Wooden cutlery is chic and cozy, classic and stylish. Self-made wooden spoons reflect the uniqueness of the Russian people, culture and their centuries-old traditions. They create a wonderful atmosphere and fill the kitchen with coziness, because wood is always associated with home, warmth and hospitality.
Making spoons at home is simple and fun.
Features of wooden cutlery and their purpose
Wooden cutlery has been used in the kitchen since time immemorial. They are convenient for stirring food during cooking or distributing it into portions during a meal. The main advantages can be listed:
- harmful microorganisms cannot multiply in the wood, which ensures the antibacterial effect of the devices;
- wood is an environmentally friendly material;
- safe and convenient feeding of babies;
- special strength of the material. Wooden utensils do not deform or split;
- little weight;
- comfort of use - do not slip in the hand;
- low thermal conductivity;
- approved for use in contact with non-stick coating;
- universality of appearance and wide color palette of models.
For a long period of time, wooden utensils were rarely used in the kitchen, but now eco-friendly utensils have again come into use. They are often used to pour soups into bowls, and spatulas are indispensable when cooking in a non-stick frying pan.
Grinding the workpiece
When the workpiece has taken the desired shape, we begin the process of sanding the wood. Prepare sandpaper of different grits. First we process the coarsest, then gradually we reach the finest. At this stage, it is also important to carefully go over the entire spoon several times, because the attractiveness of the finished product will depend on this.
Varieties in shape and size
There are five main types of spoons:
- Round ones are necessary for eating and stirring dishes when cooking.
- Flat - they are used to mix vegetables that are cooked in a frying pan, and also scrape off the remaining product from the bottom and walls of the dish.
- Standard shapes with a long narrow cut are designed for pulling out large pieces of food from a broth or for removing bay leaves from a dish being prepared.
- Round with an elongated handle, they are convenient for serving.
- A slotted spoon is needed to stir the sauce or to easily remove the product from the broth.
In addition to the main types, there are additional ones:
- for honey;
- for spices;
- souvenirs
The size range of wooden spoons is wide:
- large (18 ml) - for eating first liquid courses, as well as porridge from a deep plate;
- tea (5 ml) – for stirring sugar or honey in a drink;
- dessert (10 ml) – for eating dessert.
Decorative carved spoons.
Making a blank
Make sure that the block of wood you take for manufacturing is well dried. The shape of the bar should look like half a log. Place the finished product on top and trace the outline on the wood with a pencil. We cut it out, then apply the same spoon from the end and cut it out again. We have a blank for the future spoon.
Making a wooden spoon
Making eco-friendly dishes with your own hands is a fascinating process. The work will require time and great concentration, but the result will win the heart of not only the master, but also those close to him.
Set of tools and required materials
To create a wooden spoon with your own hands, you will need the following tools:
- Bogorodsky knife with double-sided sharpening.
- Miter saw.
- A chisel with a sharp bend is a spoon cutter.
- Straight chisel.
- Clamp.
- File.
- Sandpaper of various grits.
- Stichel.
- Bar.
- Marker or pencil.
- Linseed oil.
When deciding on a bar, you need to pay attention to the thickness of the fiber. It is optimal to make a wooden blank from a block with narrow fiber: it does not crumble during processing.
We'll talk more about the choice of material later in the article.
Wood species used for manufacturing
To make spoons, it is most appropriate to use the following types of wood:
- Linden. The wood is softer and lighter, with a uniform density. It planes well in any direction. The material is perfect for a beginner to practice basic carving skills.
- Cherry, walnut and maple. Products made from the above materials are strong and durable.
- Juniper. Spoons made from it have antiseptic properties, which prevents the appearance of mold and bacteria.
Conifers, as well as exotic tropical woods, are not chosen for the manufacture of kitchen appliances. They can be toxic and have a characteristic odor.
Selecting the material is the first step.
Stages of work
How to cut a spoon:
- Sketch. On a block, draw a rough drawing of the product, according to which you can cut out the shape of the spoon using a miter saw.
- Using a chisel with a round bend, remove all excess sections of wood and give a rounded shape to the outer part of the workpiece.
- Using a file, cut off a thin layer of wood and form the optimal angle between the blade and the handle.
- Grind the handle; if desired, you can make it carved.
- Proceed to work on deepening the scoop.
- After obtaining the required shape and thickness of the spoon, clean the wood.
At the end of the work, the finished product is soaked in warm vegetable oil.
Protective composition
In order for a wooden spoon to last a long life, it must be treated. The main condition is that the oil must be edible and natural. This product will not harm the body and will preserve the product. The most common and easily accessible oil for processing is sunflower. Professionals prefer bleached linseed oil. To give the product a tint, it is recommended to use sea buckthorn or pumpkin oil.
There are two methods of impregnation:
- using only oil;
- with the addition of beeswax.
First option:
- The product is soaked in a container with oil.
- Heat in a water bath to a temperature of 80 degrees. An accurate sign of the end of oiling is the cessation of the appearance of air bubbles from the product.
- After the oil has cooled, remove the spoon and wrap it in paper napkins.
