By far my favourite spoon carving video, makes me feel like I can attempt to carve a spoon without needing 100 tools and a workshop! You're a great instructor, and I can't wait to see what you carve next.
Hi Gemma, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Sorry for the late reply, I have just done a giveaway video so had to wade through a hundred comments before reading yours. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Your quite right, a couple of basic tools and you can achieve quite a lot. I enjoy the simplicity of carving. A couple of knives, a piece of timber and the fresh air. Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
@@markbailey2981 BTW, it was also good to see that you didn't use a hatchet. Those things make me nervous. Question: Was that green sycamore you were using? Seems like it must have been dry, if you put oil on it after. But I didn't understand how you controlled the cracks.
@@gtaylor2770Hi.... the wood was probably cut a couple of days prior to making the spoon. I find that after holding the wood for a while and the friction from sanding it dries quite quickly, especially if it is warm outside too. I usually wait a couple of days if it is slightly damp before oiling. I will leave you a link to Ben Orfords channel. He explains in better detail about how to split the wood to minimize the cracking. I noticed he has put some new videos up as well, so they might also interest you. th-cam.com/video/KW2DN46lrqk/w-d-xo.html Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)
Hi Christopher, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. I think the safest oil for spoons and bowls etc would be a good food grade mineral oil. I have started using coconut oil and beeswax for my own spoons, but I tend to leave them untreated if I am sending one out to someone. You never know what allergies people may have. I hope you are keeping well during these uncertain times. Thanks again, all the best, Mark 😀🌲🔥.
Hi Quinn,,,,, it is great to hear from you mate 👍👍. I am keeping ok thanks. Busy working a new job, so I haven't had much free time. I noticed you are doing some carving Quinn... I have saved your new video for later when I get home 👍👍. Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
Hiya mark ,just had to watch this vid again ,well things have moved on very well I know have a good shelter with steel roof all made on my allotment lol including a fire pit with billy can and kettle, just bought a Robin wood carving axe, mora spoon knive and a 106 .got my strops to .got a couple of nice ash chopping blocks, made a bowl bench with wedges to lol just put my name on list for a twca cam to that's was recommend by Paul Adamson ,a guy in Portugal makes them and paul uses one of them ..gouges are in tool roll ready for a bowl or kuska to try my hand at lol ..practice and more practice is my aim .cheers dude 😃
You have great spoon carving skills Mark. The simplicity of the spoons and the clean cuts make them look excellent. Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a great week. - Josh
Hi Josh, I hope you are keeping well. Thank you for the kind words. It means a lot as you are an awesome spoon carver. Mine aren't as neat as yours, but at least I can stir the sugar in my tea now LOL. You have a great week too Josh.... All the best, Mark. :)
I started carving out(horribly) with just a chisel and loving it. Although i can already tell you the 2nd most important for a beginner carver. Some superglue hahaha
Hi A Teleskier, many thanks for watching and for the nice comment, it is vey much appreciated :) I'm glad you found the video useful :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
Hi Dave, I hope you are keeping well brother :) You should give it a try mate. You can pick a set of Mora carving tools up quite cheap. A small knife and a hook knife and your away!! Thanks for the kind words as always mate. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Morning mate all's well this end thanks. Il have a look for a set when I get a bit of time. Life's a bit crazy atm the Mrs has her new lungs and home doing well but running me ragged lol. Have a great week pal. All the best Dave
I'm glad to hear that the Mrs is doing well mate. That's the most important thing :) I'm sure she is very grateful for everything you are doing for her. Your a top bloke mate :) You have a great week too mate...… all the best, Mark :)
Cheers Mark, some good tips on here and safe carving advice too. You have a nice collection there pal. Thanks for the upload and hope your weekend is going good. 👍
Hi Ant, many thanks for stopping by mate. Yeah the weekend is going well thanks mate. To tell you the truth, I can't tell if it's Sunday or Wednesday anymore lol. At least with a routine, you kind of know where you are in the week lol. I have just been sharpening a couple for knives for people. The rock and roll lifestyle lol. Have a great day mate, all the best, Mark 😀😀😀.
Mark Bailey oh I’ll send mine down to you Mark lol. I’ve got one wet stone and about to pick up another from my dad, I’ll get some auto sol and see if I can get how to sharpen lol. I know mate these days are blending in to one aren’t they, glad your well bud
Nice video mark and thanks to ben orford for making these beautiful cutting tools for us to enjoy and it's the likes of you mark making good videos of the things we love that keeps us going when we're at home
Hi Shane, many thanks for watching and for the kind words, it is very much appreciated. Yeah, Ben makes some great tools, plus he is a real nice guy in person so it makes buying his tools a pleasure :) Thanks again Shane, all the best, Mark. :)
Hi E M, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I'm glad you found the video useful. I'm sure you will enjoy your wood carving. It soon becomes addictive :) Thanks for the kind words, all the best, Mark.
Great video and yes a basic spoon but it's a very good basic spoon. As you can see I've skipped a load of videos I just want to get to the more recent videos then go back and watch the other's when I have more time take care Mark😁👍
Hi Carl, I hope you are keeping well mate :) I appreciate you trawling through the vids mate. I started watching your bushcrfat channel yesterday. You have some great content. I enjoyed the camp you had with Cornish Knives and the boys. I watched your axe carving video. That's a great axe for the money!! Robin Wood makes some nice tools. Thanks as always for watching Carl, have a great day mate. Mark :)
Hi Shane, I hope you are keeping well and enjoying the weather. I bet the Island is busy at this time of the year!! Many thanks as always for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great day mate, all the best, Mark. :)
Hello I like to pass my wooden utensils through a camp fire to "burn off" the fuzzies rather than sand. Then I take a round ended 3/4" hard wood (birch) dowel about 4 inches long and use the end to "burnish" the inside of my bowl. This seals the surface against micro bacteria living inside the wood and causing botulism. Just my approach. Thank you for a great video and sharing a pleasant afternoon in your country. God bless; Two Feathers Proprietor of: The Mountain Man Emporium
Hi Two Feathers, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I like the tip of using a birch dowel to burnish the inside of the bowl. I will have to give that a try :) I use something similar to burnish the edges of leather, so I am interested to see how it works on wood. Thanks again my friend..... have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
@@markbailey2981 Hi Mark No problem, glad I could help. I hope you find this info. useful. I do leather work as well and use a round dowel-like Hardwood slicker with grooves of varying sizes that I made on a lathe in our school machine shop. I was a teacher in a vocational technical high school. Keep making those videos. I'm a subscriber. God bless: Two Feathers Proprietor of: The Mountain Man Emporium
very cool. saving this video to a playlist as well so i can rewatch this later. been trying to get some spoons and just got a new knife to get into bushcraft stuff. thanks for the tips brother
Hi BackOutside, I hope you are keeping well :) many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I'm glad you found the video useful and took something away from it. It is always nice to hear, so thanks :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
Great video Mark. Thanks for sharing! Gonna have to get me a hook knife. My spoon turned out pretty good though, for being done all with my Becker BK2!
