Get the Scoop at Woodcraft!

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Stainless steel woodworking scoop with threaded handle and metal ring accessoryWoodcraft’s new stainless steel ice cream scoop is sure to be a great addition to your kitchen utensils. Adding your design shape and material type to complement your kitchen is up to you! Woodcraft has a huge selection of exotic and domestic wood to choose from for this fun and easy project. We’ll walk you through how you can make your very own ice cream scoop handle with just a few hours of your time. Woodcraft has all of the components you will need to build this ice cream scoop. Let’s begin by purchasing the NEW Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop Kit, Woodcraft Item #153928. 

Rough-cut hardwood block with black spray-painted markings on workshop tableNext, I chose a Curly Cherry Wood (2x2x6 block). I chose this wood because of the marbled grain and color details. Our Product Development Manager and wood guru, George Snyder brought this upcoming product to my attention, so I thought it would make a great choice coupled with the new scoop.



Clear acrylic zero center finder tool positioned on a wooden block for accurate centering in woodworking projects.

Finding the Centers

I marked my centers at each end of the wood block with the ZERO ZERO Center Finder from Woodcraft, Item #02J14. I like this item because of the see-through visibility to easily find the center accurately by creating lines made from each of the wood block’s 4 corners. I proceeded to punch the center by using an automatic center punch. 

Drilling

Now it’s time to start creating some sawdust starting with the drill press. Using a machine tool centering bit, I drilled into the pre-punched center mark for the threaded rod hole to be drilled next.
 
After center drilling, it’s over to the lathe for drilling out a 23/64″ diameter hole for the scoop’s 3/8″-16 diameter threaded rod. You’ll need the undersized diameter drill bit so that the scoop threads engage into the wood when gluing with a 2-part epoxy for later assembly.  Another assembly choice is to use a threaded insert.
Woodworker marking angle on wood piece using yellow plastic protractor in workshop
Hand using a marking knife to scribe layout lines on a hardwood block end grain in a workshop.
Drill press with center drill bit aligned on marked wooden block for precise drilling.
Brass threaded inserts with T-handle installation tool next to two wood pieces with installed inserts

Hand holding a threaded metal handle aligned with a drill chuck and a drill bit wrapped in blue tape in a workshop setting.
29-piece fractional inch brad point drill bit set in metal storage case with labeled slots

Lathe Setup

Pre-measure how much drill length you will need and give yourself another 1/4″-1/2″ depth so you do not bottom out during assembly later, by marking the drill bit (shown left above) with painters tape.

Insert the WoodRiver keyless chuck, Woodcraft Item #152678 loaded with the 23/64″ drill bit into the headstock.

Hold the block of wood firmly against the WoodRiver 60 Degrees Ball Bearing Live Tailstock Center with #2 Morse Taper. Woodcraft Item #149168, located in the tailstock. Using approximately 250-300 RPM spindle speed, drill into the pre-drilled center hole of the wood block by controlling your wood block, fed into the drill bit with the tailstock spindle as your driving force into the drill bit at a slow pace.

After drilling to the pre-measured depth, replace the keyless chuck with a 7/8″ diameter, #2 MT drive center.

Center the wood block non-drilled hole end to the drive center in the lathe headstock. Hold it firmly as you move the tailstock live cone center into the drilled hole end of the block until the wood is firmly held between the two centers. You are now ready to turn.

Keyless drill chuck and #2 MT lathe taper for 1/2-inch capacity woodworking lathe drills.
Metal WoodRiver 60-degree ball bearing live tailstock center with #2 Morse taper for woodturning lathe

Woodworker using a lathe to shape a wooden piece with a drill attachment in a workshop.
Square hardwood blank mounted on lathe spindle with pencil layout lines for turning.
Square wood blank mounted between lathe centers ready for turning
Square wood blank mounted between lathe headstock and tailstock for turning

Rough Turning the Handle

I placed the tool rest at the correct height for using a spindle roughing gouge. Choose the one that you prefer as size is not critical. I started shaping the square form into the desired diameter.
Woodworker shaping a rectangular wood blank on a lathe with overhead light and dust collection system
Man using a lathe with a chisel to shape a wooden spindle in a workshop
Hands using a gouge chisel to shape a wooden spindle on a lathe with wood shavings scattered around.
Wood blank mounted on lathe being turned to a smooth cylindrical shape in workshop

Tenon Cutting & Ferrule Fit

Once I had the round completed, I began cutting the tenon for the ice cream scoop ferrule. Turning down to a press fit diameter is a slow and critical process with many stops and checks to be sure you get the right fit. Remember, once you take material off, you cannot add it back on! 
 
As I got down to the correct diameter, I made sure to include extra material height to go beyond the live cone center, which will need to be cut off later.
 
A quick tip here. As you are getting down to the required diameter measured off of the inside diameter of the ferrule, create a slight taper on the tenon to use as a press fit as you slide the ferrule onto the tenon.
 
