Wonderous walnut

[GGTBod]

Last week i got myself a lovely piece of American Black Walnut to make a cutlery set for my old man and his US Civil War reenactment kit, so far i've only done a teaspoon and an eating spoon and i am halfway through the butter paddle/knife but i haven't taken any pictures of that yet

Tablespoon now

First coat of pure walnut oil for the tablespoon, second coat for the teaspoon and 4th coat for the willow serving spoon

Profile shot and first coat of oil almost fully absorbed

Well that is the fourth spoon under my belt, starting to really enjoy working wood with a knife

 

[Harvestman]

Nice work indeed. It will be a lovely set when finished.

 

[Dreadhead]

those are some nice work, what a lovely gift

 

[Macaroon]

Nice wood - Nice work

 

[GGTBod]

Cheers gents, i've had to take a rest for a day as i've blistered both my thumbs through doing too many reinforced thumb push strokes through the tight grain, slowly but surely toughening up my soft city hands

 

[Clouston98]

Cracking spoonage mate!

 

[demographic]

I did a pub out with oak and walnut years ago, I would say that its one of the nicest woods I have worked with.
It cuts well, gives clean edges and its not as hard on tools as oak plus it looks good when its finished.

I kind of wish I'd kept a load of offcuts but I had a lot to do on my house and didn't want to keep moving it all the time.

 

[GGTBod]

That's it's one downside it's not cheap to buy or bountiful locally in the wild, i've been using a coping saw with a micro fine blade to cut out my blanks so i can save as many useful offcuts as possible

 

[GGTBod]

Thumb bruises and blisters

working in offices your whole adult life makes your hands soft, you should have seen my palms after 2 days learning to carve with a hewing axe

 

[bikebum1975]

Lovely work. I miss working black walnut is hard to work but end results make worth it. Neighbor has a large black walk it I keep hoping will come down one day

 

[Goatboy]

Lovely looking work Mr Bod, that's going to be a great prezzie for your Dad. I like the smell of walnut wood but some folks don't, how you found that in your workings?
Would love to see the set on completion.

 

[GGTBod]

I like the smell a lot, i just finished the butter paddle/knife today, i'll take some pics in the next chance i get in good light and i'll make sure once the set is complete to take plenty snaps and load them up, i just ordered 3.5 kilo of fully seasoned mixed exotic hardwoods i am keen to get a sniff of and take a blade to

 

[cranmere]

Wow! Those are beautiful.

 

[GGTBod]

Thanks Cranmere my skills are slowly improving

Little update, 3 coats of pure walnut oil and 1 of wax and olive oil balm for the teaspoon, 2 coats of pure walnut oil for the tablespoon and 1 coat of pure walnut oil for the knife

Starting on the three pronged fork tomorrow, after about 10 coats of the heated pure walnut oil with the odd treatment of my wax and olive oil balm rubbed into them they will be done

 

[Goatboy]

That set's coming along beautifully Bod, he's going to be one happy re-enactor pappy! Looking forward to seeing the fork.

 

[GGTBod]

Cheers Colin i agree much to my genuine surprise as i am usually far too critical of my ammature chippins, I am looking forward to seeing how the fork turns out