September Newsletter
The sweetness of scrap wood
This is the view of the floor underneath my bandsaw. I regard each of these pieces as too pretty a wood to throw away. If I’m being honest with myself, a lot of these are too small, or too cracked to feasibly do anything with.
Some of these pieces, however, are just the right size to make something with - maybe a little spinning top, or a keychain, or an ornament. The floor might not seem like the best place to store these, but it keeps them top of mind when I need a small piece for a quick project.
I do have other boxes full of easier-to-use blocks of scrap wood, and it was from this whole collection that I spent last month making many of the honey dippers that I sold at the Honey Harvest Festival held at the Bartlett Arboretum. Similar to the spinning tops that I wrote about last month, honey dippers are another simple project that can be made in a variety of designs.
The process of making them begins with selecting a piece of wood. For this one, I used leftover walnut from a spindle project.
I start by mounting the block at its center points. Then, I make it round and define the transition points. I cut the groves then thin out the handle. Doing it in this order maximizes the stability of the wood while I’m cutting it.
The final steps are sanding and cutting the ends down to take it off the lathe. In order to get the oil wax finish deep into the grooves, I have to dunk it. It only needs a day to cure and it’s ready for use!
The small-sized dippers are for sample jars and are fun to make.
If you missed me at Honey Fest and would like your own dipper, reach out and I’ll make one for you in whatever size you need.
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