• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Turning for Profit | Woodturning | Lathe |

Helping woodturners make more money

  • Blog
  • Projects
    • Library
      • Turned Bowls
      • Christmas Projects
  • Inspiration
  • Make Money
  • Woodturning Techniques
  • Workshop Expertise
    • Splinters
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Projects
    • Library
      • Turned Bowls
      • Christmas Projects
  • Inspiration
  • Make Money
  • Woodturning Techniques
  • Workshop Expertise
    • Splinters
  • Shop
You are here: Home / Profit / A Wood Turning Project: Honey Dipper

A Wood Turning Project: Honey Dipper

By //  by Robin 48 Comments

divider
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.

Honeycombs, and honey on a honey dipper
A wooden honey dipper with honey

Honeycombs, and honey on a honey dipper

Inventory Project – Honey Dipper

A Honey Dipper is a sweet and easy product to have in your inventory.  They lift liquid honey out of jars and let you drizzle the honey into your tea or on your toast.  With no extra hardware and no precision turning required, honey dippers are a great addition to your inventory.

Honey Dipper

The Honey Dipper is used to control the flow of liquid honey.  The slotted spaces allow you to pick up lots of honey, and by twirling the dipper you can control how much is in your tea or on your toast.  Different shapes on the dipping end affects how much honey is picked up.  They are a sweet turning project.

Materials & Tools

Just under an inch in diameter, you can use small branches or trim the wood 1” square on your table saw.  Make sure you use appropriate safety devices to keep your fingers safe.  This is a great way to use local wood, such as cuttings from your neighbor, or local species.  I turned honey dippers out of Jack Pine, Larch, and Birch, all found on my property.  I would stay away from oily wood as that might taint the honey.  Don’t use any wood that is toxic.   The next picture shows finished dippers, a larch branch, and three dogwood turning blanks, one turned round and ready to go.

Tools needed:

  • Roughing gouge – to turn the blank round
  • Parting tool – to cut grooves in the dipper
  • Skew Chisel or Spindle Gouge – to shape the dipper and handle
  • Sand Paper – various grits (I used 150, 220, 320, 400, 600, and 800)
  • Cotton cloth or paper towel – to wipe the dipper off between grits
  • Food Grade finish

Honey Dippers by small pieces of wood

Honey Dipper – Inventory

As an item in your inventory Honey Dippers are a good choice.  You don’t need a kit to make the product.  The design is free hand / creative, that is, there is no standard for the shape of a honey dipper.  The handle is completely up to you to design.  You can make it as simple or complex as you like.  However, this is a utensil so you do want it to be easy to clean.

You can turn the honey dipper completely between centers with just a bit of cleanup of each end when you are finished.  I used a multiple jaw chuck to hold the blank which means I can completely finish the handle end of the dipper (see pic below).  This product is suitable for production runs where you round the blank and put a tenon on it first then move to the multiple jaw chuck for the shaping.  Keep your tools sharp and you can turn out two or three in an hour with a little practice.  Increase your prices if you are using exotic wood that you had to purchase.  Local or found wood are excellent choices for dippers.  When pricing make sure the price compensates you for your turning time.

Sometimes a flaw in the wood turns up at the finishing stage.  I had cracks and insect damage show up on my larch. Complete the honey dipper anyway.  You can use it yourself, as a demo product, or it can go in a discount bin.  Unless it is dangerous to use or might break too easily then throw it away.  Sometimes the flaw adds to the character of the product.  So think carefully about throwing your not-quite-perfect turnings away.

Turning a Honey Dipper

I started with the prepared dogwood blank being turned round and a tenon to fit into the chuck.  The finished dipper shows you where the main features are.

Honey Dipper Getting Ready

Use a pencil to mark out the rough locations of the dipper and the tapered portions of the handle.  I also mark the portions on the end so that it would be easier parting the dipper off of the lathe.

Honey Dipper Marking out the Project

First I trimmed the ends with the parting tool.

Honey Dipper Trimming the Ends

Next I shaped the dipper end of the honey dipper.  You can cut the grooves first and shape second if you want to.

Honey Dipper Shaping the Head

Cut the grooves into the dipper.  I like to look down on the dipper as I’m doing this so that I can line up the depth of each groove and keep it all the same.  If you find that your parting tool is burning the wood then the tip of your tool is the same width (or less) than the body.  Your parting tool should have a tip that is slightly larger than the blade of the tool, to reduce friction on the wood.

Honey Dipper Cutting the Grooves

Shape the handle to your taste. Define the dipper end and create an attractive top for the handle.