Many thanks for watching JT :) The Mora hook knives are a good knife and don't cost the earth. Once you get into carving it soon becomes addictive. I was thinking of getting rid of a few spoons. The house has become a tinder box lol. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)
Brilliant, just stumbled on this, really enjoyed thank you, I've been a carpenter for nearly 45yrs, gonna try some carving in my retirement , so many thanks, great trousers by the way, what are they and where from?
Hi Paul, many thanks for watching. The trousers are a pair of dickies work pants. I either wear them or a pair of Carhartt as they tend to be harder wearing. Take care Paul, all the best, Mark :)
Hiya mark new subscriber to your channel mate ,just getting back in to spoon carving after some kind person broke into my allotment shed and stole all my gear ,you sound as if your a Staffordshire fella lol .great video tho must watch more .
Hi Nidge, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Sorry to hear about your shed mate and tools getting stolen.... nothing worse mate. Yeah I am from Staffordshire mate. I have lived all over the country over the years, but back again now. Happy 2022 Nidge, all the best, Mark :)
HI Get Smart, I hope you are keeping well mate. Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍👍. Once I can return back to work, that is what I tend to do for a living. I am a fly fishing guide and instructor, so I spend most of my day explaining and showing things to people. We started adding a few wild camping and bushcraft activities alongside a days trout or salmon fishing and people seem to enjoy it. Whether we tech them to cook the fish that they catch on an open fire or a pit and also teach them about shelter building, navigation etc. Most of the carving I do is for my own enjoyment, but even that has been popular to some. They like to sit around the fire having a go at carving a spoon whilst reminiscing about the biggie that got away lol.
very helpful and informative video-thanks a ton! Im just getting in to carving and most videos i've been watching lately have very unrealistic expectations on the tools I have at my disposal ie: I do not own or have access to a bandsaw haha. Just like you, i've got a bushcraft black from mora and a basic hook knife. Thanks for this video!
Hi Jack, I hope you are keeping well 👍. Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I hope you have a nice evening, take care, all the best, Mark 😀👍.
Hi Quinn, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I have just subbed to your great channel. It looks like you have some interesting topics. Can't wait to start watching :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
Thank you very much Mark. I made one spoon made of Pussy Willow, nice and light. I have wood to make more spoons. I have a wood lot to get wood. Take care.
Hi Rose, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) The Mora carving knives I purchased off Amazon, but the Ben Orford knives I buy direct from his website. I will leave you a link to Ben's website.... many thanks, Mark :) benandloisorford.com/
Really Great... Didn't know i needed this video, its really Useful. Thank you for making this Video with honest explanation. I would try to make some Spoons ✌
Hello Mark, thanks for the video my friend, I really enjoyed that one ! I need to get out in the woods but time wont allow unfortunately. Take care and talk to you soon! Wade
Hi Wade, I hope you are keeping well brother :) Yeah I know the feeling. Life can get in the way sometimes, but the woods will still be there when you have the time. Many thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment Wade. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Hi Tech and Tactical, I hope you are keeping well :) Thank you as always for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great weekend, all the best Mark :)
Hi BCB, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Very kind of you to do so :) I have just subbed to your awesome channel. You certainly have some good stuff going on, so can't wait to start watching your videos :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Hi John, I hope you are keeping well brother :) Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I love the simplicity of carving. A couple of tools and you can make a lot. Certainly enjoyable on a camping trip. Have a great day John, all the best, Mark. :)
Hi Joe, I hope you are keeping well brother. Many thanks as always for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Cracking video Mark and great content. I learned lots there fella. I have never drawn a template and always done it free hand. They usually do the job but would never win a beauty contest. Thanks for the share, Cheers Sel
Cheers Sel :) I hope you are keeping well mate. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and got something out of it. Yeah I always tend to draw a template. But its not very often the spoon comes out like the drawing LOL. Thanks again Sel. Take care mate, Mark. :)
Hi Random Fox, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Yeah, the plastic bag has come to the rescue more than once for me too. If I'm not going to finish the spoon in one go, then I will put the work in a bag and spray a bit of water on the timber to keep it workable for the next time. I haven't tried putting the chips in, that is something I will have to give ago. Thanks for the suggestion. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Mark Bailey your very welcome I'm 43 looks more 27 lol your never too old to stop learning but another thing an axe be great to speed up job too i recommended highly you cheak out woodcraft hamster TH-cam he's a nice friend of mine from London give you some awsome tips too 💪🐺🐾👌😉
Your right there my friend, you are never too old to stop learning :) Yeah I often use a small carving hatchet when removing larger amounts of material, but I wanted to test out the new carving knife. I will defiantly check out your friends channel. I think I may have watched a few of his videos in the past. The name rings a bell with me. I will go over and give him a sub. Thanks again.... all the best, Mark. :)
Mark Bailey no problems has you got Facebook or telegram or hangouts I show you my carving ? I'm the same with new tools I get like a kid can't wait to test em I bought two Mora basic knives omg they is fantastic but I try to makes my tools in fire only made few medieval arrow heads 💪🐺🐾
Hi Random Fox, sorry for the late reply, I'm in and out at the moment. I too have a couple of the Mora knives. I love them :) Great knives for the money. Sorry I don't have Facebook anymore. I think I still have an account, but not been on it in a few years. I'm a bit old fashioned with computers and tech stuff. I'm not very good with it!! I checked out your friend channel. Great content. I have just subbed to him. I have seen a few of his videos in the past. I thought the name was familiar. If you have Instagram and your work is on there, I can look at your carving through that. It would be good to see. I like the sound of your medieval arrow heads. Forging is something that I have never done, but I would love to try it one day. I was watching a few blacksmiths forging steel strikers at the bushcraft show earlier in the year and it looked like a lot of fun. :)
So satisfying to watch. I'm hoping to buy some whittling knives pretty soon, and this looks like a fantastic project. Cheers Mark for such a well explained, methodical and interesting tutorial. Do you suggest a novice like me should start with a smaller spoon or is the spoon size dependant upon the knife sizes used? Thanks again. Best 20 minutes I've spent in a long time. Stay well. 👍
