Anyone made spatulas?

[John Shuk]

Has anyone made spatulas on the lathe. I turned a piece of 3/4 thick maple. I'm pleased with the handle but now I have to flatten the working end into a taper. I'm thinking I'll go to my buddy's house and use his belt sander.
How do you do it?

[Curt Fuller]

I've made quite a few. They're pretty fun to make. I cut the spatulation end with a bandsaw and then refine it on a belt sander. The ones in these pics have short handles. Longer handles keep you from burning you hands.


http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachme...9&d=1140996005

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachme...1&d=1141787442

[John Shuk]

I'm kind of afraid to use the bandsaw since it may be hard to reference a flat surface for the cutting.
Have you had that problem.
I see myself making a bunch more of these.

[Curt Fuller]

It's not bad using the bandsaw. I turn the handle first and leave the spatula with square edges. Then just stand it on edge and cut it with the saw. I just get close to the shape I want and then fine tune it with the belt sander and then an orbital sander.

[Rich Souchek]

John,
I cut a wedge shape hunk of wood to turn spatulas from so the finishing is easier. Try to get 3/4" square at one end and 1/4" thick by desired width at the other end, lenght to suit.
The square end gets the handle and the profile is turned on the blade. The to a sander, since my bandsaw is out of commision.
Rich s.

[John Shuk]

That is my mistake since I tapered the top of the spatula and wanted to have the edge rounded so I rounded the outside edges.
I'll have to do some experimenting.
I'm glad I have lots of scraps.

[Phil Powell]

Like Curt, I turn the handle, thin the blade with the band saw and finish
the shape with my belt sander. I've made lots of these and they sell well.

[John Shuk]

Those are super nice Phil. What did you use for a finish? I like walnut oil for kitchen implements.
I'll have to post a pic of mine.

[Johnathan Bussom]

Curt and others who make spatulas, I was wonder what kind of wood is recommended for these.

[Phil Powell]

I use mostly Cherry and White Ash. Then there are always a few odd ones.
Like Plum, Walnut and Pear. The finishes I use most often are Walnut oil or
mineral oil. They're easy to apply and food safe.

[Johnathan Bussom]

Thanks Phil,
I have a couple pieces of cherry that I might be willing to make a test on and see if I can do these things!

[Richard Madison]

They all seem awfully "straight" from the pictures. How would it be if you start with a fairly thick blank and offset one end to near the edge of the blank and turned the handle on the other end? Or vice-versa. After handle is turned, then do bandsawing, sanding, etc. Just a thought. Gotta try this on a 2x4 tomorrow.

[Bob Hamilton]

The ones I have done were loosely based on a picture in one of Raffan's books of what he called "wok stirrers". I mounted a piece between centers and turned a handle on each end and then cut the middle section on the band saw to form two curved blades that overlap and nest like 69. The final shaping and smoothing was done on a stationary belt sander.



I believe I have used cherry, maple and ash so far to make them.

Bob

[Curt Fuller]

The ones I have done were loosely based on a picture in one of Raffan's books of what he called "wok stirrers". I mounted a piece between centers and turned a handle on each end and then cut the middle section on the band saw to form two curved blades that overlap and nest like 69. The final shaping and smoothing was done on a stationary belt sander.



I believe I have used cherry, maple and ash so far to make them.

Bob

I remember those well! Those were the spatulas that inspired me to make some of my own. But I didn't realize you use the process to make two at once. That's a great idea and saves on wood too.

[Henry C. Gernhardt, III]

Oh, great, folks. Now you've got me considering kitchen implements as well as woodturning. Now I'm going to have to find some wood, get a bandsaw, turn the blanks, an convince Chef Ramsey that I can't do without my own custom-made implements in his kitchen.