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I have been trying my hand at carving a simple spoon from a piece of Myall: Acacia pendula.

That upright section of Myall in the photos weighs half a ton, was extraordinarily difficult to cut with a handsaw -and should respond sweetly to the carving chisels (as long as they are sharp).

I have been asked a number of times why I carve spoons. My answer, in brief, is that I enjoy carving spoons.

It is a fine discipline; a useful way to sharpen skills.

And they remind me of boats….

Here are more planes (and one spoke shave) from Dad’s collection.

For those of you especially interested in plane Lore: Stanley Bailey 4 1/2 UK; Stanley Rebate 78 UK; Falcon UK; Footprint Australia….and various others.

An embarrassment of riches, so it seems – but their master kept all of them  in working order, and happily employed.

Looks like something is happening at last.

The woods are: River Redgum, Pink Gum and Myall.

 

This beautiful scrap of driftwood – tossed up in the latest storm – does not need additional work….

 

Roland, Angela, Andrew Pietro, Massimo and Rinaldo called in to inspect the Boatshed -and in particular, to try out the cypress floor (which passed the test).

Looks to me like a new Wells generation of shipwrights and seafarers is taking shape….

 

 

 

 

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.

Henry David Thoreau

These  planes are from Dad’s collection of woodworking tools. They have been in storage for some twenty years – but the time has come for their caretaker to polish them up, and apply as much TLC as they can absorb.

Dad restored all three to working order, and he was especially fond of the largest: ideal for straightening long edges, and smoothing wide, irregular surfaces.

After so many years of solitude, they will soon resume their familiar vocation in the company of old friends – and so will I.

The first Camellia Beatrice Emily blossom: of small size, and already vanished….but there are more to come, and I am reminded once again that ‘small is beautiful’….

Made from Ironbark and Native Cypress.

I cut the wood in the Boatshed, and then assembled it on site – which is not my usual Way. Indeed, I was astonished that it all came together without a (serious) hitch.

I think it should do the trick….