Spurtles

[Muddypaws]

I've been doing a bit more pole lathe turning, and now I have a big wide chisel (see earlier thread) I thought I'd have a go at some spurtles.

I think I'm getting the hang of it, and the wide chisel certainly helps. Incidentally, if there are any traditional porridge makers on here, perhaps they can explain why a spurtle (essentially a stick) is better for stirring porridge than a spoon.

Also I turned some tool handles, some of which are left unparted so they can be remounted on the lathe after drying out, in order to turn the shoulders accurately for fitting the ferrules.


Thanks for looking.

 

[crosslandkelly]

They look very good. I'd never heard the name Spurtles before.

 

[Macaroon]

You can't have too many spurtles!

When I was a youngster nobody would allow any metal implement to be used in the cooking OR the eating of porridge; although we used metal cutlery and china to eat with and from, but porridge was always eaten from a wooden bowl and with a wooden spoon. My mother is too old and tired now to be able to recall such things as the reason for this, but I'm sure somebody here will know why.

Nice work there!

 

[Clouston98]

They're stunning mate! What wood are they?

 

[Bowlander]

Myrtle?

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Xparent Green Tapatalk 2

 

[Muddypaws]

They're stunning mate! What wood are they?

They are sycamore, which is lovely to turn, and is the traditional choice for kitchen utensils, but the main reason I used it is because I have plenty at the moment.

I'm glad you all like them.

 

[ozzy1977]

Great job .

 

[British Red]

Lovely - they just need to be twice as long for a proper sized pan

 

[Muddypaws]

Lovely - they just need to be twice as long for a proper sized pan

Unfortunately my lathe is not very long, so I can't make a huge one. Possibly about the size of a chair leg is my limit, I'll have a go later in the week.

 

[British Red]

Its one of my pet hates - you can't get wooden cookware in long lengths I make home made soup in 20 litre batches and cook down 5 gallons of chopped onion at a time. Try doing that with a wooden spoon from Tesco - you either burn your hand or the food !

 

[Neumo]

There is a lot to be said for a long spoon, especially when cooking a stew over a camp fire. I randomly saw a couple at a wood fair that are about 20" long & they have proved very useful over the years. Spurtles on the other hand don't do a lot for me...

 

[Muddypaws]

Prompted by British Red I have made a slightly bigger spurtle.

I could maybe make one a couple of inches longer with some modifications to my pole lathe, but to make a two foot spurtle would need a longer lathe (actually not that difficult, just need two longer hardwood beams, and use the existing legs, headstock and tailstock).

 

[British Red]

Looks good - more "man sized"

 

[Toddy]

British Red.....if you can get to Wilkinson's, they had long 'jam pot' spoons in beside the Kilner stuff.
LeCreuset and Denby both had long, large spoons too, as did Pro Cook. All much more expensive than Wilkinson's though

Spurtles don't need to be round, it's just that it's a nice shape for a latheworker to make for craft show, etc., thistle topped and it looks 'authentic'. It works quite well in the pot too
I suppose originally they'd just look for a straight stick and clean that up tidily.
Those are neat though, Muddypaws

My spurtle is hand carved, not turned, with an angled wedge shape at the end of the stick, and a thistle on top My Father made it for me when we got married, and he said his Grandpa had shown him how to carve them when he was a wee boy. My Uncle said that the old man had taught him too, and said that his Grandfather had shown him how when he was little too, so at least first quarter of the 1800's.
My Granny on the other side of the family had a similarly shaped one too, so it must have been relatively common.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Monikieman]

All this talk of long spoons reminds me of the saying

"Ye need a lang spoon tae sup wi' a Fifer"

(Sorry to all the Fifers )

 

[Toddy]

When king and kirk sit down tae sup, wha needs the langer spoon?
When Scotland hides her head in shame and justice looks awa’
An' the scaffold buys an English throne wi’ the bravest heirt of a’

M

 

[British Red]

British Red.....if you can get to Wilkinson's, they had long 'jam pot' spoons in beside the Kilner stuff.
LeCreuset and Denby both had long, large spoons too, as did Pro Cook. All much more expensive than Wilkinson's though

The jam spoons come nowhere close Mary - I'm looking for spoons to stir pans that cook 5 gallons at a time - I have one designed for reaching to the bottom of a 30 litre brewing vessel - but I'd love a few more for huge curries, chillies stews and sauces that I cook then can. Something in the 24" minimum size

 

[Toddy]

The one I bought is 60cms long, and it has a cross bar to hook onto the side of the pot too

cheers,
M

 

[British Red]

I'll go look next time in town - thanks!

 

[Toddy]

I'll keep my eyes open; I look for big ones for the dyebaths too.

M