Wooden Utensil Carving

1865 Big Hill Road,Berea KY 40403

23 June, 2023

Description

Dates: June 23, 24, & 25, 2023 Instructor: Dawson Moore Class Description: This class is oriented to beginner and intermediate carvers. We’ll make sure everyone gets comfortable with the basic knife grips while also having time to explore more advanced approaches to carving like steam bending blanks and using a spoon mule. Similar to a shavehorse, a spoon mule is a foot powered clamping device that frees both hands to use powerful and efficient tools like drawknives, long-handled hook knives, and spokeshaves. Spoon mules can help relieve some of the strains of typical hand carving, and can also add speed and efficiency to your work. We’ll be learning drawknife carving techniques on both shavehorses and spoon mules. We’ll work through successive projects building skills at each stage. We’ll move from practice sticks to butter spreaders, spatulas, and finally to spoons. Time and skill level permitting, there will be opportunity to also work on chopsticks and forks. In this class we will: Work with green wood fresh from a logFocus on gaining proficiency with a drawknife and Sloyd knifeGet to try spokeshaves and hook knives at the spoon muleLearn how to read wood grain and understand its effects on how our tools engage with itDiscuss wood species suitable for spoon carvingDiscuss spoon & utensil designWatch and discuss how to sharpen a drawknife & other toolsDiscuss various finish options for completed utensilsWatch a steam bending demo and get to perform a bendCarve several utensils, potentially including a full eating set, dependant on skill levelTool List: The instructor will be providing all needed tools for this class. They will be sharp and of professional quality. In addition, students are welcome to bring their own tools whether for personal use or just to learn more about them. Provided by Instructor: Sloyd Carving KnivesHook KnivesDrawknivesSpokeshavesSpoon MulesShaving HorsesUtensil TemplatesSharpies/Pencils