Turning a Honey Dipper
This simple yet functional woodturning project is easy to turn and is also easy on the budget. A simple idea that can be turned from any one of the scraps you know you have lying around the shop.
Turning the Honey Dipper
Select a 2″ x 6″ blank and mount on the lathe between centers with a 4-prong drive center in the headstock and a revolving center in the tailstock. Turn the blank to round using a Roughing Gouge.
![Turning the blank round with a spindle roughing gouge.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0550/7697/8711/files/honey_dipper_1.jpg)
Turn the honey dipper to your desired shape leaving 1/4″ waste section on the headstock end of the blank with a spindle gouge or Easy Wood Tool.
![The blank mounted between centers and turned to shape.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0550/7697/8711/files/honey_dipper_2.jpg)
Using a Narrow Parting Tool cut evenly spaced grooves in the dipper. Round the blank between the grooves with your spindle gouge or Easy Wood Tool.
![Cutting grooves with a narrow parting tool.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0550/7697/8711/files/honey_dipper_31.jpg)
Sand and Finish the honey Dipper
Sand the handle through at least 320 grit.
![Sanding the blank on the lathe.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0550/7697/8711/files/honey_dipper_4.jpg)
Finish the blank using a food-safe finish such as a Mahoney Utility Finish, or leave natural with no finish. Remove the honey dipper from the lathe and cut off the remaining waste section using a handsaw. Sand and finish the end.
![Cutting of the waste end with a handsaw.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0550/7697/8711/files/honey_dipper_5.jpg)
![A turned honey dipper laying on a table.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0550/7697/8711/files/honey_dipper_6.jpg)
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