Wood Blanks

Wood Turning – How to turn a ice cream scoop ?

In simpler days,soda jerks quickly and efficiently dished perfect servings of ice cream with sturdy wooden-handled scoops.Today,if you have a little turning skill,a smallblock of wood,and the metal parts you can create a classic icecream scoop that will make you the envy of jerks everywhere.

How to

Select a block of dried hardwood about 1-3/4″square and 6″ in length.The handle must be strong enough,so stay with domestic hardwoods,such as cherry,hard maple,walnut oryellow birch.Exotic woods such aspurpleheart,black palm(used here),bubinga,rosewood and goncaloalves are also good choices.

Drill a 3/8″dia.by 1-1/4″deep hole for the scoop’s stem.If the endof the blank is properly squared,this operation is easily performed on adrill press.Another optionis to mount the blank on the latheand turn it to a cylinder,using a spin-dle roughing gouge.Then replacethe tailstock center with a drill chuck to drill the hole.

Mount the drilled blank on thelathe with the drilled hole facing thetailstock.If you have a cone-type livecenter,simply run the cone into the drilled hole.Another optionis to turn a tapered wooden plug that fills the hole and provides a sur-face to engage the tail stock center.The plug should protrude about 1/2″,so you can remove it when you’ve finished turning the handle.

If the blank you’ve mounted is stillsquare,turn it to a cylinder,using aspindle roughing gouge.

Fit the brass ferrule to the blank.The ferrule is 1″long,so mark thatlength on the blank with a pencil.Turning the correct diameter is a bittrickier.Start by turning the tenon tomatch the outside diameter of theferrule.Before you use theoutside calipers for any lathe work,besure to round the ends.

Next,create a short taper on theend of the tenon.Keep checking with the ferrule until it just starts togo on.Turn the ferrule a few times around the tenon to create a bur-nished surface.Then,when you start the lathe you should be able to”see” the diameter you are targeting.I try to achieve a very tight driven-on fit.If the tenon is longer thanthe ferrule,you may need another ferrule to drive the first one home.Another option is to turn the tenonto a slightly loose fit and glue onthe ferrule with epoxy.If you use epoxy,wait for several hours before completing the turning.

Shape the handle with a spindle detail gouge.This is an organic process:Remove thehandle frequently,to see how it feels in your hands-the perfect shape is the one that feels right.Most of myhandles end up about 5-1/2″long,with maximum diameters near 1-5/8″.Switch to the skew chisel to finish shaping the rounded areas.

If the ferrule’s tenon protrudes,use either a skew chisel(long pointdown) or a thin-kerf parting tool to turn the end flush with the brass.

When you’re satisfied with thehandle’s feel and appearance,sandit-and the ferrule,too-to at least 220 grit.

Cut the handle from the waste.I usually remove the blank from the lathe and separate the handle bysawing with a coping or Japanese saw.Then I finish sanding the end ofthe handle by hand.

Apply the finish.For the best protection against water and washing,use a film-forming finish such as a gel varnish or polyurethane.Wipe on at least three coats,lightlysanding between coats with 320 or 400 grit sandpaper,0000 steel wool,or a very fine abrasive pad,such as white Scotch Brite.For a more natural look,use pure tung oil or even boiled linseed oil as the finish.Again,apply at least three coats and wait until the finish is completely dry before using the scoop.

Glue the metal scoop into the handle with epoxy.Use a rag dampened with lacquer thinner oracetone to remove any epoxy that squeezes out.Prop the scoop uprightfor about one hour for the glue to set,and allow at least one day before use.

About the Author

woodchuck is an up and coming expert on crafts and hobbies. Do you want complete woodworking for home resource? You can download fine woodworking plans and designs on 12000 shed plans,or you can learn woodworking by going to Woodworking Plans TV site.

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