Hi D G, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. I first started off with the mora hook knives. They are great for the money and they have quite a pronounced curve so they can be used for both shallow and deeper cuts. The move hook/curve to the knife will help when carving deeper cuts for things like larger spoons/ladles cups etc. Nowadays I tend to use the shallower hooked knives for most of my spoons and find they work really well. For starting off, like I say the mora hook knives are a decent knife. Then the more that you do, start to add other hook knives to your kit. The same goes for the carving knives, Mora again make some lovely knives that are reasonably priced. I have a few different length carving knives. I tend to use the longer ones for removing most of the wood away and then use the shorter blades for more detailed and finishing off. If you check out Ben Orford's website he has a lot of tools on there and some good info. I hope this helps. Have a great day, all the best, Mark :) :)
Thank you Joel :) It is something I play around with when I get the free time. I find something satisfying about carving nice wood with a sharp blade :) Thanks as always Brother.... all the very best, Mark :)
@@markbailey2981 Yeah, I love carving as well, my favorite wood to fiddle here in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Gordonia Wood. I use it for everything....such as scale when I make knives, I made 2 cigar pipes, spoons and so much more. Having a reliable crooked knife and sharp detailing knife is always great. Happy Easter Mark and all the best to you and yours. - Joel
Hi Shaun, I hope you are keeping well mate :) I'm sure you enjoy it will enjoy it when your hook knife comes. I would start off with a nice soft wood like willow, sycamore or lime. Apart from being nice wood to carve, there is usually plenty of it knocking around most woods. Have a great weekend Shaun, all the best, Mark. :)
Hi John, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Sure, the straight Ben Orford knife is called an English Sloyd knife. It is a great knife. Very comfortable and it easy to work with. Here is a link to the knife and Ben's website. All the best, Mark. :) benandloisorford.com/store/#!/English-Sloyd-Knife/p/34599486/category=8705023
Hi bigearedmose17, I hope you are keeping well :) LOL Yeah, that's a problem that I run into as well. Knowing when to stop is the hardest part of carving. Thanks for watching as always, all the best, Mark :)
nice work. could you show how to do it without a hooked knife as well? normally i don't carry any special tools with me and i don't even own a hooked knife.
Hi Pascal, I hope you are keeping well :) Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, and thank you for the suggestion. Yes, I will try and do a video on spoon carving without carving tools in the near future. There are a couple of ways in which it can be done. Like you say, not everyone carries or owns a set of carving tools. Thanks as always for stopping by. All the best, Mark. :)
Hi mark I've just bought a second had axe what's your recommend way to sharpen bench grinder or a file ? And roughly what degree should the beval be ? Just got to get a good size log for a chopping block any idea where I could get one ,seem to be struggling with this one lol don't mind paying for a block..have a good day mate .cheers neil
Hi Neil, many thanks for watching mate. I tent to use a file and stones when sharpening an axe. I have used a bench grinder on some of the cheaper axes at work, as the steel doesn't always lend its self to the amount of time that you sometimes have to put in. I was once told that the grinder may heat the steel up and change the hardness of the edge, which can ruin a decent axe. A good video to watch about sharpening axes and knives is on Ben Orford's you tube channel..... he goes into good detail. As for a chopping block, you could try phoning a couple of local tree surgeons and ask them if you could buy one off them if they are felling any trees locally. If not it's a case of scouting in the woods for an old downed tree and cutting one off. They are a pain to carry back to the car, though. It is defiantly worth checking out Bens channel for sharpening axes though mate.... good luck with your endeavour Neil, all the best, Mark :)
Hi xyla, I know the feeling lol. It can take a while for your hands to get used to it. There can be more cutting and carving than you first think.... but great job on carving the spoon 👍. Plenty more to come now!! Have a great week, all the very best, Mark 😀🔥🌲.
Hi Lilly, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) You can carve the bowl of the spoon with a normal straight blade. It may take a little longer to do than using a hook knife, but the end results look good. Or another way is to coal burn the bowl. I have seen a few video on you tube showing these methods, so it might be worth a look if you don't have a hook knife, but still want to make a few spoons. I hope this helps, thanks again, all the best, Mark :)
Nice one Mark, I've been on a spoon carving mission this week 🙂. Think I've done one every day so far. Good practice anyway 😃. I've been handing them out to anyone who liked the look of em . Have you had any experience of the Beavercraft carving tools ? Was looking at a basic set of 3 tools with a canvas sleeve and strop etc. I usually just carve with my main Mora knife and an old spoon knife but might get a dedicated set
Hi Rick, I hope you are keeping OK mate :) Yeah, spoon carving is a great pastime. I haven't see the Beavercraft tools first hand, but Wade (woodswalker 1965) has recently done a review on them and a giveaway. They look like a decent set of tools from what I have seen and what Wade said. He is a good guy, so if they says they are good, then they should be good :) I hope you have been enjoying the sun. I've been with 20 kids, getting hot and bothered undoing tangles. You know what it's like, sweat dripping off your nose and its 'Mark we all tangled up together'. I was ready for home by 10am lol. Take care Rick, speak to you soon mate :)
@@markbailey2981 haha I can imagine, never ending cycle of tangles lol. Bet it was a nightmare. 20 kids on your own is one hell of a handful. You will be ready for a brew or a beer n put yer feet up tonight for sure. Hope there's less tangles tomorrow if you've got another day with kids 👍. Think it might be a bit cooler too 🙂. Cheers Mark, all the best fella
Really enjoyed this video and would like to make another spoon following your instruction here. The first one was on the fly and too deep to eat with, but is good for stirring coffee etc. Your instruction here will be easy to follow, thanks and have a great week. P.S. How did you find your new knife for carving this spoon?
Hi TC, I hope you are keeping well :) Many thanks for watching as always my friend. I'm glad the video will come in handy for your next spoon :) Yeah I love the new knife. It is very comfortable and easy to work with. I've carved about 3 spoons and a couple of small figures with it and it is still sharp. Thanks again TC, you have a great week too. All the best, Mark. :)
Got some green American Hornbeam branches a few months ago. Made my first 30 spoons out of it. I can attest that everything you said is true. I really feel self assured as none of them have checked. Treated with coconut oil. I like the product you applied and will get some and try it. Do you know if beeswax alone will work?
