One of the most popular projects of my woodturning classes here in Las Vegas is a turned scoop with a pewter finial. These scoops provide practice for hollowing end grain, making jigs, and using pewter to add unique details. Additionally, you’ll end up with a beautiful custom-turned scoop for any application and it's easily adjusted for different sizes or designs.
Preparing the Blank
The wood that you use for this project isn’t super important. I used walnut here, as it works well with the pewter. What is important, however, is to make sure that the blank is free of any hairline fractures. Once you start to hollow out the scoop, any small crack can cause the scoop to break apart as you turn it. When mounting the rough blank, I prefer a ring drive or PSI super drive and a live revolving ring center.
Using a spindle roughing gouge, turn the blank just to the round and then use a ⅛" VM 120 chuck. Make sure that the tenon is as long as possible, approximately ⅜" long, for maximum grip. However, you’ll also want to make sure the tenon is not too long and bottoming out in the chuck. If it is too long, you will not have the extra support needed from the face of the jaws.