Honey Dipper Shaping the Handle

Finishing Your Honey Dipper

Sand and finish the body of the honey dipper.  I use progressive sand paper starting at 150 to 220 grit depending on how smooth I was able to shape the spindle.  Between each grit change I wipe down the turning with either a cotton cloth or a paper towel.  This removes any grit that might have fallen off of your sand paper and prevents a higher grit accidentally scratching your work.

Honey Dipper Finishing the Body

To finish the handle end work your way down so that there is just a little nub left on the dipper.  Then move the tail stock out of the way and support the dipper with your left hand and finish the end with a skew chisel or spindle gouge.  Sand and finish that end of the dipper.

Honey Dipper Parting from Tail Stock

Now part the dipper off of the lathe, again using your free hand to support the honey dipper.  If you are not sure on doing, this then take the dipper off the lathe and use a saw to trim the end, sand paper it smooth, and finish to match the rest of the dipper.

Honey Dipper Ready to Part From the Head Stock

One honey dipper turned and finished, ready to spread the honey.

Honey Dipper with Honey

Have you turned a honey dipper?  What wood did you use and what shape was your dipper?  Let me know which shape you like the best.  Enjoy.

 

Filed Under: Profit, Projects, Technique Tagged With: beginner turners, Giveaway, inventory, small turnings, turning spurtles, turning tips, wood turning, wood turning projects

Related Posts:

You may also be interested in these posts:
Handmade with Care Stamp

7 Gifts for Men Made on the Lathe

Christmas Projects Title

Christmas Ornaments: Build Your Inventory Fast

Finished Niddy Noddy with yarn.

Niddy Noddy – A Woodturning Project

Turning Blanks: How to cut dimensional lumber on your table saw to make turning blanks

Turning Blanks from your Table Saw

Wooden Kitchen Trivets are easy to turn and love to use.

Wood Trivet – A kitchen turning project

Pricing a beautiful wooden yarn bowl can be a real challenge.

5 Pricing Mistakes that Cost You More than Just Money

Previous Post: « Wooden spinning tops Mini-Lathe – Wooden Top
Next Post: Unpacking the Excelsior Mini-Lathe Excelsior Mini-lathe »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Howard

    September 19, 2015 at 1:31 pm

    Great idea, cant wait to turn one of these.

    Reply
    • Robindl

      September 27, 2015 at 10:38 pm

      Thank you. Have fun with the project.

      Reply
  2. Angi @ SchneiderPeeps

    September 26, 2015 at 8:42 pm

    Beautiful!!

    Reply
    • Robindl

      September 27, 2015 at 10:36 pm

      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Richard

        March 3, 2016 at 5:57 pm

        Please would you tell me the make and model of lathe you use in this project. I’m looking online to purchase one.

        Can I use it for wood and metal?
        Thank you

        Richard

        Reply
        • Robindl

          March 3, 2016 at 6:14 pm

          The lathe is an Excelsior lathe from Rockler. How to choose a mini-lathe. Unpacking the mini-lathe. It is sold as a wood turning lathe. I do not know anything about metal turning except that I believe it is more precise. Lee Valley in Canada has a mini-lathe that they say is suited to both wood and metal turning. Going through my woodcraft catalog they do not mention metal turning on any of their lathes. Thanks for your comment.

          Reply
  3. Amy Schmelzer

    September 27, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    I have never been a woodworker unless I count that goofy shelf I made in shop class in junior high. I use one of my grandpa’s cutting boards every day in the kitchen. I love thinking about the work he put into designing and making it.

    Reply
    • Robindl

      September 27, 2015 at 10:39 pm

      Good to meet you and thank you for your comment.

      Reply
  4. Sheila Beasley

    September 27, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    My biggest obstacle in building an inventory is financial.

    Reply
    • Robindl

      September 27, 2015 at 10:44 pm

      Buying wood can be expensive. The nice thing about wood turning is that reasonable branches can also be turned. Since the honey dipper is about 3/4″ in diameter, and the handle is smaller, you can use branches as your supply. I have some other ideas for finding wood in this blog article: https://www.turningforprofit.com/9-sources-for-local-wood-for-turning/. I hope you can find some wood to turn.

      Reply
  5. deb rowley

    September 29, 2015 at 10:44 am

    Greatest obstacle is having money left after expenses to build inventory.

