Rare "lost" footage of Wille Sundqvist demonstrating how he carves a spoon at Country Workshops in Marshall, North Carolina. Shot by Rick Mastelli in 1982.
Well, it sure is great to see this old video...Wille in his prime. Glad Rick shot it back then, and whoever converted it so we can watch it today. Imagine if back then someone told you how spoon carving would take off in the next century! I sent a link to Jogge today, and he responded that Wille was in his shop with him, carving spoons.
I just learned that Willie has passed at the age of 92. He was a true visionary, who will be missed. Fortunately there are videos and books that will preserve the techniques he shared. Rest in peace.
Beautiful video. I am just as impressed with this gentlemans physical build, he obviously has a great lifestyle, he is so relaxed yet he obviously has a lot of energy. I would have to be wearing steel-toed boots when I started doing this because tools might slip from my hands, he seems to be pretty safe looking at his bare feel. Thank you for sharing this wonderful film.
Whoooo! I'm so happy that this was taken! I learned of willie from a tattered book the library gave me on country crafts written by Langsner and his wife. So glad to be able to pair footage to willie's portion of that book now
Thank you for posting this! I have seen it several times, over the years, at your place. I wished for a long time for it to be on DVD but this is close enough.
This is a great video for spoon carvers like myself. So many have learned to carve spoons because of Mr. Sundqvist. I live in North Carolina and so it makes it even more special. I have really enjoyed my book that he wrote.
Great video. I am curious about Wille's axe. He says that it is a double bevel when asked, but then it seems like he describes how the bevels are different on each side. Is it a reprofiled regular double bevel hatchet? Or is it a reprofiled side hatchet? I have an old broad hatchet that looks (and sounds) like Wille's that needs reprofiling and I am not sure if the back should be dead flat or if a small and, I suppose, longer, bevel is acceptable. I may hew some logs with it but I am mostly just starting out spoon carving currently.
Great questions. I believe that's just a regular Kent hatchet with a long bevel ground on the inside face. The Viking axe shown would come from the smith with roughly ground symmetrical bevels, but CW would typically grind a long bevel on the inside face (left or right, depending on the customer). For spoon carving, a long inside / short outside bevel will give you more maneuverability than a dead flat inside face.
That makes sense. I have two hatchets I currently use for spoons, one is a Collins Camp Hatchet that I reprofiled and another is a Marbles Small Axe, which I am reprofiling currently. So far the Collins is in the lead and I think it is because I ground the inside bevel a little longer, although more out of inexperience than intention, as I think the Marbles has better steel. The bevels on the Marbles have been too convex for my liking. I am still a beginner here, so just figuring it out as I go along. I appreciate your insight!
Wow he's 57 in the video and totally ripped... my grandpa was born in 1927 he was 1925, both are gone now, but it's still weird to think that this was filmed 6 years before my birth and he looks so "youngish" as where my grandpa was already old when i was a kid 🤷🏻♂️.... ok I'll go to sleep now 😂..
Well, it sure is great to see this old video...Wille in his prime. Glad Rick shot it back then, and whoever converted it so we can watch it today. Imagine if back then someone told you how spoon carving would take off in the next century! I sent a link to Jogge today, and he responded that Wille was in his shop with him, carving spoons.
I just learned that Willie has passed at the age of 92. He was a true visionary, who will be missed. Fortunately there are videos and books that will preserve the techniques he shared. Rest in peace.
Beautiful video. I am just as impressed with this gentlemans physical build, he obviously has a great lifestyle, he is so relaxed yet he obviously has a lot of energy. I would have to be wearing steel-toed boots when I started doing this because tools might slip from my hands, he seems to be pretty safe looking at his bare feel. Thank you for sharing this wonderful film.
Thanks Country Workshops, this video of Willie is absolutely wonderful! Warm regards, Tom.
Had to come back and watch this one for a third time today. Thanks for posting.
Thank you so much for this treasure. Much appreciated and good to see.
Whoooo! I'm so happy that this was taken! I learned of willie from a tattered book the library gave me on country crafts written by Langsner and his wife. So glad to be able to pair footage to willie's portion of that book now
I’m so greatfull for this video and for wille! Crazy to think this was being recorded the year I was born.
Thank you for posting this! I have seen it several times, over the years, at your place. I wished for a long time for it to be on DVD but this is close enough.
What a superb video indeed. I totally enjoyed it all and I learned much!! Thanks. Wille is a joy to watch.
The Master. Brilliant effect of a lifetime of experience. Thank You!
Thanks for posting this great video of a great master.
This is a great video for spoon carvers like myself. So many have learned to carve spoons because of Mr. Sundqvist. I live in North Carolina and so it makes it even more special. I have really enjoyed my book that he wrote.
Tad Kepley what's the name of the book and where could I order one
Swedish Carving Techniques by Wille Sundqvist and just type that in Amazon. You should be able to purchase from Amazon online.
Thanks everybody for sharing! And bon voyage Wille! :)
Fantastic and very interesting. All done by eye, no templates. quick, confident. interesting remarks about sandpaper at the end.
Amazing - been carving spoons for 20 years, learned something new within 2 minutes of the start!
wow what a find, thanks for sharing
Vad kul att se denna film! Nu blev jag sugen på att lära mig mer om spoon-carving
one of the few. I hope you're in a place where the trees grow just for you, Wille...
Wow what a gem!
Thank you
they ask great queztions. this man is a master of masters
Legend
"Long winter evening, sitting and making spoons..."
Rest in peace Wille.
He's a solid old dude
Who else is carving a spoon while watching?
Great video. I am curious about Wille's axe. He says that it is a double bevel when asked, but then it seems like he describes how the bevels are different on each side. Is it a reprofiled regular double bevel hatchet? Or is it a reprofiled side hatchet? I have an old broad hatchet that looks (and sounds) like Wille's that needs reprofiling and I am not sure if the back should be dead flat or if a small and, I suppose, longer, bevel is acceptable. I may hew some logs with it but I am mostly just starting out spoon carving currently.
Great questions. I believe that's just a regular Kent hatchet with a long bevel ground on the inside face. The Viking axe shown would come from the smith with roughly ground symmetrical bevels, but CW would typically grind a long bevel on the inside face (left or right, depending on the customer). For spoon carving, a long inside / short outside bevel will give you more maneuverability than a dead flat inside face.
That makes sense. I have two hatchets I currently use for spoons, one is a Collins Camp Hatchet that I reprofiled and another is a Marbles Small Axe, which I am reprofiling currently. So far the Collins is in the lead and I think it is because I ground the inside bevel a little longer, although more out of inexperience than intention, as I think the Marbles has better steel. The bevels on the Marbles have been too convex for my liking. I am still a beginner here, so just figuring it out as I go along. I appreciate your insight!
Wow he's 57 in the video and totally ripped... my grandpa was born in 1927 he was 1925, both are gone now, but it's still weird to think that this was filmed 6 years before my birth and he looks so "youngish" as where my grandpa was already old when i was a kid 🤷🏻♂️.... ok I'll go to sleep now 😂..
i would kill for the axe he has in the start of the video. they are super hard to find. and when you do they are 700 bones.
If you search for Kent pattern axes, you can find loads for very cheap.
that axe is shaaaaarp
Wille's forearms look like Ironwood trunks
All sinew and muscle like Bruce Lee
Is he still doing this...
Yes!
At 31:00 he makes a comment about the neck of the spoon that is structurally genius.
Great information and skill. But dang, the camera work is horrible!
Funny how people looked, before fast "food" 😀
Un homme ''gosse'' une cuiller. 58 minutes. N'importe quoi.