The Woodworking thread

[FredS]

Mrs FredS and I took a spoon making class a couple years ago taught by a 20-something mountain hippy. He gave us carving knives and taught us how to use them (long strokes, not like chip carving), and at the end of the class he produced a hunk of aspen and a hatchet and cut some billets for his next class and carved a spoon in less than 10 minutes. Mrs FredS bought that spoon. It's a thing of beauty but we use it often and it's seasoned nicely.

[JimVH]

Mrs FredS and I took a spoon making class a couple years ago taught by a 20-something mountain hippy. He gave us carving knives and taught us how to use them (long strokes, not like chip carving), and at the end of the class he produced a hunk of aspen and a hatchet and cut some billets for his next class and carved a spoon in less than 10 minutes. Mrs FredS bought that spoon. It's a thing of beauty but we use it often and it's seasoned nicely.

I have a cousin that does spoon carving. It’s one of those things I watch and instantly makes me wanna take it up.

Must. Show. Restraint.

[FredS]

Mrs FredS and I took a spoon making class a couple years ago taught by a 20-something mountain hippy. He gave us carving knives and taught us how to use them (long strokes, not like chip carving), and at the end of the class he produced a hunk of aspen and a hatchet and cut some billets for his next class and carved a spoon in less than 10 minutes. Mrs FredS bought that spoon. It's a thing of beauty but we use it often and it's seasoned nicely.

I have a cousin that does spoon carving. It’s one of those things I watch and instantly makes me wanna take it up.

Must. Show. Restraint.

I hear ya. You think "Hey, I like woodworking. I already have a few knives and chisels. I like projects I can finish in one day. Everybody needs wood spoons so they'll be great gifts. Maybe I can even sell some at the local craft fairs." Next thing you know you're buying an $800 set of spoon carving knives from Finland in a handmade canvas roll and ripping up the carpet so you can carve in the living room while you watch Wheel of Fortune on muggy August evenings.

Slippery slope.

[Hovannes]

Here you go:

[Hugo Drax]

Unless you're planning some Ivan Denisovich level stuff, I don't understand.

[Hovannes]

That YouTube was just for fun.
Wooden spoon carvers are almost a cult.
FWIW Mrs. Hov gets her wooden spoons from Target.
The woodworking project I want to start on will be a Roman low bench and I can use the hatchet to carve the tenons for the rustic legs.
UPS says my new hatchet should arrive today.

[Hovannes]

Clamps. I've got plenty of 6" C-clamps left over from my wooden boat building days---maybe 40 or so (boat building requires a lot of C-clamsp!) But man doesn't live by 6" C clamps alone and there's a place for pipe clamps, hand screws, spring clams and F clamps. I find F clamps particularly useful, particularly the 12-inchers.
One doesn't need to own any clamps because you can usually borrow what you need.
The important thing about clamps is that I'd never invest in clamps until they are absolutely required and couldn't be borrowed.
I don't think anyone buys clamps just to have on hand.
I mean there are so many different types of clamps and having the wrong type of clamp is like having no clamp at all.
The job and materials dictate what kinds of clamp will work.
Here's the issue, Jorgensen-Pony, the holy of holies of the clamp universe, is now made in the PRC and the wooden handles of the F-clamps are now plastic.
Am I wrong to prefer wooden handles when I'm working and clamping wood pieces?
Wood just feels right and plastic feels so wrong.
Of course, there are plenty of used old school USA built clamps on eBay and Craig's List, but they sure aren't as convenient as just going to the local hardware store or big box, and often adding shipping (eBay) negates any savings on used tools.