Hi Mark, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I have never tried American Hornbeam, we have quite a lot growing near to where I work, so I will try and harvest some next time I'm out. I always like to try out different woods. I suppose you could use just beeswax to seal the spoon after. I know people who use wax on wooden knife handles with good results. So it is always worth a try. I have also used coconut oil in the past and that worked really well. It is amazing stuff with a myriad of other uses. Have a great day Mark, all the best, Mark :)
Hi Sam, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. I tend to use the more common types of wood for carving spoons. Woods such as birch, sycamore, lime (basswood) and fruit tree woods such as apple and plum. They are all reported to be a safe wood to use, plus they aren't too difficult to work with. I tend to avoid trees such as Yew which is toxic, plus a lot of pines etc due to the resin. There are some good websites which go into detail about the uses of different woods. But dependent of where you are in the world you may have your own tress that would be suitable or not. Thanks again Sam, have a great day, all the best, Mark 😀🔥🌲.
Hi Stermensky Simon, many thanks for watching. I usually either buy a tin of walnut oil and beeswax mixed that I simply rub onto the spoon and work into the grain, or my friend uses walnut oil and soaks his spoons in that in a plastic box. I found it left the spoons tasting too strong of the oil, but each to their own. If you are using just the walnut oil, I would rub it on with a clean cloth and perhaps do a few coats. Another easy way is to mix beeswax and coconut oil by slightly warming them and melting them into a liquid and pour into a tin. Once hard, I put some on my fingers and work it into the carving. I hope this helps, all the best, Mark :)
Hi Sarah, many thanks for watching. I tend to use the wood when it is green as it is softer for carving. Then before oiling and using the spoon I let the wood dry out. Have a great week, all the best, Mark 👍😀🌲🌲.
Hi Rich, I hope you have had a nice weekend :) I have never tried tallow on spoons before. As long as it doesn't go off I'm sure it would work fine. It is certainly food safe. You will have to give it a try. Just don't give it to a vegetarian lol. On the subject of beeswax, I have recently made a few small batches of beeswax and coconut oil conditioner which seems to work quite well on wood. I've tried it on knife handles and it soaks in cleanly, plus it is food safe so I may give it a try on a few spoons. It is also great for leather sheaths and steel, and with the coconut oil being medicinal it can also be used as an antibacterial cream for the skin. Take care Rich, all the best, Mark :)
Hi Phil, I hope you are keeping well mate 👍. Probably the most toxic tree in the UK would be the Yew tree. If you stick to woods such as fruit tree wood e.g. apple and plum etc. they are a nice safe wood to use. I also like sycamore, lime and birch for carving spoons and spatula's. Again it is safe, plus it is nice wood to carve and work with. Some people can have allergic reaction to some woods. My mate can't use certain woods as he is allergic to the dust, so it pays to try a few different sorts. The same thing can apply to the oil that is used afterwards. Most people like to use a food grade mineral oil which is safe for most people. This is a good option for people with a nut allergy, as I use walnut oil which some people don't like. Thanks for watching Phil.... take care mate, all the best, Mark 👍😀.
By far my favourite spoon carving video, makes me feel like I can attempt to carve a spoon without needing 100 tools and a workshop! You're a great instructor, and I can't wait to see what you carve next.
Hi Gemma, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Sorry for the late reply, I have just done a giveaway video so had to wade through a hundred comments before reading yours. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Your quite right, a couple of basic tools and you can achieve quite a lot. I enjoy the simplicity of carving. A couple of knives, a piece of timber and the fresh air. Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
What a great video: simple, straightforward, and friendly. Thank you, sir.
Many thanks for watching my friend. I'm glad you enjoyed the video 👍😀🥄🥄.
@@markbailey2981 BTW, it was also good to see that you didn't use a hatchet. Those things make me nervous. Question: Was that green sycamore you were using? Seems like it must have been dry, if you put oil on it after. But I didn't understand how you controlled the cracks.
@@gtaylor2770Hi.... the wood was probably cut a couple of days prior to making the spoon. I find that after holding the wood for a while and the friction from sanding it dries quite quickly, especially if it is warm outside too. I usually wait a couple of days if it is slightly damp before oiling. I will leave you a link to Ben Orfords channel. He explains in better detail about how to split the wood to minimize the cracking. I noticed he has put some new videos up as well, so they might also interest you. th-cam.com/video/KW2DN46lrqk/w-d-xo.html Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)
Nice touch on mentioning allergies. I’m allergic to nuts and was going to comment the same. But you covered it! Top job bud
Hi Christopher, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. I think the safest oil for spoons and bowls etc would be a good food grade mineral oil. I have started using coconut oil and beeswax for my own spoons, but I tend to leave them untreated if I am sending one out to someone. You never know what allergies people may have. I hope you are keeping well during these uncertain times. Thanks again, all the best, Mark 😀🌲🔥.
Back again, I’ve been making lots of spoons. I have not seen you making to many videos, I hope you are well. Take care.
Hi Quinn,,,,, it is great to hear from you mate 👍👍. I am keeping ok thanks. Busy working a new job, so I haven't had much free time. I noticed you are doing some carving Quinn... I have saved your new video for later when I get home 👍👍. Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
Hiya mark ,just had to watch this vid again ,well things have moved on very well I know have a good shelter with steel roof all made on my allotment lol including a fire pit with billy can and kettle, just bought a Robin wood carving axe, mora spoon knive and a 106 .got my strops to .got a couple of nice ash chopping blocks, made a bowl bench with wedges to lol just put my name on list for a twca cam to that's was recommend by Paul Adamson ,a guy in Portugal makes them and paul uses one of them ..gouges are in tool roll ready for a bowl or kuska to try my hand at lol ..practice and more practice is my aim .cheers dude 😃
Muy bonito trabajo amigo dios tebentiga
Many thanks for watching Daniel..... have a great day my friend 👍.
Excellent video. Thank you ☘️
Hi Keanu, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark 👍😀.
hi Mark hope you are keeping ok miss not seeing your videos mate happy Easter to you and yours
Hi Shaun, it is great to hear from you mate. Happy Easter to you too mate, I hope you have been keeping well. Take care 👍.
@@markbailey2981 I`m ok are you ok
@@shaundawson5639 I have been keeping ok thanks mate 👍. Busy working, roll on summer ay.... I hope you are keeping well Shaun... take care mate :)
Such a pretty spoon! I recently started reconnecting with my roots and really got into carving stuff :)
Many thanks for watching Junkabella 👍. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)
You have great spoon carving skills Mark. The simplicity of the spoons and the clean cuts make them look excellent. Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a great week. - Josh
Hi Josh, I hope you are keeping well. Thank you for the kind words. It means a lot as you are an awesome spoon carver. Mine aren't as neat as yours, but at least I can stir the sugar in my tea now LOL. You have a great week too Josh.... All the best, Mark. :)
Hola Hermoso trabajo le mando un abrazo desde uruguay de Néstor
Hi Ducati Charrua, many thanks for watching and for your kind words. Thank you 👍😀.
