Hand Sharpening for Spoon Carvers – Mike Craig

Date: Saturday, 11 November 2024 (1 day)

Price: £75

Maximum number of places: 6

Booking: Contact mcwoodcraftsuk@gmail.com Instagram @mc_woodcrafts

Course Details

This focused course will cover hand sharpening the main tools in the spoon carver’s toolbox. The axe, the sloyd knife and the hook knife, all of which present their own challenges.

We will discuss bevel angles and what actually constitutes a sharp edge, but the main body of the course will consist of practical demonstrations and assisting participants to sharpen their own spoon carving tools.

Sharpening materials will be provided but participants are encouraged to bring their own sharpening kits so that they can learn to use them effectively. Participants are encouraged to bring their spoon carving tools.

Catering:

For all courses, a hearty, healthy lunch is provided (please let your tutor know of any dietary requirements when booking), along with tea, coffee and water. Breakfast and evening meal is self-catered, with firewood and charcoal-based cooking available.

We also provide firewood, brew-kit, washing up and cooking facilities, crockery and cutlery. 

Guests should bring; barbecue food or pans for cooking on a fire for breakfast and evening meals.

Facilities:

Facilities include covered workshop spaces, an undercover outdoor cooking set-up, comfortable compost toilet, plenty of loo roll, and handwashing.  A good stone track leads to the parking area within the wood, this is suitable for cars, please keep speed under 10mph.

Tutor Bio

Mike Craig is a green wood carver and course tutor based in West Yorkshire. In his previous life Mike spent 15 years as a lecturer in Countryside Management and Wildlife Conservation with a special interest in woodlands.

Mike started his green wood carving journey in 2009 and now runs spoon carving and green woodwork courses to help other folk start theirs. Mike has been a green woodworker in residence for The National Trust and now runs courses at The Chevin Forest Park in Otley. He is a regular workshop leader at festivals and has taught spoon carving workshops including The Great Scottish Spoon Hoolie where he is known as ‘The Spoon Doctor’.