pounding the metal will harden to the point where it will no longer form. a propane torch or the kitchen stove will be required to soften the steel (do not quench it at this time).
an alternative to the carved block is to make a stake (like a tinsmith would use) from a trailer hitch ball or a railroad spike and pound out the shape on it.
another alternative is to cut an oval into a piece of mdf, lay a piece wood-backed foam on top of the ss spoon blank and squeeze it with a 12-20 ton hydraulic press. voila! a spoon ready to be trimmed out.
have fun.
however if you absolutely have to do it...
pick up some thin gauge stainless steel (no thicker than 18 gauge for your first try).
cut the general shape of the spoon from the blank (i used a hacksaw).
carve a spoon-shaped indentation into a block of wood (i used a scrap of hard maple).
start beating the center of the spoon on an anvil, this will start it. don't wale away at it, tap it gently it will begin to form.
when you have the beginning of a bowl, transfer your work to the block of wood and finish it there (i have used ball pien and teardrop plastic auto body hammers for this step).
when you have the shape you want you will need to sand and sand and sand some more. then polish it up.
if you have to do too much pounding the metal will harden to the point where it will no longer form. a propane torch or the kitchen stove will be required to soften the steel (do not quench it at this time).
an alternative to the carved block is to make a stake (like a tinsmith would use) from a trailer hitch ball or a railroad spike and pound out the shape on it.
another alternative is to cut an oval into a piece of mdf, lay a piece wood-backed foam on top of the ss spoon blank and squeeze it with a 12-20 ton hydraulic press. voila! a spoon ready to be trimmed out.
have fun.
robin wood
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
This is one forged by a blacksmith friend
But if you are not into forging then copper makes a good spoon and can be cold forged. It's one of the projects students at Freeman college Sheffield do, these pics show the process. The copper work hardens so ever so often when you feel it start to get hard you heat it up and quench it, that softens it again ready for cold forging some more.
But if you are not into forging then copper makes a good spoon and can be cold forged. It's one of the projects students at Freeman college Sheffield do, these pics show the process. The copper work hardens so ever so often when you feel it start to get hard you heat it up and quench it, that softens it again ready for cold forging some more.
Read 'A Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovitch' by Solzhenitsyn. The prisoners in the Gulag cast their own spoons from aluminium power cable.
It would be easy from aluminium cans. Dig a shallow pit, light a fire, throw in dozons of cans, wait, let fire out , collect aluminium puddle from pit. Then cast a spoon from a plaster or sand mould. Casting we did a fair amount of at school, it is straight forward. You can even do it in a Gulag.
It would be easy from aluminium cans. Dig a shallow pit, light a fire, throw in dozons of cans, wait, let fire out , collect aluminium puddle from pit. Then cast a spoon from a plaster or sand mould. Casting we did a fair amount of at school, it is straight forward. You can even do it in a Gulag.
Never worked stainless myself but the word is from buddies who have it can be a downright bitch to work up. Especially when cutting it but good luck with your project
@Robin Wood that forged spoon is awesome Bud
@Robin Wood that forged spoon is awesome Bud
at least it will keep me occupied on the rainy days.Similar threads
