Shaping The Back Of The Bowl

Begin with the outside corners on the back of the bowl. Use the side of the spokeshave with the deep set to create a straight chamfer until you achieve a relatively fine edge on the outside. You can then start moving towards the back to create a semi oval along the length. Next, move on to shape the end of the spoon, always taking off the corner first at 45° and then working to either side. This can be tricky as the end grain offers more resistance, so be sure to maintain a firm grip on the spokeshave and take full strokes up to the very top.

When shaping below the bowl towards the handle, you will find the spokeshave won’t allow you to get into the tight curve because of the flat sole. Here, a round rasp works well for taking off the hard corners and creating a continuous surface. You can then use a round file to remove the coarse marks left with the rasp.

Continue to work on the back until you’re happy with the overall shape.