Popular Post rafairchild2 Posted July 6, 2023 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 6, 2023 (edited) I am playing around with different designs of Welsh Love Spoons, James got me started when I saw his, and now I am just going nuts! I really like the cedar as it is really nice to cut and carve. And of course the smell. These are about 11" in length. The 2nd image I just cut out using spalted maple. (The backside is in the 3rd image) I had some Pegas skip tooth blades I wanted to test, I used 3 blades for the maple one. I saw a piece and just hand-drew this pattern. The penciled-in areas will be where I do the over-under/deep carving. I am going to try a rough carve and finish, sort of the 'Ol Rugged Cross thing. I had some scrap walnut and did a smaller pattern (two blades), you can see the backside in the 3rd image. I am not too keen on the Pegas skip tooth blades. They seem like a faster cut, but I do not like how the cut edges come out. The FD Ultra Reverse finish is so much better, and I have better control. Perhaps the Pegas lasts a little longer though. I figure with a couple of pieces already cut out, I can then sit down and do all my carving, shaping, sanding, and finishing at once. I really like making these Welsh love spoons. Now I have 3 pieces to carve and finish. Edited July 6, 2023 by rafairchild2 red river, jr42, Charlie E and 13 others 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveww1 Posted July 7, 2023 Report Share Posted July 7, 2023 nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessL Posted July 8, 2023 Report Share Posted July 8, 2023 These are beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barb.j.enders Posted July 8, 2023 Report Share Posted July 8, 2023 Very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafairchild2 Posted July 8, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2023 It's been a busy weekend, I am now in the home stretch on 3 spoons. The final steps will be hand-sanding and then a finish with Old Masters Gel, then a buff. The Birds Eye Maple is VERY hard, it took the better part of 4 hours to carve, vs the Red Cedar. I use my cut-offs to support my piece as I carve. Being that this was scrap wood, I did not have even edges. In the future, I will have perfectly parallel sides to clamp in. This was a workout today for sure! JackJones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted July 9, 2023 Report Share Posted July 9, 2023 Those are beautifully cool.. I have a set of "not expensive" carving tools. Maybe I should try one of these! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafairchild2 Posted July 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, Scrappile said: Those are beautifully cool.. I have a set of "not expensive" carving tools. Maybe I should try one of these! Start with a low Janka harness wood like basswood. The red cedar is higher Janka, but still carves nicely though prone to chipping if you do not outline with a blade, so that is a good option too. The Birds Eye Maple was a lot tougher, I had to use my mallot for 80% of the carving since it is more than double the Janka of cedar, so I would stay away until comfortable and you have better tools, even with my good gouges, I had to stop and strop my gouges more frequently. Next tip... have a 'squared' (rectangle) piece of wood to cut from so it fits in your vice, (and after cutting out becomes your holding support) then after laying your pattern, carve your spoon bowl first, this way you have full support from the board, then drill, do inner cuts, then the exterior. Finally, carve and shape the rest. I did not do it this way at first and actually broke one of the more delicate pieces because of the pressure of my vice. Thus you see how I had to jury rig support in the vice. Edited July 9, 2023 by rafairchild2 JackJones and Be_O_Be 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafairchild2 Posted July 9, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2023 (edited) Here's is my work for the week. Hand-rubbed Old Master Gel satin polyurethane. What a difference it makes, giving the completed look. I will never use anything else for my finer pieces. Still a few things to master, but overall I am pleased with my first efforts creating Welsh Love Spoons. Edited July 9, 2023 by rafairchild2 JackJones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo Posted July 10, 2023 Report Share Posted July 10, 2023 Those are beautiful!!!! I’ve been doing some spoon carving myself, but nothing like yours. I’ve been using birch blanks that came from a tree in our yard. Do you make your own patterns? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafairchild2 Posted July 10, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2023 17 hours ago, Gonzo said: Those are beautiful!!!! I’ve been doing some spoon carving myself, but nothing like yours. I’ve been using birch blanks that came from a tree in our yard. Do you make your own patterns? These are patterns I found, but I have modified some. I am currently working on my own designs now that I am getting comfortable with carving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted July 10, 2023 Report Share Posted July 10, 2023 Awesome job on all of them. At least this is something I can try without needing to get more tools (wait that is not a good thing ). But I have some beautiful carving knives that are looking for an excuse to be used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James E. Welch Posted July 11, 2023 Report Share Posted July 11, 2023 Awesome work, glad I could encourage this type of behavior. