If you’re interested in woodworking, spoon carving is an excellent place to pick it up from. The concept is very basic, as you get a large spoon-shaped chunk of wood, and you whittle away at it and polish it until you get a spoon shape, size, and design that works for you.
Best Wood for Spoon Carving: Six Reviews
Spoon carving wood is a spoon-shaped piece of wood that cuts down on your carving time by giving you a basic shape to begin with. To know more about the best wood for spoon carving, read on.
1. Cowryman Beech Spoon Blank for Whittling
The spoon is 7.04 inches in length, which makes it a decent length for carving a spoon out of.
Specifications
- Item number — 1
- Item length —7.04 inches
- Item width — 1.57 inches
- Item thickness — 0.90 inches
- Item material — Beech
- Item weight — 2.46 ounces
Pros
- Beech is a good material for woodworking, and the quality of wood will make it easier for beginner woodworkers to work on this particular spoon.
- The wooden block already comes in a spoon-shaped design, so you do not have to spend too much time trying to remove the extra materials.
- The spoon is quite thick, so it won’t be a problem if there are mistakes made at the beginning for people who are just starting out on this hobby.
Cons
- The handle part of the spoon might break if you carve into it too much.
- Beginners might have to compromise design for usability.
2. Kingcraft 2 Pack Wood Carving Spoon Blank Basswood
Another good feature of this product is that the pieces come in a pre-cut spoon-shaped design, which means that you do not have to spend the time cutting the blanks into a general shape, allowing you to cut down on the required steps.
Specifications
- Item number — 2
- Item length —10.15 inches
- Item width — 2.04 inches
- Item thickness — 1.14 inches
- Item material — Basswood
- Item weight — 7.2 ounces
Pros
- The piece is quite large and can be nicely fashioned into bigger spoons or a ladle-type instrument (according to your preferences).
- The material used is basswood, which is easy to carve because of its soft and creamy characteristics.
- The wood is more than an inch thick, giving you more room for error when you’re starting off.
Cons
- You can see the presence of several knots on the plank.
- These are neither small spoons nor full-sized ladles, and if you’re looking for something along those lines, you might be disappointed with this product.
4. Kingcraft Walnut Wood Carving Spoons
Though the handle portions could have been larger, these spoon blocks are meant for beginners and can serve you well if you’re just starting off on woodworking. You can easily whittle away the excess to make a good design.
Specifications
- Item number — 2
- Item length —10.2 inches
- Item width — 2 inches
- Item thickness — 1.2 inches
- Item material — Basswood
- Item weight — 8.8 ounces
- Item color — Walnut
Pros
- The spoon blocks come in a rich walnut color, that gives an excellent dark wood finish.
- The spoon blocks are made out of basswood, which is an excellent option for beginners, as its soft material and even texture help you cut it away with even normal carving tools.
- The spoons, if well done, can be used directly in your kitchen for regular use.
Cons
- The wood is not as thick as some people might want it, and if you want a large and thick handle, this might not be the best fit for you.
- In some cases, the basswood is known to form knots, making it more difficult to whittle a smooth surface.
5. Cowryman Beech Spoon Blank
Beech is a great material for woodworking for both beginners and experts. The spoon is on the smaller side and can be used as a day to day instrument in the form of a teaspoon.
Specifications
- Item number — 1
- Item length — 7.04 inches
- Item width — 1.57 inches
- Item thickness — 0.82 inches
- Item material — Beech
- Item weight — 2.39 ounces
Pros
- The spoon block is made of beech, which is a great option for both beginners and advanced woodworkers.
- The texture of the wood is great, and it is made out of a softwood that can easily be carved by simple instruments.
- The design of the spoon is a unique wavy one, instead of a conventional straight handle.
Cons
- If you’re new to woodworking, the wavy design of the handle on this spoon block may not be for you.
- Beech is not as soft as basswood for whittling and might require more expertise on your part.
6. Prometis 10 Pack Basswood Carving/Whittling Unfinished Blocks
If this is what you’re looking for, the 10 pack of basswood blocks from Prometis could be a great fit for you. The soft, fine, and even texture of the basswood makes it easy to work with, and the light color shows you the intricate carving patterns of the finished product. This also makes it easier to paint and color.
The box has 8 pieces in smaller sizes, and 2 in slightly bigger sizes, giving you the freedom to make your spoons exactly the way you want them.
Specifications
- Item number — 10
- Item length — 6 inches
- Item width — 1 inch and 2 inches
- Item thickness — 1 inch and 2 inches
- Item material — Basswood
- Item weight — 2.42 pounds
Pros
- The factor that sets this kit apart from the other kits is that it does not come in spoon-shaped blocks, giving expert woodworkers more freedom to shape these exactly the way they want them.
- Basswood is easy to work on and soft to whittle, giving you the ease to carve it.
- The smooth texture and creamy color of the wood make it easier to paint it and show the intricacies in the carving.
Cons
- If you’re a beginner, you might find it difficult to work on these blocks as they are cuboidal in shape.
- The blocks are only 6 inches in length, and you might not be able to make large spoons out of them that can be used regularly in the kitchen.
Buyer’s Guide
The review spoke about the specifications, pros, and cons of different products. You might also have noticed that these are all beech or basswood. These are the two best kinds of wood for woodworking. You can check out the differences between beech and basswood.
We have also put together a buyer’s guide for you based on your preferences, so you can pick out which is the best wood for spoon carving for you.
- The Expert’s Wood: If you’re an expert who knows exactly what he’s doing with this project, we suggest that you go with the Prometis 10 Piece Whittling Blocks.
- The Fancy Spoon: If you’re looking for something that’s a little fancy and can look great in your kitchen, you can check out the Cowryman Beech Spoon Blank or the Kingcraft Walnut Wood Carving Spoons.
- The Beginner’s Wood: If you’re just starting off on woodworking, you need simple projects like the Kingcraft Basswood 2 Piece Carving Spoons or the JoePaul’s Crafts Basswood Carving Spoons.
- The Kitchen Wood: If you’re looking to make a small spoon that can be both a project and an actual tool for your kitchen, you could go with the Cowryman Beech Spoon Blank Carving Wood.
Wrap Up
If this is something you’re interested in, you should definitely give spoon carving a try! For absolute beginners, here’s a beginner’s guide to spoon carving that you can give a try. And if you’re reading this review, you can skip the first two steps as well!
Spoon carving is a very popular hobby, and more and more people who are interested in woodworking are taking it up every day. The appeal of the hobby is pretty simple, as there is not a lot of work and time to be invested in it as there is in bigger projects (something like a chair or a table), the workpiece is small, and at the end of it, if you’re successful, you get a new addition to the kitchen drawer!
Choosing a woodblock for whittling a spoon out of it can be a difficult task, but we hope that this review has helped you pick out the best option for your benefit! If you’re interested in woodworking, please feel free to check out our other articles on this topic as well. Good luck with your projects!