Pfffwooarrr - Kuksa in construction-

[bert333]

Any Kuksa specialists out there?
Doc Spoon? Robin?

aside from turning lathes, machines, and the like, or using burning, is there an 'easy way' to dig out those bowls?

I know...I know... no pain no gain! still I could do with a few pointers as running out of butterfly stiches!:yelrotflm
and yes, the dark stains are blood!

 

[TeeDee]

Chainmail mitts??

 

[HillBill]

Drill loads of holes in it and chip the most out, then get the spoon knife on it to round it all off.

 

[jungle_re]

The one i made i use a 1" scotch eyed auger to bore a hole into the centre and worked from there, im sure that made it a little easier than doing it from flat wood at the top of te bowl

 

[Draven]

I've heard of 'em being burned out with a hot coal, too... something I'd like to have a go at m'self!

Pete

PS: Heeeey my 1000th post! Taken me long enough! Interestingly, only six days to my three year anniversary here too...

 

[brancho]

Use green wood keep it in a plastic bag between sessions and use something esy to carve like birch.

 

[Scoffham]

I've tried drilling holes in the kuska bowl to begin with to try and speed things up, but in my opinion, it hindered the 'flow' of the spoon and crooked knife, and slowed the process.

My most recent kuska holds one pint, made in birch. I felled the tree the day before, and finished carving the bowl the following evening, only using spoon and crooked knives.

Once you get into the rhythm of carving bowls, things process fairly quickly, just make sure you keep your knife very sharp, and strop it regularly to keep it honed. Due to this its probably be best to invest in a pair of leather gloves.

 

[sasquatch]

Go slowly with an ember if you burn it out, the wood can split if you're not carefull! A kuksa should be safer to do this way than a spoon though.I learned that one the hard way...to be on the safe side I'd personally use a drill or hand auger as suggested if you want a short cut.

 

[HillBill]

The safest and most effective way i have found for using a spoon/crook knife is to sit on a step close to the ground, put the kuksa/spoon resting on the ground at 45 degrees with the bowl facing away from you and carve downwards away from your body. If you slip you do not get injured and it is much more stable than holding it

With a drill you start around the edges of your bowl and drill towards the centre all the way around, then do the same within the circle of holes you have already made reducing the angle as you get towards the centre. the centre holes should be at 90 degrees to the rim the outer holes at 45 degrees and the ones inbetween should vary according to position.

 

[bert333]

Thank you all for your advice- chain mails gloves seem like a good idea..at first!
Last questions:
Like spoons, I leave the inside cut not sanded as I have read that this is better for culinary purposes- true or false?

and like spoons, to protect the wood, I'll use Walnut oil - unless there is a method of hardening the inside someone could tell me? thank you very much!

 

[Indoorsout]

Get a pair of carving gloves from here - http://www.pintailcarving.co.uk (hope the link works, my mobile internet has a content control and won't let me open the link!)

I have a pair, they are lightweight, thin enough to feel what you're doing and I've only cut myself when I left them off! They are designed to protect against slash-type cuts not stabs but as I said, I've only ever had trouble through being too lazy to go put them on before picking the knife up!

 

[HillBill]

Walnut oils fine for finishing, i think chainmail gloves may make gripping things more difficult. If you must have gloves then go with the carving gloves mentioned above.

Nice work mate. Whats the wood? Cherry?

 

[bert333]

thanks for nice comment- yes it is cherry -

Indoorsout - link works but they are out of business ( sad that-) any other suppliers?

 

[Indoorsout]

Not sure on other suppliers but they are Polyco Supergloves, material is Dyflex, if that helps. Will have a look through my carving mags

 

[bert333]

Thank you Rafe - will get a pair

nice grain!

 

[sparkplug]

Hope you don't mind me posting it Bert, but it's come a long way from the first pic I saw....

A job well done amigo

 

[Ian H]

i hope that one day i am as tallented as you bert, that looks amazing! i struggle to cut a point onto a stick never mind carving something like that!

 

[TeeDee]

Thats lovely. No doubt worth a few pints..,.of blood.

 

[bandel4]

Awesome.
It would take me a finger and few stitches to get there

 

[bert333]

Thanks Fil and everyone for encouraging words
It isn't difficult - really- I just found it takes time and more importantly focus- as in focus on what I am doing with an exceedingly sharp blade! and engage brain before applying a cut! sadly, the reverse is often true when I get distracted .....and that always results in the same- reaching for the first aid pouch and mopping up some red sticky stuff When will I learn! Still, I'm a dab hand at putting on butterfly stitches with one hand now!

It was thanks to another member posting tips on 'how to' that I was motivated to have a go- so I'd recommend it to anyone- and I prefer cherry tree as it gives some nice -what are those called- growth ring pattern thingies (techy term!)
Interestingly, on the lower handle there was a knot that gave me hell- but it came out a lovely colour & pattern - which made the cussing all worth while!
I'm a newbie at this but am finding that you can put a lot of 'lurrrve' in the wood, it will 'lurrve' you back with a very satisfying tactile product