I started carving out(horribly) with just a chisel and loving it. Although i can already tell you the 2nd most important for a beginner carver. Some superglue hahaha
Hi 1 .1, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. Super glue..... mans best friend lol. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark😀.
Thanks for sharing - lovely video. I picked up a few new points which was great.
Deserves way more likes - come on viewers.....
Hi A Teleskier, many thanks for watching and for the nice comment, it is vey much appreciated :) I'm glad you found the video useful :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
Great job! I can't wait to try this
Hi Mackenzie Z, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. Have a great week, all the best, Mark 😀🌲🌲.
Something I've always fancied doing but never bought the tools. Well done Mark another job presented in class 😁
Hi Dave, I hope you are keeping well brother :) You should give it a try mate. You can pick a set of Mora carving tools up quite cheap. A small knife and a hook knife and your away!! Thanks for the kind words as always mate. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Morning mate all's well this end thanks. Il have a look for a set when I get a bit of time. Life's a bit crazy atm the Mrs has her new lungs and home doing well but running me ragged lol. Have a great week pal.
All the best Dave
I'm glad to hear that the Mrs is doing well mate. That's the most important thing :) I'm sure she is very grateful for everything you are doing for her. Your a top bloke mate :) You have a great week too mate...… all the best, Mark :)
Good video. Thanks for taking the time to share your process
Hi CreativeMan.com.au, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)
thx for the video ! beautifull work !
Hi 4DRH, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. Have a great weekend my friend, all the best, Mark.
Cheers Mark, some good tips on here and safe carving advice too.
You have a nice collection there pal.
Thanks for the upload and hope your weekend is going good. 👍
Hi Ant, many thanks for stopping by mate. Yeah the weekend is going well thanks mate. To tell you the truth, I can't tell if it's Sunday or Wednesday anymore lol. At least with a routine, you kind of know where you are in the week lol. I have just been sharpening a couple for knives for people. The rock and roll lifestyle lol. Have a great day mate, all the best, Mark 😀😀😀.
Mark Bailey oh I’ll send mine down to you Mark lol. I’ve got one wet stone and about to pick up another from my dad, I’ll get some auto sol and see if I can get how to sharpen lol.
I know mate these days are blending in to one aren’t they, glad your well bud
Nice video mark and thanks to ben orford for making these beautiful cutting tools for us to enjoy and it's the likes of you mark making good videos of the things we love that keeps us going when we're at home
Hi Shane, many thanks for watching and for the kind words, it is very much appreciated. Yeah, Ben makes some great tools, plus he is a real nice guy in person so it makes buying his tools a pleasure :) Thanks again Shane, all the best, Mark. :)
Great video
Hi Mr Meowgi, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great week, all the best, Mark :)
Another great and well produced video Mark
Hi Gary, I hope you are keeping well mate. Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
Well done Mark, good video, inspirational!
Hi David, I hope you are keeping well. Many thanks for kind words and for stopping by :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Excellent video! Very calming to listen to and easy to follow along. I ordered my first hook knife and I will be working on my first spoon soon!
Hi E M, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I'm glad you found the video useful. I'm sure you will enjoy your wood carving. It soon becomes addictive :) Thanks for the kind words, all the best, Mark.
I saw you on HIKEnDEEP I've been subbed and watching you for sometime I never comment you get a lot but I do like and watch your channel CYA
Many thanks for watching my friend 👍. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)
@@markbailey2981 U 2 CYA
Great video and yes a basic spoon but it's a very good basic spoon. As you can see I've skipped a load of videos I just want to get to the more recent videos then go back and watch the other's when I have more time take care Mark😁👍
Hi Carl, I hope you are keeping well mate :) I appreciate you trawling through the vids mate. I started watching your bushcrfat channel yesterday. You have some great content. I enjoyed the camp you had with Cornish Knives and the boys. I watched your axe carving video. That's a great axe for the money!! Robin Wood makes some nice tools. Thanks as always for watching Carl, have a great day mate. Mark :)
Some nice woodcraft mark. Nice that you gave good info about the various woods you used
Hi Shane, I hope you are keeping well and enjoying the weather. I bet the Island is busy at this time of the year!! Many thanks as always for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great day mate, all the best, Mark. :)
Hello
I like to pass my wooden utensils through a camp fire to "burn off" the fuzzies rather than sand. Then I take a round ended 3/4" hard wood (birch) dowel about 4 inches long and use the end to "burnish" the inside of my bowl. This seals the surface against micro bacteria living inside the wood and causing botulism. Just my approach. Thank you for a great video and sharing a pleasant afternoon in your country.
God bless;
Two Feathers
Proprietor of:
The Mountain Man Emporium
Hi Two Feathers, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I like the tip of using a birch dowel to burnish the inside of the bowl. I will have to give that a try :) I use something similar to burnish the edges of leather, so I am interested to see how it works on wood. Thanks again my friend..... have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
@@markbailey2981 Hi Mark
No problem, glad I could help. I hope you find this info. useful. I do leather work as well and use a round dowel-like Hardwood slicker with grooves of varying sizes that I made on a lathe in our school machine shop. I was a teacher in a vocational technical high school. Keep making those videos. I'm a subscriber.
God bless:
Two Feathers
Proprietor of:
The Mountain Man Emporium
What else would work, like leaving the spoon in a bowl of bleach over night to kill bacteria, or another non-toxic chemical?
very cool. saving this video to a playlist as well so i can rewatch this later. been trying to get some spoons and just got a new knife to get into bushcraft stuff. thanks for the tips brother
Hi BackOutside, I hope you are keeping well :) many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I'm glad you found the video useful and took something away from it. It is always nice to hear, so thanks :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
Hi Mark thanks for the advice. knife came yesterday hoping to get out sometime next week
Your welcome Shaun. Have a great day :)
Top jon Mark, cheers for sharing.
Hi Feral Grandad, I hope you are keeping well :) Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)
Great video Mark. Thanks for sharing! Gonna have to get me a hook knife. My spoon turned out pretty good though, for being done all with my Becker BK2!
Many thanks for watching JT :) The Mora hook knives are a good knife and don't cost the earth. Once you get into carving it soon becomes addictive. I was thinking of getting rid of a few spoons. The house has become a tinder box lol. Have a great weekend, all the best, Mark :)
Brilliant, just stumbled on this, really enjoyed thank you, I've been a carpenter for nearly 45yrs, gonna try some carving in my retirement , so many thanks, great trousers by the way, what are they and where from?
