How to Make Wooden Scoops (Woodturning Project)

Turning wooden scoops can be an interesting and fun project for people who enjoy woodturning. Scoops can help speed up transferring items like rice, flour, sugar, birdseed, etc. Scoops make excellent presents and when priced appropriately, they can be quick sellers at art and craft shows.

Materials Needed to Turn a Wooden Scoop

  • Wood: 4″x4″x11″ (10cm x 10cm x 28cm) [Walnut]
  • Smaller blanks can be used to create smaller scoops.

How to make a wooden scoop on the lathe by woodturning.

Written Instructions Follow Step by Step Images.

Steps to Making Wooden Scoops on a Lathe.

Attach a faceplate to the blank using screws.
Step 1. Attach a faceplate to the blank using screws.

Mount the blank using the tailstock for additional support.
Step 2. Mount the blank on a woodturning lathe.

Turn the blank to a round cylinder using a bowl gouge - woodturning.
Step 3. Turn the blank to a round cylinder using a bowl gouge.

Bore a hole using a Forstner drill bit.
Step 4. Bore a hole using a Forstner drill bit.

Expand (optional) the size of the opening using a carbide cutter.
Step 5. Expand (optional) the size of the opening using a carbide cutter.

Turn the exterior of the scoop using a live cone-shaped center for additional support.
Step 6. Turn the exterior of the scoop using a live cone-shaped center for additional support.

Use a parting tool to remove and let the scoop dry (if using wet wood).
Step 7. Use a parting tool to remove and let the scoop dry (if using wet wood).

 

Remount the scoop using a scroll chuck. Sand the interior of the scoop.
Step 8. Remount the scoop using a scroll chuck. Sand the interior of the scoop.

Sand the exterior of wood scoop using support from a live cone-shaped center.
Step 9. Sand the exterior of wooden scoop.

Add decorative grooves (optional) to the handle.
Step 10. Add decorative grooves (optional) to the handle.

. Remove the top portion of the scoop using either a bandsaw or a disc sander.
Step 11. Remove the top portion of the scoop using either a bandsaw or a disc sander.

Watch the wooden scoop take form.
Step 12. Watch the wooden scoop take form.

Round corners of scoop, remove excess tenon on bottom, and finish.
Step 13. Round corners of scoop, remove excess tenon on bottom, and finish.

Enjoy the finished scoop (woodturning project) which is now ready for transferring food, birdseed, etc.
Step 14. Enjoy the finished scoop. (Woodturning project)

Written instructions for making a wooden scoop (Woodturning Project)

While there are numerous ways to turn a scoop, I typically take the following steps. I first attach a faceplate to a blank using screws (Step 1). I have found a faceplate will more securely hold a blank in comparison to a scroll chuck. Next, I mount the blank on the lathe using the tailstock for additional support (Step 2). I then use a bowl gouge to round the blank into a cylinder (Step 3). Next I begin boring out a hole approximately 4” (10cm) deep using a Forstner drill bit (Step 4). Since my biggest Forstner bit is only 2¼” (6cm), I typically use a square carbide cutter to increase the opening (Step 5). A round carbide cutter is used near the bottom.

Finishing the exterior of the Wooden Scoop

Next, I finish turning the exterior using a bowl gouge. During this process, a cone-shaped live-center in the tailstock helps provide additional support (Step 6).  If using green wood, I create a tenon on the end of the scoop and then use a parting-tool to separate the scoop from the waste block (Step 7). After slowing drying for several weeks or months, I remount the scoop on the lathe using a scroll chuck and sand the interior (Step 8). Next I sand the exterior, again using a live cone-shaped center for additional support (Step 9).

After sanding the handle, I may add decorative grooves (Step 10). Next, I remove the top portion of the scoop using either a bandsaw (Steps 11 and 12) or a disc sander (Step 13). If using a band saw, it is recommended to use a clamp or jig to hold the round stock so it cannot roll while cutting. A disc sander can also be used for creating rounded corners and removing the excess tenon on the handle (Step 13). The finished scoop ready for use (Step 14).

Collection of wooden scoops.
Collection of wooden scoops.

 

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