    Reply
    • Robindl

      September 30, 2015 at 12:21 pm

      Thanks for your comment. It can be a challenge to build your inventory. Try looking for local wood especially in the fall as people are cleaning up their yards. This article also has some other places to look for wood. https://www.turningforprofit.com/9-sources-for-local-wood-for-turning/ I would encourage you to turn projects like the honey dipper that don’t require expensive kits just the wood for the project. Hope you do well with your turning.

      Reply
  6. joy

    October 2, 2015 at 9:57 pm

    lovely!

    Reply
  7. carla

    October 11, 2015 at 1:26 pm

    Time and lack of funds! Working towards a solution but it’s not a quick fix.

    Reply
  8. Melinda Baker

    October 11, 2015 at 1:29 pm

    I want to try one of these for drizzling chocolate on baked goods! Would be so cool to win one of yours!

    Reply
  9. nicki

    October 11, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    Nice

    Reply
  10. mary

    October 11, 2015 at 2:20 pm

    Thank you!

    Reply
  11. Rob Wolfe

    October 11, 2015 at 2:24 pm

    Our biggest obstacle is time. It is so hard to find time to build up our inventory.

    Reply
  12. Dawn

    October 11, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    Beautiful !!!

    Reply
  13. Lisa Greene

    October 11, 2015 at 3:58 pm

    Like the blog! Already followed your beautiful work on FB…

    Reply
  14. Terrie Coleman

    October 11, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    I am not a woodworker, but we used to have one in the family, and I did do some sanding, staining and painting. Nothing turned, just artsy crafty stuff. Your work is beautiful. Thanks for the chance to win and Happy Thanksgiving.

    Reply
  15. Cheryl Roy

    October 11, 2015 at 4:34 pm

    What a wonderful giveaway! Thanks for offering. I follow Sarah and Chris, so grateful to know about your page.

    Reply
  16. Cheryl Roy

    October 11, 2015 at 4:35 pm

    I follow Chri and Sarah, so glad to find your page! Thanks for the wonderful giveaway. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  17. Rebekah

    October 11, 2015 at 10:58 pm

    Beautiful!

    Reply
  18. Ashley Hetrick

    October 12, 2015 at 6:49 pm

    So beautiful!

    Reply
  19. Lottie Heinicke

    October 12, 2015 at 11:41 pm

    What a beautiful product.

    Reply
  20. Jesse

    October 12, 2015 at 11:52 pm

    These are beautiful!

    Reply
  21. jesse

    October 12, 2015 at 11:53 pm

    Can’t wait till morning so I can show my son this.

    Reply
  22. Ina

    September 13, 2017 at 6:02 pm

    Is there any wood that should not be used to make a honey dipper? I have a lot of red Cedar & would like to use that if it’s OK. Thanks.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 4 Steps for Easier and Faster Wood Turning Production Runs. says:
    October 12, 2015 at 12:17 am

    […] more effective use of your time and resources. I’m going to use Honey Dippers as my example. The steps to turning a honey dipper […]

    Reply
  2. Wooden Icicles – A Turned Christmas Ornament says:
    December 14, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    […] Two other similar projects would make great Christmas presents.  These are kitchen utensils, a honey dipper, and a Scottish Spurtle.  Both are turned between centers.  The spurtle is the Scottish name for […]

    Reply
  3. Wooden Puzzles that are Quick to Make: The Tower of Hanoi says:
    December 20, 2015 at 8:40 pm

    […] items you might consider producing for your booth could be honey dippers, oatmeal Scottish spurtles, and wooden […]

    Reply
  4. Safely flip your lid. - Turning for Profit says:
    December 20, 2015 at 9:51 pm

    […] Are you looking for other kitchen utensils?  Here’s two projects: Turning an Oatmeal Spurtle, and Turning a Honey Dipper. […]

    Reply
  5. Honey Dipper Part II - Which Shape is Best? - Turning for Profit says:
    December 29, 2015 at 11:18 pm

    […] I had turned some honey dippers I started to see them all over the place. There were many variations on the simple theme of a honey […]

    Reply
  6. Bird Feeders - Turning Project Part I - Turning for Profit says:
    January 26, 2016 at 5:26 pm

    […] have turned a few items out of the birch wood. Some honey dippers and a ball winder. The wood turns very easily and with a great […]

    Reply
  7. 7 Mothers Day Gifts You Can Turn - Turning for Profit says:
    April 24, 2016 at 3:54 pm

    […] Honey Dipper […]

    Reply
  8. Woodturning - How to use a Captive Ring Tool - Turning for Profit says:
    June 2, 2016 at 12:26 am