Hi Paul, many thanks for watching. The trousers are a pair of dickies work pants. I either wear them or a pair of Carhartt as they tend to be harder wearing. Take care Paul, all the best, Mark :)
Hiya mark new subscriber to your channel mate ,just getting back in to spoon carving after some kind person broke into my allotment shed and stole all my gear ,you sound as if your a Staffordshire fella lol .great video tho must watch more .
Hi Nidge, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Sorry to hear about your shed mate and tools getting stolen.... nothing worse mate. Yeah I am from Staffordshire mate. I have lived all over the country over the years, but back again now. Happy 2022 Nidge, all the best, Mark :)
@@markbailey2981 cheers mate I'm from Weston Coney my self so. Yeah we both local lol happy. 2022 to mark
You're a born intrustor mate...really, I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. Nice to see your technique, thanks for the video.
HI Get Smart, I hope you are keeping well mate. Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍👍. Once I can return back to work, that is what I tend to do for a living. I am a fly fishing guide and instructor, so I spend most of my day explaining and showing things to people. We started adding a few wild camping and bushcraft activities alongside a days trout or salmon fishing and people seem to enjoy it. Whether we tech them to cook the fish that they catch on an open fire or a pit and also teach them about shelter building, navigation etc. Most of the carving I do is for my own enjoyment, but even that has been popular to some. They like to sit around the fire having a go at carving a spoon whilst reminiscing about the biggie that got away lol.
very helpful and informative video-thanks a ton! Im just getting in to carving and most videos i've been watching lately have very unrealistic expectations on the tools I have at my disposal ie: I do not own or have access to a bandsaw haha. Just like you, i've got a bushcraft black from mora and a basic hook knife. Thanks for this video!
Hi Jack, I hope you are keeping well 👍. Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I hope you have a nice evening, take care, all the best, Mark 😀👍.
Nice spoons and information, Thanks.
Hi Quinn, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) I have just subbed to your great channel. It looks like you have some interesting topics. Can't wait to start watching :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
Thank you very much Mark. I made one spoon made of Pussy Willow, nice and light. I have wood to make more spoons. I have a wood lot to get wood. Take care.
Aye Mark, I put this video on my spoon making play list. Take care.
Hi Quinn, many thanks for watching brother :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
This was absolutely pure. Where do you get your carving knives?
Hi Rose, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) The Mora carving knives I purchased off Amazon, but the Ben Orford knives I buy direct from his website. I will leave you a link to Ben's website.... many thanks, Mark :) benandloisorford.com/
love my ben orford knife, only left handed knife i own :D
Job very well done! My spoons look nothing like yours LOL! Keep up with the good videos...
Hi Ja vy, I hope you are keeping well. Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Really Great...
Didn't know i needed this video, its really Useful.
Thank you for making this Video with honest explanation.
I would try to make some Spoons ✌
Hi Madura, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. Have a great week ahead my friend, all the best, Mark 👍😀.
Hello Mark, thanks for the video my friend, I really enjoyed that one ! I need to get out in the woods but time wont allow unfortunately. Take care and talk to you soon! Wade
Hi Wade, I hope you are keeping well brother :) Yeah I know the feeling. Life can get in the way sometimes, but the woods will still be there when you have the time. Many thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment Wade. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Great video as usual Mark. Very impressive detail on those spoons.
Hi Tech and Tactical, I hope you are keeping well :) Thank you as always for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great weekend, all the best Mark :)
Great Video! Beautiful spoons... Really works of art! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and skill!
Blessings
BCB
Hi BCB, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Very kind of you to do so :) I have just subbed to your awesome channel. You certainly have some good stuff going on, so can't wait to start watching your videos :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Nice usefull video
Hi Palle, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. All the best, Mark :)
Beautiful work brother looks great ! i need to take my carving kit to camp next time and give it a go once again . it has been awhile !
atb john
Hi John, I hope you are keeping well brother :) Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I love the simplicity of carving. A couple of tools and you can make a lot. Certainly enjoyable on a camping trip. Have a great day John, all the best, Mark. :)
Hey Mark🙂 Great job on the spoon friend .
Hi Joe, I hope you are keeping well brother. Many thanks as always for watching and taking the time to comment. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Cracking video Mark and great content. I learned lots there fella. I have never drawn a template and always done it free hand. They usually do the job but would never win a beauty contest. Thanks for the share, Cheers Sel
Cheers Sel :) I hope you are keeping well mate. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and got something out of it. Yeah I always tend to draw a template. But its not very often the spoon comes out like the drawing LOL. Thanks again Sel. Take care mate, Mark. :)
Mark Bailey nice work I now sussed out how to carve green wood spoons with out splitting I puts em in a plastic bag with some of the chips 💪🐺🐾💕👌
Hi Random Fox, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Yeah, the plastic bag has come to the rescue more than once for me too. If I'm not going to finish the spoon in one go, then I will put the work in a bag and spray a bit of water on the timber to keep it workable for the next time. I haven't tried putting the chips in, that is something I will have to give ago. Thanks for the suggestion. Have a great day, all the best, Mark. :)
Mark Bailey your very welcome I'm 43 looks more 27 lol your never too old to stop learning but another thing an axe be great to speed up job too i recommended highly you cheak out woodcraft hamster TH-cam he's a nice friend of mine from London give you some awsome tips too 💪🐺🐾👌😉
Your right there my friend, you are never too old to stop learning :) Yeah I often use a small carving hatchet when removing larger amounts of material, but I wanted to test out the new carving knife. I will defiantly check out your friends channel. I think I may have watched a few of his videos in the past. The name rings a bell with me. I will go over and give him a sub. Thanks again.... all the best, Mark. :)
Mark Bailey no problems has you got Facebook or telegram or hangouts I show you my carving ? I'm the same with new tools I get like a kid can't wait to test em I bought two Mora basic knives omg they is fantastic but I try to makes my tools in fire only made few medieval arrow heads 💪🐺🐾
Hi Random Fox, sorry for the late reply, I'm in and out at the moment. I too have a couple of the Mora knives. I love them :) Great knives for the money. Sorry I don't have Facebook anymore. I think I still have an account, but not been on it in a few years. I'm a bit old fashioned with computers and tech stuff. I'm not very good with it!! I checked out your friend channel. Great content. I have just subbed to him. I have seen a few of his videos in the past. I thought the name was familiar. If you have Instagram and your work is on there, I can look at your carving through that. It would be good to see. I like the sound of your medieval arrow heads. Forging is something that I have never done, but I would love to try it one day. I was watching a few blacksmiths forging steel strikers at the bushcraft show earlier in the year and it looked like a lot of fun. :)
As always, my friend, a great thorough instructional video! One of these days I need to try some carving. Brian.
