Some very talented DIY people here...but spoons?

[huntergathereralex]

Hi everyone. I've been looking through the DIY threads, and gotta say, there are some very talented folks here making beautiful useful bushcrafty items, but I've noticed a plethora of carved wooden spoons folks make, EVERYWHERE. Now, my family is three generations removed from Brighton(we all migrated to Canada), and things may be lost in 'translation', but what's the big fascination with carving wood spoons? In all humility I'm perplexed.
Help me out with this odd cultural trait. Welly's, Brelly's, and chip buddies I understand, but spoons?
Cheers
Alex

 

[rik_uk3]

I'm sort of with you on this one, I buy wooden spoons five for a £1 but...I suppose whittling a wooden spoon is a pleasant way of passing the time when camping and there is skill involved (Wales has a tradition of 'Love Spoons' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovespoon ) but to be honest its not for me although I could knock up one in push came to shove but it would be far a rougher spoon than the folk who enjoy spoon making as a hobby.

PS, its 'Chip Butty' as in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_butty sort of, lots of variations on that theme, plus 'Brolly' as in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbrella

Where in Canada are you?

 

[entherder]

I look at wood craft as simply knife skills. For all the money some of us pay for our lovely knives, if you can't use it for more than cutting cordage and prepping food, then you have kind of missed the Bush craft boat (coracle). Spoons, bowls, bread boards, try sticks and the like all teach you how to use your knife and make it earn it's place in your kit. Honestly, it can get a bit dull when the Sun goes down early and carving up a spoon or something can help pass the time.

 

[huntergathereralex]

I'm sort of with you on this one, I buy wooden spoons five for a £1 but...I suppose whittling a wooden spoon is a pleasant way of passing the time when camping and there is skill involved (Wales has a tradition of 'Love Spoons' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovespoon ) but to be honest its not for me although I could knock up one in push came to shove but it would be far a rougher spoon than the folk who enjoy spoon making as a hobby.

PS, its 'Chip Butty' as in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_butty sort of, lots of variations on that theme, plus 'Brolly' as in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umbrella

Where in Canada are you?

Thanks for info on chip butty and such. I'm located in Western Canada. Edmonton Alberta. This is wonderful country, big open skies, big open land. I'm fortunate to live here. That being said I'd love to visit Brighton and the South Downs where my family originally comes from...sigh, one day when the 'lottery gods' are smiling down on me.
Cheers
Alex

 

[Rich83]

I've made my first couple of spoons in the last few months and it really does pass the time and its a neat thing to show the kids when you get home

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Stew]

Something to whittle.

What else would you whittle?

 

[Goatboy]

Something to whittle.

What else would you whittle?

More carving than whittling but lots of folks do Woodspirits. Then there's chopsticks, pegs (both tent and clothes), bowls and cups (but they take a lot longer), butter knife, honey dipper, wooden toys for kids, make a little model boat and sail it away with all your troubles on a river. Just let your imagination run riot.

 

[sandbender]

"...Help me out with this odd cultural trait. Welly's, Brelly's, and chip buddies I understand, but spoons?.."

For folks who are new to using a knife and working with wood, carving a spoon is a useful thing to practise the various grips and techniques.
A number of the 'Bushcraft' schools have their pupils carve a spoon on their introductory courses, if you can carve a spoon you can move on to other things, however I reckon some folks just enjoy whittling out a spoon in front of the fire.

 

[Stew]

Yep, good suggestions although pegs and chopsticks are a bit boring to do many of. Spoons are good for having enough complexity to be interesting but simple enough as a starting project. Wood spirits are great but require a certain amount of artistic talent in a more defined way - my people drawing skills are dire but a curvy spoon is something I can cope with.

 

[Ivan...]

Hi Alex, i have cut hundreds of blanks for spoons, at my meets, when we have a larger gathering, the task (for those who want to) is to carve a spoon, good enough to eat your dinner with, it's a great way to spend time in camp, at one of my first big meets, i set them a real challenge, to carve the above mentioned spoon, and then complete an assault course, with your spoon!

I am not clever enough to do a linky, but it's on You Tube, with the heading Bushcraft Assault Course, it is very funny and if somebody is kind enough to raise the link it would be appreciated.

Regards.

Ivan...

 

[addo]

Spoons are easy to make, help you with most of the grips, and are useful items around camp.
When you get good at those, the whole world of green woodwork opens up.

Buying 5 spoons for a pound isnt the point.

 

[Mouse040]

Hi my name is mouse and I'm a spoon whittler

Welcome to S.W.A ( spoon whittlers anonomous )

There is no hobbie here , just an addiction I can not kick please help me

 

[sandbender]

"...if somebody is kind enough to raise the link it would be appreciated..."

[video=youtube;qK7u1ZqLqno]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK7u1ZqLqno[/video]

 

[Ivan...]

Thanks Sandbender, from my experience, even those that have never carved before, after shaving the bark off a piece of hazel to putting a point on it, then a tent peg, the natural progression is a butter/spreading type knife and then a spoon, thats where a lot of people stop.

There is something very satisfying about carving a spoon, thats for sure. Especially when you can eat with it.

Ivan...

 

[Biker]

[video=youtube;qK7u1ZqLqno]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK7u1ZqLqno[/video]

I'd seen this video before but it still had me laughing out loud again. The the cry of "Save me Spoon!" and him attempting to cut the rope with it made me roar! Too funny mate.

As for the spoons thing, I'm in the practice of hand to eye coordination camp. You're attempting convex curves, concave curves, straight lines, flats, rounded ends all in one small item that you can use to eat your dinner once it's completed. Add to that the job satisfaction and hopefully you're getting a better understanding and appreciation of what is involved. To paraphrase The Matrix. "There is no spoon... but a lesson in skillful workmanship."

I'm a carpenter by trade so working with wood is well within my comfort zone, that being said when you're using a knife instead of a chisel you have to develop a whole new group of skill sets. Which my first godawful attempt at a spoon testifies.

 

[Tengu]

They only do it because Mr Mears does it.

I refuse to carve spoons on principle. Plus my ancestors were Tinkers who made spoons out of horn (ie plastic)

 

[outdoorpaddy]

Its fun. I like it.
Do I need a better reason than that?

 

[entherder]

Its fun. I like it.
Do I need a better reason than that?

No you don't, it's all about fun, right?

 

[wattsy]

They only do it because Mr Mears does it.

I refuse to carve spoons on principle. Plus my ancestors were Tinkers who made spoons out of horn (ie plastic)

What principle? it's not 'because Mr Mears does it' but because carving/whittling is a rewarding hobby, working out the best way to make an item out of a piece of wood is a challenge I enjoy

 

[Stew]

It seems a bit silly to deny yourself the option of carving one just because other people and ray mears do it.