Here’s a great gift you can make on your lathe. The handle of this spatula is turned, and the end is shaped using the bandsaw and sanding. Make more than one, everyone you know will want a spatula. Check out this video for full how-to for this project. This project uses multiple machines from traditional woodworking lathes to bandsaws, so make sure you have the needed tools before taking this woodworking project on!
Hard maple is a great choice for this project. The board should be 3/4" x 4” x 14”.
Mark two lines down the center of the board. The space between the lines should equal the thickness of the material. This will be the handle.
Mark a line 4” from the end of the board to define the broad part of the spatula. Use a roll of masking tape, or something similar, to trace a radius between the handle and the business end of the spatula.
With the layout complete cut the handle and curves using a bandsaw. A 1/4" 4-TPI blade is a great choice for these cuts.
Fine the center of the handle, do relief cuts and drive your spur center into it.
Find the center of the opposite end. making sure to keep everything centered.
Rough the handle round using a roughing gouge or spindle gouge. Lathe work is only done on the handle, not on the end of the spatula.
Add shape to the handle using a skew.
Sand the handle smooth. Remove the spatula from the lathe.
Mark a line 1/8” from the corner.
Draw a line from the 1/8” mark to the top corner.
Cut the angle using a bandsaw.
Mark a 10-degree line across the face of the spatula using a sliding T bevel, and cut the line on your bandsaw.
Sand everything smooth.
Sand a roundover onto the point of the spatula. Seal the spatula with mineral oil, and it’s ready to go to work!
