Hello from Minnesota

askrahn

askrahn

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Location
Minnestoa, US
First name
Andrew
I just found this place looking for some wood that's way too specific for my skill-level, so I thought I'd say hi!

I'm definitely a newbie, relatively fresh out of college for Graphic Design. I have yet to find a method of "making stuff" I didn't like, and tried my hand at whittling and making pens on a lathe. I'm not sure why I dropped whittling, but I figured out that I did not have enough cash to keep doing lathe work in middle school, and by the time I did, I was more focused on my academics.

I tend to read more than do, and I'm trying to change that.

Right now I'm trying to get into making spoons for fun, and picked up a Morakniv 120 and 164 for starters.
Up first: trying to figure out how to reprofile and sharpen the Mora 164, which apparently can't cut butter with the factory grind.

I found y'all because I tend to research the heck out of any word/thing I don't know, saw a Finnish Kuksa, read up on it, and immediately started looking for birch burl I could buy.

Question (hope this is okay...)

Does anyone have any advice on finding wood that's already cut spoon-sized, or getting it down to size in a confined area? There are some lovely blocks and burls out there, but I have no way of getting them to a workable size. Is it acceptable to ask a seller if they could reduce something to a more manageable size for a fee, or is that rude?
 
Howdy Andrew, welcome to the club!
 
Andrew, Welcome from South Texas! Please ask questions, the only stupid one is the one not asked. On here at least, asking for a specific size is perfectly acceptable. You should be able to find what you need. Tony
 
WELCOME! From Michigan. :welcome2: Asking questions or asking for specific sizes is all part of wood barter.
 
Welcome Andrew, what part of Minnesota? I'm southeast of Rochester, have lots of burl, own a sawmill, and can cut blanks to any size you want and I'm always up for visitors to the shop.... Feel free to ask questions, I've found it's the best way to learn something :sarcastic:
 
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Schroedc said:
Welcome Andrew, what part of Minnesota? I'm southeast of Rochester, have lots of burl, own a sawmill, and can cut blanks to any size you want and I'm always up for visitors to the shop.... Feel free to ask questions, I've found it's the best way to learn something :sarcastic:
Click to expand...

I'm in the Minneapolis area, and that sounds amazing!

It may be a bit before I have the skill to use the wood. I tend to get way ahead of myself and plan out elaborate projects while I'm still learning fundamentals. I have yet to make a single spoon due to a dangerously dull hook knife, but I'm already planning how to get multiple ladles out of a single block. :blush:
Is that burl going anywhere? What kind is it?

If I may ask, how much would you estimate a few 5x5x8" chunks would run me?
I'm looking to do this

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@thread
Where on here should I ask about knife care? Is this mostly a lathe/large project forum, or are there an whittlers I can talk to?
 
askrahn said:
I'm in the Minneapolis area, and that sounds amazing!

It may be a bit before I have the skill to use the wood. I tend to get way ahead of myself and plan out elaborate projects while I'm still learning fundamentals. I have yet to make a single spoon due to a dangerously dull hook knife, but I'm already planning how to get multiple ladles out of a single block. :blush:
Is that burl going anywhere? What kind is it?

If I may ask, how much would you estimate a few 5x5x8" chunks would run me?
I'm looking to do this

------------------------------
@thread
Where on here should I ask about knife care? Is this mostly a lathe/large project forum, or are there an whittlers I can talk to?
Click to expand...

I would post that in the General Woodworking thread. We have some spoon makers here, but not a dedicated section for it. Tony
 
Welcome from California! The site has the full range of talent from beginners to advanced professionals. Jump right in with any questions, and I'm confident we can meet your wood needs. Chuck
 
:welcome2:Post on (want to buy wood) thread and i'm sure you will get some replies. List size and kind of wood you want the blanks made from.
 
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