I’ve been combing Pinterest for ideas on things to turn on my lathe, and I came across the Scottish Spurtle. A turned rod used for stirring porridge and stews, a spurtle is special because it doesn’t gather a wad of foodstuff like the bowl of a spoon. I really liked that some of the designs mimicked the Scottish Thistle for the handle. I made this spurtle from apple wood from my Dad’s wood pile, sanded it down to 400 grit, then painted a small apple on the end of the handle (not only to mark the handle end, but to identify the wood). I finished it with many coats of tung oil, since it is a food safe finish.

I love the beautiful grain on this spurtle. I have to disclose that this is aged apple wood. It has sat in my garage for years, and sat in my Dad’s wood shed for years before that.