I temporarily removed the turned stock from the lathe and cut off the extra height with the Shinwa 301/S03.00 Bakuma American Slim Cut Hand Saw 300 mm. At this point, press fit the ferrule onto the tenon without any adhesive, just in case a mistake is made going forward in completing the handle shape.
Mini Easy Rougher woodturning tool with wooden handle and metal cutting blade
Wood blank mounted on lathe between centers for spindle turning with tool rest in foreground
Hand turning wood blank on lathe using gouge chisel with finger ring for control
Wood blank mounted on lathe between centers ready for turning in workshop setting
Japanese pull saw with wooden handle resting on a workbench near stacked hardwood boards and a woodworker's hand in motion

Finish Turning the Handle Design

The design shape is purely left to your ideas and imagination. I wanted something that would be a sculpted fit in my hand when using the scoop with a thumb press fit while scooping the ice cream. Once your conception is realized, you can draw it on paper and transfer it onto the wood or just wing it, as I did! I marked an approximate line as to a radius center for the thumb fit,as shown below.


Japanese pull saw with wooden handle resting on a workbench near stacked hardwood boards and a woodworker's hand in motion
Wood blank mounted on lathe being shaped with tool rest and dust collection hose visible
Man shaping wood on a lathe using a gouge chisel in a workshop with wood shavings around
Hand shaping a small wooden vase on a lathe using a spindle gouge chisel
Mini Easy Finisher woodturning tool with wooden handle and metal shaft for detail work

Sanding

I proceeded with sanding using the Mirka Abranet 2-3/4″ x 8″ Sanding Sheets, 8 piece, Woodcraft Item #150317. Working my way from 80 grit to 400 grit paper, these sheets allow for non-clogging smooth sanding, leaving you with a fine finish.
Three Mirka Abranet sanding sheets, 2-3/4 by 8 inches, stacked on a white surface.
Woodworker shaping a spindle on a lathe using sandpaper in a workshop setting
Bottle of General Finishes Wood Turners Finish next to a lathe-turned wooden spindle with clear finish applied

Finish

After sanding was complete, I used General Finishes Wood Turners Finish, about 8 to 10 coats, leaving a great finish. This stuff dries quickly and allows for repeated coats to be applied. Shine, are you kidding me! Seeing is believing and this stuff really works well!
Close-up of a lathe-turned wooden handle with smooth, polished grain patterns

Bottom Design – Drilling & Turning

We’re not quite done yet! The handle end (left side) has left a center hole and surrounding marks in the wood where the drive center is positioned. I’ll need to face it off or come up with a finish design for that end.

Rosewood Button Plug

Use your imagination for the bottom end design like a coin, marble insert, or perhaps a contrasting wood piece to accent or offset the darker lines in the cherry will give this handle just the right look. I decided on a contrasting piece by creating a Rosewood accent button plug. But first I needed to make the plug hole in the bottom of the handle. Using a 3/4″ diameter Forstner Bit, Woodcraft Item #147069.
 
I squared off the end with a Crown 3/8″ Spindle Gouge, followed by using a Crown Beading & Parting Tool to shape the button and separate it from the stock. Sand the button plug with the 8 different grit sheets of Mirka Abranet.
Hand shaping a smooth wooden handle on a drill press in a woodworking workshop
Close-up of a drill press with a Forstner bit above a turned wooden vase on a workshop table.
Hands using a gouge chisel to shape a spinning wood blank on a lathe with a tool rest.
Woodworker using a gouge chisel on a lathe to shape a wooden spindle.
Turning a small wooden finial on a lathe using a gouge chisel in a workshop
Hands using a lathe and scraper to shape a small wooden bowl or scoop in a workshop

Gluing & Assembly

Glue the button plug to the handle bottom and the ferrule to the tenon using Titebond II Wood Glue, Woodcraft #Item #08L43 and press fit both ends with a vice, protecting both sides of the handle.
 
Three final steps; first applying the System Three 5 Minute Epoxy, 1/2 Pint, Woodcraft Item #124270, to the threads and ferrule area top and hole…
 
Second…adhere the scoop by threading into the finished handle until the scoop is tight to the ferrule.
 
I had previously commented about a sculpted fit for my hand. Here is the conception formed into reality.
Hand holding a small container of wood finish near a polished wooden tool handle on a workbench.
Hand holding a wooden scoop handle being fitted into a rectangular mortise in wood.
Wooden-handled ice cream scoop disassembled on cardboard with epoxy glue bottles and small paintbrush on workbench.
Hand in blue glove holding wooden handle with hollow metal ferrule, metal scoop and small brush on table
Gloved hand holding a metal threaded bolt with a round flange, small brush on cardboard background
Hand holding a wooden handle with attached metal scoop tool on workshop table with cardboard underneath

The last step to perform, time for some ice cream!

Now that you know how to make this project, get to your local Woodcraft store for your ice cream scoop and supplies. Have fun and be sure to share your ice cream scoop designs (and your favorite ice cream!) right here on the Woodcraft Adventures Blog & Gallery.

 


Hand holding a wood-turned handle attached to a metal scoop tool for woodworking.
Ice cream scoop with a polished wooden handle resting on a bowl of ice cream and strawberries.
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