    […] have turned Captive rings on numerous spindle turnings which include Honey dippers, crochet hooks, bottle stoppers, and baby rattles.  The rings on a baby rattle are there to make […]

    Reply
  9. Kraut Pounder - A Woodturning Project - Turning for Profit says:
    June 21, 2016 at 11:32 pm

    […] So the kraut pounder is a kitchen utensil.  Here are some other kitchen items you can turn: a rolling pin, a spurtle, a lid lifter, and a honey dipper. […]

    Reply
  10. Jar Lid: A Woodturning Project - Turning for Profit says:
    September 16, 2016 at 9:23 am

    […] on canning season and could also be combined with turnings for the kitchen, such as rolling pins, honey dippers, and oatmeal […]

    Reply
  11. Olive Wood for Your Turning Projects - Turning for Profit says:
    October 6, 2016 at 12:32 am

    […] Honey Dipper […]

    Reply
  12. Gifts for Woodturners - 24 Inspiring Ideas - Turning for Profit says:
    December 12, 2016 at 2:59 pm

    […] that the ring is captive on the turning.  You can add captive rings to goblets, baby rattles, even honey dippers.  This is basically a left and right scrapper that will allow you to decorate many turnings with a […]

    Reply
  13. A Woodturner: Reflections on the year - Turning for Profit says:
    December 23, 2016 at 10:40 am

    […] for Profit.  Thank you for stopping in.  The most frequently viewed woodturning project was The Honey Dipper Project.  It has been a consistent favorite for the entire […]

    Reply
  14. 5 Tips to Prepare Your Shop for Action - Turning for Profit says:
    January 5, 2017 at 11:07 pm

    […] and I have lots of blanks that would be perfect for lidded boxes.  There were a few blanks for honey dippers and a couple that would make spurtles as […]

    Reply
  15. How to top a good wine - Turning for Profit says:
    February 27, 2017 at 3:52 pm

    […] A wood turned bottle stopper, or topper, is a great accent to a good bottle of wine.  This gives you a chance to try different turning techniques like adding burn lines or a captive ring.  It also makes a lower priced item for selling at Christmas Craft fairs or at wine tastings. Other products that would work at a Christmas Craft Fair would be wooden icicles or honey dippers. […]

    Reply
  16. Woodturning: Learning from Mistakes | Turning for Profit says:
    February 19, 2018 at 11:41 pm

    […] else from the wood? If your ball winder isn’t working could you turn it into an icicle or a honey dipper? In this case I turned a coin bank into a pen […]

    Reply
  17. Mini Decorations - A Woodturning Project | Turning for Profit says:
    February 20, 2018 at 10:51 am

    […] could use regular turnings as well.  A spinning top, honey dipper, or needle case, could all be small gift tag presents just as they are.  Be creative.  A small […]

    Reply
  18. Woodturning Projects: A Knitting Nancy. says:
    February 22, 2018 at 10:21 pm

    […] This is an easy woodturning project to turn and a great way to practice your between center turning. Two other projects that are slightly smaller in size but still fun to turn are Wooden Icicle Ornaments and Wooden Honey dippers. […]

    Reply
  19. Wooden Utensils: Spurtles | Turning for Profit says:
    February 22, 2018 at 10:23 pm

    […] are a couple of other projects that are between center turning.  A honey dipper is another kitchen utensil and wooden icicles are a wooden ornament.  These two projects use […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CAPTCHA
Refresh

*

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

About me:

Welcome to the Turning For Profit Community! I'm Robin. Turning for Profit is about helping you find hope and joy in your woodturning hobby. It's about projects that fill your inventory and inspire your creativity. It's business help to get you set up and making a profit quickly. If you've always wanted to work from home playing with wood, let me help you realize your dream of Turning for Profit. Read More…

Help for Beginner Woodturners

Learn to use 5 different wood turning tools, with confidence, while you turn 7 projects, building your wood turning skills sequentially.  Includes tips and ideas for marketing your wood turning, when you are ready to move forward.


Footer

Inspiration:

You don’t have to be good to start.  You just have to START to be good. — Joe Sabah

Handmade with Care Stamp

7 Gifts for Men Made on the Lathe

7 Gifts for Men Made on the Lathe
Christmas Projects Title

Christmas Ornaments: Build Your Inventory Fast

Christmas Ornaments: Build Your Inventory Fast
Finished Niddy Noddy with yarn.

Niddy Noddy – A Woodturning Project

Niddy Noddy – A Woodturning Project
  • Start Here
  • About me
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclosure

Site Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · Mai Lifestyle Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in