Carving wooden spoons: how to start and what you need (basics)

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👉 The key facts from this guide

Bushcraft is crafting.

And carving is part of crafting.

Since you also cook in the wilderness, spoons are useful tools.

And what is better than self-carved spoons?

Today I will show you what you need to get started with carving and learn how to carve.

The essential tools for your first wooden spoon carving adventure

Spoon carving with just a knife is possible, but a challenge. It is easier if you use the right tools.

You only need two types of knives at the beginning:

• Carving knife
• Paring knife

You can recognize a good carving knife by its handiness. Additionally, you need a special carving knife because its tip is small and narrow.

This makes it possible to achieve great curves and notches. You won't be able to do this with a large knife.

If you want to carve spoons and bowls, you require a hook knife.

Below in the picture, you can see the carving knife and the peeling knife:

But beware: there are models of peeling knives where both sides are sharpened.

I recommend a paring knife with only one sharp side. This way, you can apply pressure with your thumb on the blunt side. This is often necessary.

The starter set from BeaverCraft is a good beginning. The price-performance ratio for both knives is great. Take a look at the reviews on Amazon – the knives speak for themselves.

If you are looking for more quality, I recommend knives from Morakniv. They are pricier, but more durable and incredibly sharp.

I have been testing the knives for a long time.

Your faithful companion in the forest: The right axe for carving

First, you need to roughly process your workpiece to create a blank.

You'd better do that with a hatchet or a compact axe (Read here what the differences are). This way, you'll quickly get rid of unnecessary wood.

Therefore, a hatchet or an axe is indispensable.

In the picture, a blank that was shaped with the axe.

It is much more exhausting if you don't have an axe and have to remove the unnecessary wood with a knife.

A compact and small axe is suitable for this.

As illustrated by the picture below, I use the Fiskars X7 axe. It is a versatile tool and can also be used for carving work.

I have described the axe in more detail in my other article "The 3 Best Survival Axes". Check it out if you are generally looking for a good axe for bushcraft and survival.

The Fiskars X7 is approximately 36 cm long. For comparison: the forearm of an adult is also about that long.

For woodworking and carving, I do not recommend a longer axe. A longer and larger axe is too heavy for continuous use.

So that I can quickly and effectively process smaller pieces of wood, I also ordered the Fiskars X5. It is only 23 cm long and good for woodworking. Additionally, it has a balanced price-performance ratio.

Beginner tip: Get yourself another pair of gloves, as they protect you when chopping with the axe. And if you are not yet practiced with the axe, chop slower and more deliberately. Also, position your legs and feet so that they are not in the flight path if you slip.

From Tree to Spoon: The Best Types of Wood for Your Carving Art

"Spoon carving which wood?" That is a common question from beginners.

At first, I didn't care what kind of wood I had. At least I could start carving.

But now I make sure that it is not, for example, beech. I still have an unfinished spoon here that is made of beech wood. The wood of the beech is damn hard and it is really exhausting.

Gentle Woods for Beginners: Your Entry Materials

Best to take:

• Linden wood
• Maple wood
• Swiss pine wood
• Chestnut wood
• Poplar wood

These types of wood are all soft and carving is easier with them. Therefore, soft woods are perfect for beginners.

You can recognize softwood by the fact that the annual rings are far apart compared to hardwood. There, the annual rings are close together.

Also read: Which wood for carving? The best types of wood and their properties

For experienced carvers: Challenging woods with character

Carving hard wood is more strenuous. It is equally recommended for advanced users with calluses on their fingers.

Suitable for:

• Larch wood
• Birch wood
• Oak wood
• Ash wood
• Elm wood
• Olive wood
• Pear wood
• Almond wood
• Beech wood

Below in the picture, you can see birch wood that I found in the forest. The chance of finding free birch wood or pine wood is quite high in our local forests.

But beware: Never cut down a tree or injure living trees. Nature lovers don't do that and it is illegal.

Young and fresh wood is better suited for carving. Therefore, make sure not to use 100-year-old wood that has been dried for 20 years for your first attempts.

If you can't find suitable wood, you can also order it.

Even better is if you know a forester or someone from a sawmill.

Then you will surely quickly get good wood and already know in advance which trees will be felled.

Your Carving Toolkit: Essential Helpers for Perfect Results

You still need the following materials:

a wooden block

This is ideal for working on the piece of wood with the axe at the beginning.

You need a surface where the axe can strike without damaging the blade.

Sandpaper

Get sandpaper from the hardware store or from Amazon, such as a hand sanding block or a sanding sponge.

You need it to smooth the wood grain of your carvings later.

Only this way will your carving piece feel soft and smooth.