Hi Brian, Many thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment :) Have a great day my friend, all the best, Mark.
Beautiful work. Enjoyed your video. Want a teaspoon for my bushcraft kit. You make it look very easy.
Hi Balloon Man, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark.
So satisfying to watch. I'm hoping to buy some whittling knives pretty soon, and this looks like a fantastic project. Cheers Mark for such a well explained, methodical and interesting tutorial. Do you suggest a novice like me should start with a smaller spoon or is the spoon size dependant upon the knife sizes used? Thanks again. Best 20 minutes I've spent in a long time. Stay well. 👍
Hi D G, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. I first started off with the mora hook knives. They are great for the money and they have quite a pronounced curve so they can be used for both shallow and deeper cuts. The move hook/curve to the knife will help when carving deeper cuts for things like larger spoons/ladles cups etc. Nowadays I tend to use the shallower hooked knives for most of my spoons and find they work really well. For starting off, like I say the mora hook knives are a decent knife. Then the more that you do, start to add other hook knives to your kit. The same goes for the carving knives, Mora again make some lovely knives that are reasonably priced. I have a few different length carving knives. I tend to use the longer ones for removing most of the wood away and then use the shorter blades for more detailed and finishing off. If you check out Ben Orford's website he has a lot of tools on there and some good info. I hope this helps. Have a great day, all the best, Mark :) :)
Superb work
Thank you Joel :) It is something I play around with when I get the free time. I find something satisfying about carving nice wood with a sharp blade :) Thanks as always Brother.... all the very best, Mark :)
@@markbailey2981 Yeah, I love carving as well, my favorite wood to fiddle here in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Gordonia Wood. I use it for everything....such as scale when I make knives, I made 2 cigar pipes, spoons and so much more. Having a reliable crooked knife and sharp detailing knife is always great. Happy Easter Mark and all the best to you and yours. - Joel
Good vid pal..
Cheers Kevin :) I hope you are keeping well mate, all the best, Mark :)
Hi mate hope you well another great video going to try to make a spoon when my hook knife comes from amazon
Hi Shaun, I hope you are keeping well mate :) I'm sure you enjoy it will enjoy it when your hook knife comes. I would start off with a nice soft wood like willow, sycamore or lime. Apart from being nice wood to carve, there is usually plenty of it knocking around most woods. Have a great weekend Shaun, all the best, Mark. :)
Excellent video. New subscriber
Hi Mark, many thanks for watching and for the sub :) It is very much appreciated.... have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
nice vid dude.. like it.. keep it up man..
Hi Ide Rumah Pohon, Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Thank you for the kind words, all the best, Mark, :)
Great instructional video make it look so simple can you tell me what the straight Ben Orford knife was thanks stay safe
Hi John, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Sure, the straight Ben Orford knife is called an English Sloyd knife. It is a great knife. Very comfortable and it easy to work with. Here is a link to the knife and Ben's website. All the best, Mark. :) benandloisorford.com/store/#!/English-Sloyd-Knife/p/34599486/category=8705023
Go Pocket boy!
Great Upload as usual Mark, Never been to good at Spoon Carving never know when to stop and usually end up with a Toothpick.
Hi bigearedmose17, I hope you are keeping well :) LOL Yeah, that's a problem that I run into as well. Knowing when to stop is the hardest part of carving. Thanks for watching as always, all the best, Mark :)
Great vid bro thank you
Hi brother, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) Have a great weekend, all the best Mark.
nice work. could you show how to do it without a hooked knife as well? normally i don't carry any special tools with me and i don't even own a hooked knife.
Hi Pascal, I hope you are keeping well :) Many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, and thank you for the suggestion. Yes, I will try and do a video on spoon carving without carving tools in the near future. There are a couple of ways in which it can be done. Like you say, not everyone carries or owns a set of carving tools. Thanks as always for stopping by. All the best, Mark. :)
Hi mark I've just bought a second had axe what's your recommend way to sharpen bench grinder or a file ? And roughly what degree should the beval be ? Just got to get a good size log for a chopping block any idea where I could get one ,seem to be struggling with this one lol don't mind paying for a block..have a good day mate .cheers neil
Hi Neil, many thanks for watching mate. I tent to use a file and stones when sharpening an axe. I have used a bench grinder on some of the cheaper axes at work, as the steel doesn't always lend its self to the amount of time that you sometimes have to put in. I was once told that the grinder may heat the steel up and change the hardness of the edge, which can ruin a decent axe. A good video to watch about sharpening axes and knives is on Ben Orford's you tube channel..... he goes into good detail. As for a chopping block, you could try phoning a couple of local tree surgeons and ask them if you could buy one off them if they are felling any trees locally. If not it's a case of scouting in the woods for an old downed tree and cutting one off. They are a pain to carry back to the car, though. It is defiantly worth checking out Bens channel for sharpening axes though mate.... good luck with your endeavour Neil, all the best, Mark :)
@@markbailey2981 many thanks mark I will use my file for the axe lol I will look up Ben on you tube ..thanks for your reply mark 😃
Mark I made my 1st proper spoon today ..
6 hours hands ache
Hi xyla, I know the feeling lol. It can take a while for your hands to get used to it. There can be more cutting and carving than you first think.... but great job on carving the spoon 👍. Plenty more to come now!! Have a great week, all the very best, Mark 😀🔥🌲.
@@markbailey2981 thanks Mark
thank you for the amazing explanation, one question, i cant afford a hook knife just wanna know what you'd recommend?
