Thread: Huon spoon

Originally Posted by Cal

... Yep I think that carving a spoon on the CNC [in 3D] is a great challenge! I have done a basic double sided cut with the lids for my harmonica boxes, rebate and magnet holes on one side and engraving on the top side. Accurately measuring and drilling of the hold down holes is how I do them. There are a multitude of different ways to ensure the part is located accurately. ...

Andrew, Cal has highlighted the difficulties in 3D or two-sided work on a CNC.

I have only made some platters after a dozen or so failures. The CNC will cut to an accuracy of less than 0.1 mm, so the first sided cuts beautifully. Then you turn it over and have to align it to an accuracy of 0.1 mm or less. I usually get an offset of between 0.5 and 3.0 mm, resulting in a ridge where the two tool paths meet. As Cal says, this alignment is critical.

I managed to get the offset down to about 0.2 mm on a couple of platters, only. It isn't easy.

Cal, going well but do miss the SA life. Cutting a spoon looks straight forward as I've been experimenting with double sided cutting myself.

My biggest issue is finding time to learn to model.

@GraemeCook, I've seen it, makes sense given my machine has an accuracy to 0.1-0.2mm. 3mm sounds a bit much and never had that size offset without my making a mistake. Currently replacing the plastic sides of an old pocket knife with wood and having to get as accurate as I can to minimise sanding.

Originally Posted by BoneInspector

... @GraemeCook, I've seen it, makes sense given my machine has an accuracy to 0.1-0.2mm. 3mm sounds a bit much and never had that size offset without my making a mistake. ...

Undoubtedly true, but I am just reporting my experience. I have never claimed to be perfect! And I have not spent the time honing my technique on this process - much room for improvement.

I think there are a few threads in the CNC forum on this topic and I understand entirely about the time issue.
I too get to the point of just good enough and then commonly move to learn something else.

Nice spoons Cal but it is almost a shame to shape them with power tools as huon is such a nice wood to carve. Hope you have some left to try your knives on.

Thanks Brad, yes I agree with you about that! I still have some of the Huon I got from you, I have carved a spoon using the knives now. Bit of an art to get use to the knives. I made this one while visiting my parents and left it with them. As soon as I returned home I had another harmonica to complete and a small restoration job. My partner and daughter now have Covid, I had a test today which was negative. Here’s hoping it stays that way. Will endeavour do a bit more carving this coming week.

So I carved a few more spoons…..



From top to bottom, Blackwood, Cedar and Peach. The Blackwood I milled, the cedar was a gift (both from the Adelaide hills) and the Peach was in the backyard. The peach one is really easy to use (if you are right handed) the Blackwood has a scraper built in to it and the Cedar is a deeper dish.

And more…..

2x Blackwood, 2x Huon Pine, 1x Tasmanian Myrtle and 2x Claret Ash (the small one is for my daughter)

Cal, you really have been bitten by the spoon bug! Lovely spoons. I like the peach one, looks like it'd double up well for chasing little terrors out of the kitchen.

A vegan cutlery set (knife won’t cut meat haha! )
Sheoak

good to see your using your lockdown time wisely

Vegan knife

I like the shape - I saved it to my reference folder

Originally Posted by Tonyz

good to see your using your lockdown time wisely

Yep, I even sent 4 spoons off to Rockhampton after a woman on Facebook asked me to make some for her! Go figure!!

Originally Posted by Cal

Yep, I even sent 4 spoons off to Rockhampton after a woman on Facebook asked me to make some for her! Go figure!!

I hear there are some pesky ructions up in Rocky.

Perhaps they are to smack some sense into them