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holding a spoon

3K views 20 replies 10 participants last post by  weedeater64 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi, i am working on a spoon and can't hold it well for a certain area. The area about in the middle of the side the spoon where you have to carve back towards the handle. When carving this area the only way I can hold it is by the tip of the spoon and not to well are there other ways. I don't have a shave horse and won't have

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#2 ·
Can you just use a standard woodworking clamp or even a C-clamp to hold it down on your bench by the handle section?
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have a wooden bench/table with just a few 3/4 inch holes in it. I use a Dewalt 24 inch clamp that I can remove the head from, insert the clamp through the hole from the bottom, and then reattach the head from the top. I have used this to do some recent carving because I don't have a shavehorse yet either.



I have made different "jaws" from scrapwood to fit the shape of what I am carving. I've also used old rags or rolled up cardboard as a block to better fit the piece I am working on.

I sometime use a small wooden block on the bottom jaw to give me extra clearance when tightening or releasing the clamp.

It works surprisingly well for me. I have sometimes built a jig that will support the piece THEN used the clamp to hold both pieces down.
Jon

In the future you can leave extra wood and use that to screw the spoon down with… then cut off that tab later after it is shaped.
 
#6 ·
if you search for "spoon shave" or "spoon horse" you'll find a bunch of idea's like this one https://www.lumberjocks.com/WayneC/blog/24858

I can't find the one I always wanted to make, but it was simply a flat piece of wood that sat on your lap. it had holes drilled for a sting looped through that you could keep pressure with your feet.
 
#7 ·
Funny this is posted today :) I was reading a blog by LJ Mafe yesterday and saw this picture. I thought it was so brilliant that I saved it. You could easily adapt it to a board that you lay on your lap like Don suggested by strapping the back end around your thigh to prevent it moving.

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#8 ·
If you are hand-holding the spoon, just hold it by the handle. If you are carving with a lapboard to work bench, use an F-clamp to clamp the handle to the board/bench with the spoon bowl projecting over the board/bench into the air.

Claude
 
#9 ·
It is often necessary to plan ahead for how you will hold a carving for future steps. Sometimes it is helpful to leave part of the wood blank uncarved to allow for clamping. On a spoon, for example, it is a good idea to leave the back of the spoon bowl flat until after the inside of the bowl is done.
 
#13 ·
Mafe posted a project a little while back on a spoon whittling board that's as simple as it is clever.

 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
First I have to say, I got the inspiration from this video by Jarrod Dahl:


I just wanted to avoid a big footprint of a real spoon mule or a shaving horse, so I adapted it to a workbench attachement. It is really easy to build. The bottom board is glued together from two leftovers of a kitchen counter top. I chiseled in a hole vertically with a slight angle on the side walls. Then I drilled two holes into the sides for the wire which holds the pedals/clamping jaws (just two long sticks) and acts as a hinge. That's it. Much better to see in Jarrods video than getting from my stumbeling words.

But feel free to ask anything. It will be a pleasure for me to help if I can.
 
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