Jon Mac.Spoon Carving First Steps: 31/01/2010

Friday 5 February 2010

Razor Strop

Next time you are out and about in the middle of a stand of Betula cast about for a bracket fungi that looks like this.

razor strop sharpening

Piptopourus Betulinus

It's called Piptopourus Betulinus or Razor Strop.A very useful thing indeed.Take it home and carefully remove the pours underneath the fungi with a sharp edge tool,remove the uppermost layer,and you will end up with something akin to this.

Devon spoon maker

Devon knife sharpening

Dry the fungi slowly and carefully,plenty of air,and when you are happy.........STROP! It's an extremely light and hard wearing material,I have used this one for many years.

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Jon Mac.

Folk Artist.

Photographer.

Jon has worked with his hands all his life. He has learnt many traditional working skills, from construction to carving beautiful wooden spoons and drinking vessels. He has spent much time on Dartmoor teaching outdoor pursuits, such as Ten Tors team training and working with private companies providing team building/survival resources. He is a retired member of Mountain Rescue and spent seven years on the active call out list with his local team.

( D.R.G.Ashburton).

He has spent many years exploring the Devon countryside perusing his other interest in photography, industrial archaeology and local history. He recently used his local knowledge and field craft skills to great advantage when acting as field assistant to researchers investigating bat habitats and behaviour here on Dartmoor.

Jon runs tailor made courses both here in Devon and occasionally in Scotland, for anyone interested in spoon carving and woodcraft skills. Using traditional hand tools, Axe, hook knife and knife, he teaches the techniques for the fast and safe removal of waste wood, shaping and designing. He also teaches how to attain a super sharp cutting edge with the use of Japanese water stones.These skills are key to making anything you wish out of wood.

He is also a knife designer and has had his designs fabricated by top blade smiths.

Jon believes passionately that the skills of both using and maintaining knife and axe blades are ones which need to be shared, in order that we do not loose these important techniques. Jon particularly enjoys sharing these skills with those who have little or no experience of using edge tools.

Friday 5 February 2010

Razor Strop

Carving a Dragon Kuksa.