- As soon as the excess oil has drained, the device is dried in the sun for at least three days.
In the second processing method, wax is added to the oil. Depending on the material used to make kitchen utensils, soft or hard mastic is prepared.
Covering a wooden spoon.
Painting process
Before making a wooden spoon beautiful, starting the creative process, it is necessary
- Check the quality of polishing of the product and correct any roughness, if any.
- Then wipe with a damp cloth.
- Dry for at least 30 minutes.
Having prepared the blank, you can begin the painting itself:
- Cover the spoon with soil and dry thoroughly.
- Sand with fine-grained sandpaper and remove any dust that appears.
- Draw a sketch of the future painting with a simple pencil.
- Paint the product with paints and dry it.
Upon completion of painting, the device must be varnished. To do this, you can dip it directly into a container of varnish or apply it using a wide soft brush. After the first varnish treatment, the product is dried for at least an hour. And repeat the procedure 3-4 times. Then the item is dried for a week.
Painting a wooden spoon.
Preparation
Material
The very first mistake I made when making my first spoon was the wrong choice of wood. I took a piece of pine board of unknown age and began to cut from it. Pine is a soft tree, I thought, so it should be fine. But in reality it turned out to be not normal, but damn difficult, and I never finished the first spoon. In general, no dried wood, boards from the store, etc.
To make a spoon, we need fresh (not dried) wood, preferably a soft one. There is a lot of information about tree species, so you can familiarize yourself and choose the softwood that is most available in your region. Oak makes very strong and beautiful spoons, but first, take something softer. I really like spruce or pine, their smell and pleasant feeling when cutting.
The important point is the search for the tree itself. I urge you not to cut down the first living tree you see, but to take the time to try to find a tree that has recently been felled, has been cut down by others, and has been abandoned or dying. It’s quite sad to see when good trees are thoughtlessly cut down to make natural and eco-friendly crafts. For me, searching for material is also a bit of a process and can take several hours, or maybe days. In general, take care of nature and use its resources wisely.
Tool
Saw
Absolutely any hacksaw is suitable for making a spoon at home. But when searching for material or cutting out spoons on the go, it is best to have a compact folding hacksaw. An excellent choice for a reasonable price is the Bahco Laplander saw, which I can safely recommend for purchase.
Axe
Above I indicated that the ax is optional. This is because when making a small wooden spoon, you can get by with a saw and a knife. The ax becomes relevant when it is necessary to make a large spoon or mug (kuksu) and greatly saves time during the initial (rough) processing of the workpiece. I use a Fiskars X-7 axe.
Knife
Perhaps most of the work when carving a wooden spoon is done with a knife. The knife should have a fixed blade, short length and moderate width. Knives made of carbon steel have excellent cutting qualities. Don't think that a good knife will be expensive. For 400-500 rubles you can buy an excellent carbon Morakniv Basic knife, which is best suited for woodworking.
spoon cutter
Although a spoon cutter requires a slightly smaller amount of work than a knife, it will be very difficult to cut out a spoon without it. You can do without it and use only a knife. But in this case, it is unlikely that you will be able to make a rounded spoon, and the process itself will not be easy. Once, for the sake of experiment, I tried to make a spoon without a spoon cutter and it turned out to be a rather convenient spoon for coffee or spices. But to make a real spoon, so that you can also enjoy the process, you must have a spoon cutter.
I wasn't sure if I would enjoy carving spoons and I doubted whether I would give up on it after my first attempts. Therefore, I decided to save money and purchased an inexpensive Tatyanka spoon cutter. My first mistake was the wrong choice of material, but the second was buying this spoon cutter. At the very least, I made them a few spoons. It dulled very quickly, sharpened poorly, and was small in size. In general, I suffered a fair amount and in the end it broke and could not stand it. To replace it, a Morakniv 164 spoon cutter was purchased. And then I realized that this was happiness. After Tatyanka, I had the feeling that Mora cut wood like butter, which was an incredible pleasure when making the first spoons with Mora's help. I highly recommend purchasing a Morakniv 164 spoon cutter even if you are just starting out, since a bad spoon cutter can simply discourage you from doing anything further. You can also look at the Morakniv 162, which features a double-edged blade, which is sometimes very convenient.
Manufacturing on a lathe
Making spoons on a lathe is not considered classic, but is still very popular. How to cut a wooden spoon on a lathe:
- Prepare a block of wood and install it in the machine.
- Grind the block and begin shaping the shape of the product.
- Having formed a spoon, sand it and cut it off.
- Use a chisel to chop off the excess and grind off the surface.
- Form a loaf and sand the inner surface.
The spoon is ready for final sanding.
Mass production
These days, wooden utensils are experiencing a new peak in popularity. People's eyes are drawn to these kitchen elements due to their natural origin. Individual enthusiasts or entire communities even form eco-villages; in addition, people are trying to exchange plastic cutlery for wooden spoons and plates. Therefore, entire sets turned on machines have become very popular.