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafairchild2 Posted July 11, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2023 2 hours ago, James E. Welch said: Awesome work, glad I could encourage this type of behavior. Lol Well, this type of behavior keeps me out of trouble, so that's a good thing! Working on new designs, and also ordered more wood sized for making spoons. I have adjusted my technique and having "blanks" helps me a lot. James E. Welch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James E. Welch Posted July 12, 2023 Report Share Posted July 12, 2023 1 hour ago, rafairchild2 said: Well, this type of behavior keeps me out of trouble, so that's a good thing! Working on new designs, and also ordered more wood sized for making spoons. I have adjusted my technique and having "blanks" helps me a lot. Can't wait to see what you come up with next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafairchild2 Posted July 12, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2023 (edited) 21 hours ago, James E. Welch said: Can't wait to see what you come up with next. Just put some Old Masters satin finish on this one. Started it yesterday, made out of Black Limba. Overall about 4 hours into it. It's funny, I have so far given all but one of my spoons away as gifts. This one is going to a French Officer who is leaving the USA in 2 weeks, after being here at NATO HQ for 3 years. Edited July 12, 2023 by rafairchild2 JackJones, James E. Welch and Scrappile 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted July 13, 2023 Report Share Posted July 13, 2023 Another great one.. I swear I am going to try this.. I have added many patterns to my catalog. I want to do one for my neighbors that have a winery. It will have grapes on it. Might be worth a bottle. James E. Welch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James E. Welch Posted July 13, 2023 Report Share Posted July 13, 2023 2 hours ago, rafairchild2 said: Just put some Old Masters satin finish on this one. Started it yesterday, made out of Black Limba. Overall about 4 hours into it. It's funny, I have so far given all but one of my spoons away as gifts. This one is going to a French Officer who is leaving the USA in 2 weeks, after being here at NATO HQ for 3 years. Thats awesome man! I'm impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafairchild2 Posted July 13, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2023 8 hours ago, Scrappile said: Another great one.. I swear I am going to try this.. I have added many patterns to my catalog. I want to do one for my neighbors that have a winery. It will have grapes on it. Might be worth a bottle. That's ringing a bell. I might have one if you don't. Let me check when I get home from work later today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted July 13, 2023 Report Share Posted July 13, 2023 Yep. I just remembered I posted patterns yesterday or the day before and on had grapes. James E. Welch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James E. Welch Posted July 13, 2023 Report Share Posted July 13, 2023 1 hour ago, Scrappile said: Yep. I just remembered I posted patterns yesterday or the day before and on had grapes. This makes me want to start a new spoon project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James E. Welch Posted July 13, 2023 Report Share Posted July 13, 2023 19 hours ago, rafairchild2 said: Just put some Old Masters satin finish on this one. Started it yesterday, made out of Black Limba. Overall about 4 hours into it. It's funny, I have so far given all but one of my spoons away as gifts. This one is going to a French Officer who is leaving the USA in 2 weeks, after being here at NATO HQ for 3 years. Where are you getting the patterns? Have you found a good source for them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafairchild2 Posted July 13, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2023 9 minutes ago, James E. Welch said: Where are you getting the patterns? Have you found a good source for them? I am getting them off the internet, or modifying other scroll saw patterns. But I just got a book called Fine Art of Carving Lovespoons: Understanding, Designing, and Carving Romantic Heirlooms (Fox Chapel Publishing). I got it used off Amazon for $17. It has the Lillies and also the grapes Scrappile posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted July 13, 2023 Report Share Posted July 13, 2023 This pattern and some others came from here: https://lsirish.com/woodcarving-tutorials/woodcarving-projects/welsh-love-spoons/welsh-love-spoons-introduction/ If you do wood burning or carving, this is a great site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafairchild2 Posted July 13, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2023 1 hour ago, Scrappile said: Yep. I just remembered I posted patterns yesterday or the day before and on had grapes. Funy thing is, I printed out that pattern last night along with the "reeds" pattern. I have some wood coming in, so I want to practice on different varieties and improve my carving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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