working with some olive wood

[forginhill]

This first one is from regular olive wood. Hard stuff, and dense, but sure makes a durable spoon. My daughter has been using one I made for her out of olive wood and it's a real workhorse. Looks nice as it wears too.

I have a friend in Idaho who sent me some pieces of this wood he calls Russian olive. I think it's really a type of willow. Despite a porous growth ring, it was nice to carve and made a decent spoon.

 

[Muddypaws]

Lovely spoonage, as per usual!

 

[Toddy]

Beautiful, really lovely. Not just functional but very attractive too. Your daughter will find it a pleasure I'm sure. I still use things that my Dad made for me over thirty years ago.

I have a square ended one that Warthog1981 carved for me, like your first image, and it's such a useful tool, it really is, I don't know why more aren't made.

M

 

[didicoy]

What is the wood structure like on the real olive?? I'm told that olive trees don't have annual growth rings! But that Russian olive (willow) obviously has

 

[forginhill]

Thanks, Muddypaws and Toddy....I agree about the square ends. They work nicely.

Didicoy, yes the real olive dosn't have distinct growth rings. I don't think the Russian olive is a true olive.

 

[Robson Valley]

The ornamental Russian Olive is Eleagnus angustifolia All true willows are Salix sp.
True olives are in the Family Oleaceae but I've forgotten the genus.