To make large quantities of tableware, turning equipment, chisels, cutters, spoon knives, steel-bristled brushes, and much more are used. All this is reminiscent of tools for home work, only the equipment for working in a factory is more professional. If the production of wooden spoons went without flaws, then the product will be very convenient to use.
Decorative composition of spoons
Creating decorative compositions for the interior is a magical activity, because it can be done from simple objects, for example, wooden food spoons.
- By selecting a large number of wooden spoons of different sizes, but approximately the same shape, you can put them in a metal or glass jar, you will get a kind of “bouquet”.
- Creative panels are created from wooden kitchen utensils of different shapes and sizes. Spoons and spatulas that have gone out of use are suitable for this. Such a panel will be both an original decor and a functional stand-holder for wooden products.
- A non-standard approach to using spoons is to make a lampshade for a chandelier from them. Such an interior item will definitely not go unnoticed.
Khokhloma spoons.
Advantages and disadvantages
Spoons made of wood are harmoniously combined with glassware and various porcelain items. They fill the warm atmosphere of the home with national identity. An increase in demand for such products is observed in connection with the general trend towards a healthy lifestyle. Interest in cutlery made from natural materials is based on the valuable natural qualities of wood:
- antibacterial properties - proper treatment of spoons prevents the proliferation of pathogenic organisms;
- the special aroma of wood - a subtle aroma accompanies any dish and creates a unique flavor;
- environmental safety - the natural purity of the material without toxic substances or harmful impurities serves to improve the health of the body and has a beneficial effect on the youngest children;
- strength - the absence of cracks, chips, scratches on the spoons ensures a long service life;
- pleasant surface - a feeling of warmth creates comfort in using the spoon;
- light weight - a wooden spoon can be easily held by children and weakened people.
An important feature of the spoon is that the device does not slip out of wet hands. They are convenient for mixing the ingredients of various dishes, salads and even dough. An additional benefit is that the non-stick coating of a modern pot or pan cannot be damaged by a wooden spoon.
The undoubted advantage of the material is its low thermal conductivity - the product, unlike metal analogues, does not burn after touching the lips. With such devices you can safely stir hot or cooking dishes.
If we talk about shortcomings, there are several of them. High-quality wooden spoons are more expensive than utensils made from other materials. In addition, they require care and special storage conditions. There are several basic rules that you can follow to maintain the strength of your devices:
- do not use abrasives or aggressive cleaning liquids;
- Do not wash the wooden spoon in the dishwasher, only by hand;
- do not keep it in water for a long time.
After each use, spoons should be dried thoroughly. The porous structure of wood does not tolerate dampness or pungent odors. Violation of the rules of care leads to the appearance of bacteria in small cracks and loss of appearance. A spoiled product is harmful to health, so a spoon with traces of mold should be thrown away without delay.
Wooden spoons are quite durable and environmentally friendly
Wooden spatulas and spoons cannot damage the non-stick coating of cookware
Tips for use and storage
Cutlery requires special storage conditions and careful care.
- Indoor humidity above 60% is detrimental to products.
- Eco-friendly dishes cannot be washed in the dishwasher or washed with aggressive chemicals.
- After cleaning, it is necessary to dry the devices. It is necessary to prevent the appearance of mold fungi on the surface of products.
- Wooden utensils should be stored in well-ventilated areas, as the material has a porous structure and quickly absorbs odors.
In addition to the above, it should not be stored near heating devices or in direct sunlight.
Caring for wooden spoons.
Wood species used for manufacturing
Since ancient times, different types of wood have been used to create cutlery:
- linden;
- oak;
- nut;
- maple;
- juniper;
- birch;
- cherry;
- bamboo.
All species for making wooden spoons have excellent characteristics. Natural material lends itself well to technical processing, after which no “lint” or roughness remains. Before purchasing, the consumer is advised to inquire about what kind of wood the dishes are made of in order to take into account the safety margin and level of moisture resistance of the cutlery.
A special feature of products made from cherry and maple is their durability. Spoons made from linden are considered softer, but are quite common. Products made from juniper have antibacterial properties. Short-lived devices include:
- oak - cracks appear from mechanical stress;
- ash - small fibers are formed during operation.
Softwoods release resin when heated, so there will be a bitter taste when using spoons. The increased porosity of this material contributes to their instant moisture and absorption of foreign odors, as a result of which their service life expires faster than that of other wooden analogues. After some time they simply crack.
Decoration and oiling
The device looks more interesting if you cut out a simple pattern or name on its handle using a cutter with a thin blade. For those who already have experience, they can try to make something unusual from the pen itself. In order for the spoon to last a long time, it must be soaked in linseed oil. Juniper spoons retain their appearance longer than others, since the wood itself is not subject to rotting due to its strong antiseptic properties.
Even if you don’t have flax oil on hand, any other edible oil will do - olive, sea buckthorn, grape seed, almond. Heat the oil and dip a spoon into it. Readiness is checked by air bubbles on the surface. When they cease to stand out, the cutlery is removed and dried.
Spoons that serve a purely decorative or souvenir function are often painted with folk ornaments and varnished.
If you don’t have tools or little free time, then in our online store you can buy wooden spoons for food.
