The Humble Spatula

It begins as a split of wood from what might otherwise be a hunk of cherry firewood. But I pick through as I stack and haul out every log that has “prospects.” I saw the wood into billets, the rough size for spoons and spatulas. All the scrap is winter-time kindling. Pieces with obvious and irreparable flaws are also discarded to be used as firewood. It’s a win-win situation. Nothing is wasted,

I then store the blanks against need, and will wind up working them anytime from half a year to two years after they cure. At any time, I’ve got a minimum of fifty blanks curing.

The Process

After curing, the blank is ready to be worked through a combination of carving, band sawing, and sanding. Before the final sanding, the rough products are boiled in water to raise the grain and expose any flaws I might have missed. Then they go on to final sanding and a submersion in Mineral Oil to seal them. The oil also brings out the grain characteristics of the wood.

Looking at a collection of my spoons and spatulas, you might ask, “Can you make anything with a straight handle?” Yes, I can, but there are some reasons why I only do it rarely. The most important reason is that, depending on how you cook, you are using the tool in different ways. I want to offer you a variety of gripping and holding spots so you can find what’s right for you. Please take a look at this spatula I’m making for a friend. It’s roughed out and will soon be tempered and finished. On the three views, you can see how the wood curves and bends. Most of my clients like the multiple grips and think that the undulations add visual and tactile appeal.

The other reason? Boredom. Producing a batch of wooden spoons and spatulas can be boring. To keep it interesting, I like to mix it up and see how I can make the shapes flow. And yes, Salvador Dali is my favorite artist!