Oil for Preservation

When your spoon or carving piece is finished, you need to oil it well.

This protects it from moisture.

I use olive oil from the supermarket for my spoons. The advantage is that there are no problems when I prepare food with the spoons.

For carvings that do not come into contact with food, you can use special wood oil.

Carving Wooden Spoons: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Carving a spoon is quite simple. Start as soon as you feel like it.

How does it work?

1. Wood Selection: Choose a piece of poplar, basswood, or maple. These soft woods are ideal for beginners and can be shaped like clay in skilled hands.
2. Rough Shaping: Draw the spoon on your board. Then take your axe and remove all excess wood. Remember: safety first - your feet are not wooden blocks!
3. Handle Shaping: Use the carving knife to shape the handle. The goal is to make it as smooth as if it had been polished by a beaver.
4. Spoon Head Contouring: Mark the shape of the spoon head. It should be large enough to hold a decent portion of forest mushroom soup, but not so large that you could scoop out a pond with it.
5. Hollowing the Spoon Bowl: Now it's time to use the hook knife. Hollow out the bowl carefully, as if you were creating a miniature landscape.
6. Finishing Touches: Smooth all surfaces carefully with the carving knife. The transition from the handle to the bowl can be smooth or angular.
7. Sanding Process: Work your way through the sandpaper from coarse to fine. It's like a massage for your spoon - it will thank you with a shine.
8. Oil Treatment: Soak your spoon in oil. It protects the wood and makes it glow like an autumn forest in the evening sun.
9. Drying and Admiration: Give your masterpiece a night's rest. The next morning, you will not only hold a spoon in your hand but a piece of forest magic.

Furthermore, many great people on YouTube show the process, so it's best to watch the video below.

The man in the video carves a spoon out of wood without many words. Perfect for studying the techniques closely.

Don't expect your first spoon to look exactly like in the video. That's normal. :-)

Your handle can also be round. Or your spoon bowl might be smaller.

It's important that you start!

I started carving because I really wanted to. At the very beginning, even without a carving knife and without a peeling knife. Simple kitchen knives had to suffice.

But don't do that, it's really exhausting, and the knives are not suitable for carving.

Here you can see current results with carving knives:

Spoon Shapes and Their Uses - Find Your Perfect Forest Companion

Carving wooden spoons is a popular option because they are very practical in the outdoor kitchen.

Every shape has its charm and utility in the forest. Experiment with different designs and find out which one best suits your outdoor cooking style.

Remember: Every hand-carved spoon tells its story.

• The classic tablespoon: Your all-rounder for every meal. With a round, oval, and flat bowl and a straight handle.
• The serving spoon: Larger than the tablespoon with a deeper bowl. Perfect for serving stews or rice.
• The ladle: With a deep round and deep bowl and a long handle. Ideal for soups and stirring in the kettle over the campfire.
• The salt and pepper spoon: Small and delicate. Well-suited for the home kitchen if you have salt and pepper shakers.
• The salad spoon: Wide and flat with slightly raised edges. Perfect for mixing salads.
• The stirring spoon: With a long handle and flat bowl. Making your own cooking spoon is a great way to expand your outdoor cooking gear.
• The butter spoon: Small with a pointed bowl. Ideal for scooping butter or other soft foods from containers.

Common Mistakes in Spoon Carving and How to Avoid Them

Carving for beginners can be challenging, but with the right guidance and some practice, you will quickly make progress.

Since I have been carving spoons for a long time, either alone or in groups, I have identified mistakes that happened to me at the beginning or that I also see in beginners:

1. Working too quickly: Take your time! Fast carving often leads to injuries and messy results. Work slowly and with focus.
2. Dull tools: Sharp knives are safer and more effective. Sharpen your tools regularly and before each project. Read here: Why is a sharp knife safer than a dull knife?
3. Wrong wood selection: Avoid wood that is too hard or brittle at the beginning. Stick to soft woods until you have more experience.
4. Uneven thickness: Pay special attention to an even thickness, especially in the spoon bowl. Thin spots can break later.
5. Incorrect grain direction: Always carve with or across the grain, never against it. This prevents splintering and cracks.
6. Neglecting safety: Wear gloves and cut away from your body. Your fingers will thank you!
7. Excessive sanding: Too much sanding can destroy the natural wood structure. Find the right balance between smooth and characterful.

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So? Have you now gotten the urge to start carving?

What will you tackle first? A spoon? A figure? A bowl?

Write it to other readers in the comments and let's share experiences!

And if you prefer a detailed video tutorial with all my tricks, then check out the Wildimpuls distance learning course – there I show you these skills step by step.