How to make a wooden spoon, the viking way

I will show you how to make a wooden spoon out of green applewood. Using only my handmade viking tools.

Step 1 All my tools

This is an overview of all my tools.

Comments

[slemsofa]

here`s some pictures of the spoons I made during summer! I havent oil them yet though. thanks for a great instructable. not the best picture quality but I had to take them with my cellphone.. the first one is beech , the second ash and the third birch..

[Darcy777]

I realize it's been years since you posted this comment however if you ever sell these online, please do contact me.

[rick.leasure]

I like your twisted handle. Did you carve the handle like that, or was it already twisted? Also, did you split the wood out or get it already cut? One more question: how long are your spoons here?

[whiteoakart]

pretty cool and creative designs, slemsofa!

[morfmir]

I'm glad that you like my work. And my instructable. Interesting design you have made. /Thomas

[dean98110]

Great project but you might want to make a clear distinction between linseed oil (which oil pressed from flax seed) and boiled linseed oil which is more common.  Boiled linseed oil contains toxic drying solvents whereas raw linseed oil is not toxic.  Mineral oil is another good food compatible finish that could be used on wood items that come in contact with food.  It is not clear if you meant the spoons to be used with food but it is good to be safe just in case.

[kbales]

When I get unfinished wooden kitchen tools I stain them with tea and treat them with olive oil.
But that's not very Viking.

[Darcy777]

Thank you for that tip.

[morfmir]

Your right, it is important to that the oil is foodsafe. I use what you call flax oil, cool pressed linseed. Here it is sold by the name virgin linseed oil. Some times I wash the oil, that makes it even better. But it takes some extra work, so most times I'm to lazy to do it. I just buy the best quality linseed oil I can find and use it out of the box.

/Thomas

[Gregbot]

Do you have a web page or You Tube channel? Facebook?

[vincent7520]

only 6 spoons … what a waste !!!…
can't you find a way that is more environment friendly ?…

[The Metal One]

the wood is never wasted....you can always save it for later and carve from the seasoned wood, or use it as firewood, smoking chips, etc. apple also makes for an excellent mallet-head.

[snowgoat]

Wood grows back, you know.

[rick.leasure]

renewable resource...

[vincent7520]

I know … still, I'm not convinced : we are far more numerous on this planet than ever before : we don't let trees grow (worse the trees we plant in place of the one we cut are fast growing species thus narrowing natural diversity…).
Anyway, your spoons are nice ! …

[bowmaster]

Yeah, cause importing plastic spoons from china is better.

[vincent7520]

Plastic is not the solution, for sure.
Wood is : I have nothing against that at all !…
But I'm concerned by how much wood is used. I got the feeling the this insntructble uses as much wood as the do in the funny cartoon where a guy chops dowh a tree to make a tooth pick !…

[morfmir]

It is possible to make the spoon in a way that use a lot less wood.
Look at the picture of the first spoon in step 10. That design uses much less wood.

But the woodchips that I carve away isn't wasted, I collect it and us it for smoking fish and mead. So instead of buying factory made smokechips, packed in small plastic backs, I make my own.

/Thomas

[vincent7520]

great : no waste, all resources are used…
Keep on the good works tnen … 

[rick.leasure]

You could also note that the apple wood was probably destined for fire wood, had you not rescued it to carve out a few beautiful spoons...

[XxZombiexX]

Besides the fact the author saves the "scrap" pieces for other uses, this is labeled as a traditional Viking method, not a eco-friendly method. Just to think that every utensil they owned took this much time, energy, and skill is almost unfathomable to us now!

Great work! This inspires me to do more of the same :)

Also, my Father always had a spoon knife in his carving box, and it was always useful...never realize you need one till you do!

[rick.leasure]

Where did you get your spoon knife? Can one be made easily?

[XxZombiexX]

I'm a little late here, but I'm pretty sure his just came with a carving knife set and you can find them most anywhere that sells carving tools.
As far as making one, I would think it would be a little harder than making a regular knife because of its curve and such; however the author refers to his as "hand forged" so it must be doable with some skill and patience. Besides, they did it way back then, right?

[The Metal One]

ah, a man after my own heart. crafting beautiful wood pieces with tools forged yourself. keep up the good work

[aomastu]

Add a few steps and you get a windsor chair

[thomasthetankengine]

I'm Thomas too! Lol. Cool instructable, nice name.

[mboats]

Hi ,
great spoons (and fantastic tools). Do you know whether eucalyptus would be good for spoon making? I've just picked up a few nice logs of the stuff freshly chopped and it looks like a lovely dense grain. Cheers

[morfmir]

I have no idea if eucalyptus can be used for spoonmaking. We have no eucalyptus here in Denmark.

/Thomas

[greenfreak]

Ey!!!!!! where did ya get that beautiful axe at mate! thats exactually what ive been looking for!

[morfmir]

I work at this place http://www.sagnlandet.dk/English.1192.0.html the tools I use are made by one of our skilled blacksmiths.
If you want one like it try to write Jonas.
http://www.jonas-bigler.dk

/Thomas

[greenfreak]

thanks for the info!

[red-king]

 i think i might try using that horsetail stuff. it grows EVERYWHERE around here...

[rick.leasure]

Where do you live (what state), red-king? I used to find horsetail in Pennsylvania occasionally, but haven't found any in Kentucky.

[red-king]

 the stuff i'm looking for is what they call "rough horsetail" right?

[morfmir]

I'm not sure what the English name is exactly. Here in Denmark it is called "skav græs" witch means sanding grass.
The Latin name is Equisetum hyemale if that is any help to you.

/Thomas

[red-king]

 ok. i searched Equisetum hyemale, it is rough horsetail. thanks. =)

[Javin007]

I have never even considered wanting to make a spoon myself...

This is amazing.  I now want to find a piece of wood (I live in an apartment in D.C.) to make my own kitchen spoons.

Excellent 'ible.

[Javin007]

As an unrelated side-note, could we get a listing of all the woods you would consider good for making spoons?  Particularly those that can be found in the northeast U.S.

[rick.leasure]

I like that idea too. I have been using 'backyard wood' for my carvings and found wood. It's more experimental because I don't know the properties of the wood until I try carving it. The wood I have is Privy (Honeysuckle tree), Mimosa, Black Locust, Water Maple, Mulberry and scrap pine boards. I made one spoon - my first - out of a broken piece of a wooden pallet. I don't even know what kind of wood it was, but it carved well!

I like your tools, Thomas. As far as mine, they're far lacking. I use a folding utility knife and keep sharpening the blade. My other tools are one small gouge and an assortment of files. Fortunately, I do have a Kevlar glove that has saved my hand from many cuts.

[masterochicken]

I'm wondering if the christmas tree that someone dumped in my backyard would suitable wood.