Hi Lilly, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :) You can carve the bowl of the spoon with a normal straight blade. It may take a little longer to do than using a hook knife, but the end results look good. Or another way is to coal burn the bowl. I have seen a few video on you tube showing these methods, so it might be worth a look if you don't have a hook knife, but still want to make a few spoons. I hope this helps, thanks again, all the best, Mark :)
Never oil your stuff with olive oil.....it goes rancid! Mineral oil or tung💪😎👍
Nice one Mark, I've been on a spoon carving mission this week 🙂. Think I've done one every day so far. Good practice anyway 😃. I've been handing them out to anyone who liked the look of em . Have you had any experience of the Beavercraft carving tools ? Was looking at a basic set of 3 tools with a canvas sleeve and strop etc. I usually just carve with my main Mora knife and an old spoon knife but might get a dedicated set
Hi Rick, I hope you are keeping OK mate :) Yeah, spoon carving is a great pastime. I haven't see the Beavercraft tools first hand, but Wade (woodswalker 1965) has recently done a review on them and a giveaway. They look like a decent set of tools from what I have seen and what Wade said. He is a good guy, so if they says they are good, then they should be good :) I hope you have been enjoying the sun. I've been with 20 kids, getting hot and bothered undoing tangles. You know what it's like, sweat dripping off your nose and its 'Mark we all tangled up together'. I was ready for home by 10am lol. Take care Rick, speak to you soon mate :)
@@markbailey2981 haha I can imagine, never ending cycle of tangles lol. Bet it was a nightmare. 20 kids on your own is one hell of a handful. You will be ready for a brew or a beer n put yer feet up tonight for sure. Hope there's less tangles tomorrow if you've got another day with kids 👍. Think it might be a bit cooler too 🙂. Cheers Mark, all the best fella
Really enjoyed this video and would like to make another spoon following your instruction here. The first one was on the fly and too deep to eat with, but is good for stirring coffee etc. Your instruction here will be easy to follow, thanks and have a great week.
P.S. How did you find your new knife for carving this spoon?
Hi TC, I hope you are keeping well :) Many thanks for watching as always my friend. I'm glad the video will come in handy for your next spoon :) Yeah I love the new knife. It is very comfortable and easy to work with. I've carved about 3 spoons and a couple of small figures with it and it is still sharp. Thanks again TC, you have a great week too. All the best, Mark. :)
Got some green American Hornbeam branches a few months ago. Made my first 30 spoons out of it. I can attest that everything you said is true. I really feel self assured as none of them have checked. Treated with coconut oil. I like the product you applied and will get some and try it. Do you know if beeswax alone will work?
Hi Mark, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I have never tried American Hornbeam, we have quite a lot growing near to where I work, so I will try and harvest some next time I'm out. I always like to try out different woods. I suppose you could use just beeswax to seal the spoon after. I know people who use wax on wooden knife handles with good results. So it is always worth a try. I have also used coconut oil in the past and that worked really well. It is amazing stuff with a myriad of other uses. Have a great day Mark, all the best, Mark :)
How do you recommend cleaning wooden spoons? Warm soapy water? Obviously not a dishwasher!!
Hi Joe, yes warm soapy water is fine. Deepening on the type of wood that has been used you may need to re coat the spoon after a few washes.
Hello Mark, in the video you mentioned some woods being toxic, is there any particular wood we should avoid when carving spoons and the like?
Hi Sam, many thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 👍. I tend to use the more common types of wood for carving spoons. Woods such as birch, sycamore, lime (basswood) and fruit tree woods such as apple and plum. They are all reported to be a safe wood to use, plus they aren't too difficult to work with. I tend to avoid trees such as Yew which is toxic, plus a lot of pines etc due to the resin. There are some good websites which go into detail about the uses of different woods. But dependent of where you are in the world you may have your own tress that would be suitable or not. Thanks again Sam, have a great day, all the best, Mark 😀🔥🌲.
Hey, I would like to ask, how do you put on the walnut oil? Just like the beeswax?
Hi Stermensky Simon, many thanks for watching. I usually either buy a tin of walnut oil and beeswax mixed that I simply rub onto the spoon and work into the grain, or my friend uses walnut oil and soaks his spoons in that in a plastic box. I found it left the spoons tasting too strong of the oil, but each to their own. If you are using just the walnut oil, I would rub it on with a clean cloth and perhaps do a few coats. Another easy way is to mix beeswax and coconut oil by slightly warming them and melting them into a liquid and pour into a tin. Once hard, I put some on my fingers and work it into the carving. I hope this helps, all the best, Mark :)
@@markbailey2981 Thanks a lot for all the advice :). Very nice video. Keep it up :). Have an amazing day :).
@@stermenskysimon4559 You Too my friend.... take care 👍👍.
Do you have to season the wood?
Hi Sarah, many thanks for watching. I tend to use the wood when it is green as it is softer for carving. Then before oiling and using the spoon I let the wood dry out. Have a great week, all the best, Mark 👍😀🌲🌲.
👍👍
Hi Ozark Mountain Man, many thanks for watching :) Have a great day my friend, all the best, Mark. :)
I have a beeswax/tallow mix I made. Would this also work?
Hi Rich, I hope you have had a nice weekend :) I have never tried tallow on spoons before. As long as it doesn't go off I'm sure it would work fine. It is certainly food safe. You will have to give it a try. Just don't give it to a vegetarian lol. On the subject of beeswax, I have recently made a few small batches of beeswax and coconut oil conditioner which seems to work quite well on wood. I've tried it on knife handles and it soaks in cleanly, plus it is food safe so I may give it a try on a few spoons. It is also great for leather sheaths and steel, and with the coconut oil being medicinal it can also be used as an antibacterial cream for the skin. Take care Rich, all the best, Mark :)
@@markbailey2981 Another good idea. Have a great week Mark!
Thanks Rich, you have a great week too my friend :)
What kind of wood do you like?
I like to use a variety of woods, but my main one is sycamore as it grows in abundance.
Is that green or dry wood?
Hi John, it is green wood :) I find it easier to carve than using hard seasoned wood. Especially hard woods :) Have a great day, all the best, Mark :)
It seems I was using a far, far too thick a piece of wood
What kind of wood?
I tend to use sycamore or birch for spoons. Lime is also good as it quite soft to carve when green and the woods are non toxic.
What woods are toxic
Hi Phil, I hope you are keeping well mate 👍. Probably the most toxic tree in the UK would be the Yew tree. If you stick to woods such as fruit tree wood e.g. apple and plum etc. they are a nice safe wood to use. I also like sycamore, lime and birch for carving spoons and spatula's. Again it is safe, plus it is nice wood to carve and work with. Some people can have allergic reaction to some woods. My mate can't use certain woods as he is allergic to the dust, so it pays to try a few different sorts. The same thing can apply to the oil that is used afterwards. Most people like to use a food grade mineral oil which is safe for most people. This is a good option for people with a nut allergy, as I use walnut oil which some people don't like. Thanks for watching Phil.... take care mate, all the best, Mark 👍😀.
Mark Bailey hi Mark many thanks, it’s a great video keep them coming. Really really good, your very skilled
@@phillewis631 Thanks for your kind words Phil. It is very much appreciated 👍.
Helo
is that dry wood or green wood?
Hi Giovanni, the wood is green wood. May thanks for watching 😀👍.