Trying out this carving lark :)

[bobnewboy]

Hi All, seeing the fantastic handicraft of people on this forum is always inspiring, so I thought I'd have a go at carving, which isn't something I have done very much of in the past. As I like what I've seen on here before, I thought I'd have a go at a kuksa and a spoon. Carving isn't as easy as it looks when presented by others here..... The spoon is made from a piece of sycamore that I cut myself a year or two back, so was dry and seasoned, and carved really nicely, perhaps too easily. The kuksa was made from an off-cut of kiln dried hard maple. That really *wasn't* so hand friendly, but helped me to appreciate better sharpening and stropping of the blades I used.

I did try for the blade only finish ('off the knife'), but it would seem that I still need to aspire to that level of carving. In the end I opted to finish the articles with Mirka abranet, in various grits/grades. Having used it, I see that I will now need to buy a lot more of it, because it is so good

Ok, the pictures....the mid state kuksa

The finished kuksa and spoon:

The finish is two coats of Tesco's own walnut oil, heated up in a ceramic mug in the microwave. A lesson I learned is that the hot oil and a plastic container don't get on well in the microwave :/

Cheers, Bob

 

[Madriverrob]

Nice looking work.
I especially like the simplicity of the Kuska ......

 

[rickwhite]

Off topic but...
For info on the microwaving, microwaves will not heat up everything. Water molecules will heat up very well as will other polar molecules (oils will vary but some will be very non-polar). Things like plastics will often not heat up at all if you put them in on their own as the microwave radiation is not capable of exciting the molecules in the plastic. Thats why sometimes you get a red hot container and sometimes not, it will depend on the structure of the container as to whether it has polar moecules in it to heat up.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Very nice work.

 

[bobnewboy]

Off topic but...
For info on the microwaving, microwaves will not heat up everything. Water molecules will heat up very well as will other polar molecules (oils will vary but some will be very non-polar). Things like plastics will often not heat up at all if you put them in on their own as the microwave radiation is not capable of exciting the molecules in the plastic. Thats why sometimes you get a red hot container and sometimes not, it will depend on the structure of the container as to whether it has polar moecules in it to heat up.

Yep. In this case the plastic remained cold where it wasn’t in contact with the oil, but melted completely at the bottom of the container where the oil (which gets very, very hot!) touched it. It seems like the oil has a great capacity for the heat/energy, but I suppose that it could quickly changeover to burning if heated too far. I have been lucky so far. So I strongly suggest that a glazed ceramic container is used to heat the oil in. I used an old mug which is easily cleaned afterwards, unlike the microwave....

 

[bobnewboy]

Nice looking work.
I especially like the simplicity of the Kuska ......

Thanks! The foot on the wrap over handle means the kuksa is very steady on uneven surfaces or grass, and sits nicely into the hand when holding a drink.

 

[mikehill]

They look brilliant .. well done

 

[Tony]

Very nice indeed, I'm looking forward to seeing more

 

[Robson Valley]

Nice to read that you are "learning the woods." Hard to avoid, huh?
Your carving quality and finishing are excellent.

 

[Mesquite]

Very nice work

 

[Muddypaws]

Very impressive results! Lovely sheen on those, doesn't matter that you used abrasives.

 

[dwardo]

Nice work, infinitely more so for a first attempt.

 

[Dean]

Congrats on finishing those they are very nice, try carving some fresh green wood instead it will be easier on the hands.

 

[66jj99]

Wow you nailed it!

Really nice detail at the end of the spoon handle. Future design classic.

 

[woodspirits]

Great work there Bob, looking good.

 

[bobnewboy]

Thanks all. I will try to befriend a local tree surgeon or wood cutter and get some greener, less hard wood to practice on.

 

[Robson Valley]

Stacked outdoors and under cover, not cooked in a shed,
it's usual to expect woods to dry to the Equilibrium Moisture Content of 12-14% at a rate of about 1" thickness per year.
All that means is that relatively "fresh" firewood will still be wet enough in the core to be softer than very well seasoned firewood.
Some woods don't change a great deal as they dry (conifers, birch, etc) and other woods go from cheese to bone.
Just one more thing to learn about the woods around you.

 

[Deleted member 56632]

Hi All, seeing the fantastic handicraft of people on this forum is always inspiring, so I thought I'd have a go at carving, which isn't something I have done very much of in the past. As I like what I've seen on here before, I thought I'd have a go at a kuksa and a spoon. Carving isn't as easy as it looks when presented by others here..... The spoon is made from a piece of sycamore that I cut myself a year or two back, so was dry and seasoned, and carved really nicely, perhaps too easily. The kuksa was made from an off-cut of kiln dried hard maple. That really *wasn't* so hand friendly, but helped me to appreciate better sharpening and stropping of the blades I used.

I did try for the blade only finish ('off the knife'), but it would seem that I still need to aspire to that level of carving. In the end I opted to finish the articles with Mirka abranet, in various grits/grades. Having used it, I see that I will now need to buy a lot more of it, because it is so good

Ok, the pictures....the mid state kuksa

The finished kuksa and spoon:

The finish is two coats of Tesco's own walnut oil, heated up in a ceramic mug in the microwave. A lesson I learned is that the hot oil and a plastic container don't get on well in the microwave :/

Cheers, Bob

That's a good looking kuska Bob and nice spoon to well done. My kuska and spoons have gone into the fire wood bin lol but practice makes perfect I guess