Making Different Scoops - I'm obsessed!!!

 When I get into a subject, I really get into a subject. that's why I'm such a woodworking obsessive and the same with self-sufficiency. 

I mentioned in a few posts how scoops have become a bit of an obsession. I love making them and messing about with the design to see what does and doesn't work for me. 

Above is some of the different types of scoops I've made this year. I've made more designs than this and more different sizes, but this is a good selection of them. 

This simple wooden scoop was developed form a few old scoops I saw in person and a few I'd seen on the internet. What I really like about them is I make them using up my waste wood scraps that might otherwise get wasted. I try to be as near to zero waste as I can be here and these really help use up all the little bits of waste plywood. I make these in quite large batches and have the price point set really low so they're actually a viable option compared to a plastic scoop. 

These is my medium wood and metal scoop and my favourite that I currently make to sell. It's solid, built to last and has enough weight behind it to dig into the compost or grain to get a full scop full. I've bene selling a few of these and had some great feedback. 

This is my triangular wood and metal scoop that I make. I think these are ideal for filling pots and being a little lighter are great for some where a heavier scoop might be too much. 

Milk paint scoop. I'm not 100% happy with this one as they symmetry is off slightly. It was an experiment to see how fresh lime wood behaved. I carved the rough shape out of the log "green" (unseasoned), then left it to dry before shaping it further and smoothing it over. In doing this I could see if it cracked as it dried. It dried brilliantly with no cracking and I'm fairly sure that's how they would have been made in the past, first green, then left to season for a bit before finishing. I painted the outside with three coats of different coloured milk paint in the hope as it wears off it should make it look really interesting. 

 

Turned Beech scoop. This was for a magazine article in Woodturning Magazine, a fairly simple and classic design. Ideal for scooping food items, like oats for my breakfast. I like that it can be a little more detailed and decorative. I would love to give myself the time to learn to turn these really fast, but know I won't as the money just isn't there to make them profitable. 

My carved scoop - another magazine article this time for Woodcarving Magazine. I love how this one feels and I think I've got the shape right. when researching the article I couldn't find many examples of carved scoops, maybe because it makes them difficult to clean. But the carving on this one is really simple, really easy to do, but makes it stand out and also makes it a great project for someone. 

This big "old" grain scoop is another one that just feels right. Yes it's a little rough around the edges, but it works perfectly. I think I'll be using this one for many years to come. Carved from a lime log it's what they would have made in the past and used for day to day use. Again, even though it was carved green it shows no splits. I'd love to make a few of these this winter to sell if I get the time. I think I could carve them fairly quickly if the log was fresh cut and the weather was in my favour. 

If I'm showing a range of my scoops I have to put my berry harvester in there as well. I have started to make a prototype for some more, although so far I keep coming back to this one (or a slight variation on it). I will hopefully have some of these to sell either around Christmas time (for presents) or for the early summer when people will actually need them. 

So there is my current obsession, but I've been making even more than that so I'm afraid I'll bore you with even more in some other blog posts!

Which is our favourite?