Hand-carved Bowl
Course Overview
Experience the satisfaction of carving a wooden bowl entirely by hand.
This workshop gives you the core skills and confidence to shape a useful, beautiful object from raw timber.
Learn the timeless art of carving your own wooden bowl by hand.
What you’ll learn
-
How to select and prepare a suitable timber blank
-
Safe and effective use of carving tools, including gouges and knives
-
Techniques for shaping the interior and exterior of a bowl
-
Controlling grain and avoiding tear out
-
Sanding, smoothing, and preparing your bowl for finishing
-
Options for food safe finishes and long term care
What you’ll make
-
A rough carved wooden bowl on the day
-
Students will finish the bowl at home, applying final sanding and finishing
-
Each bowl is unique, with plenty of room for personal design and shaping
Course Materials and Tools
Students will need to bring a basic set of carving tools. Below are the essential tools you will need, along with a range of options to suit different budgets. If you already have suitable tools, you are welcome to bring those along.
Essential Tools:
• A small whittling knife – for shaping the outside of your piece.
• A hook knife – for carving and hollowing the bowl or spoon.
• A way to keep your tools sharp – a strop or sharpening stones.
Recommended Tool Sets and Options:
Budget Friendly
• eBay – Basic carving tool set (starter option): https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/284082601196
• eBay – Carving knife set (starter): https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/317200933727
Mid Range Options
• Spoon Carving Set by Narex: https://beyondtools.com/products/spoon-carving-set-start-869800-by-narex
• Morakniv 120 & 164 Spoon Carving Starter Set: https://natord.com.au/product/spoon-carving-starter-set-morakniv-120-164/
Higher Quality / Comprehensive Sets
• Japanese Tools Spoon Carvers 6pc Essential Toolkit: https://www.japanesetools.com.au/products/spoon-carvers-6pc-essential-toolkit
• Wood Tamer Hook Knife: https://www.woodtamer.com.au/products/wood-tamer-hook-knife
Please bring your tools along to class. If you’re unsure which set is best for you, feel free to get in touch and David will be happy to help you decide.
Clothing and safety
-
No loose or long sleeves
-
Sturdy closed toe shoes
-
Long hair tied back
-
Careful attention around sharp hand tools
On the day
David will guide you through each stage of carving, from rough shaping to refining curves and edges.
You’ll learn hand tool techniques, how to read the timber, and how to shape a bowl safely and confidently.
There will also be a demonstration and discussion on drying, finishing, and caring for your bowl at home.
Who this workshop is for
-
Complete beginners and hobbyists with some tool experience
-
People who enjoy hands on, creative woodworking
-
Anyone interested in functional, beautiful wooden objects
Take home
-
Your own hand carved bowl, rough carved and ready to finish
-
Knowledge of carving techniques, tool use, and finishing options
-
Confidence to carve additional bowls and other items at home
Share this link via
David Searson
David lives in St Leonards, is an active member of the Woodworkers Association of NSW, and has a small work space in Artarmon.
Living in a Sydney apartment himself, David will be focused on teaching people how to use basic tools, understand timber that's readily available locally, and how to cut, carve, sand, polish, and use tradtional finishes to create beautiful and lasting peices that you'll be proud to show to friends and family.
David makes pieces of all sorts - his food-related items like cutting boards, spatulas, baker's tools etc are on sale at the Northside Produce Markets. Over many decades, he has also made things like a spinning wheel, several tables, various boxes, kitchen cupboards, book-binders tools, carved spoons, a Norwegian Fiddle, and he does the occasional restoration of antiques.
About David Searson
You may also be interested in
Keepsake Box (Workshop)
Woodwork for Beginners - Hand Tool Basics - Make a Kitchen Spatula
