Harrogate and Ripon Panel
CHILD'S SPORK
A conventional "spork" (combination spoon/fork) had a spoon too large, and handle too thick for a young girl.
A
teaspoon was about the right size for her, so one had sections cut out of it with a Dremel cutting disk, and shaped using a thin Dremel
grinding disk to form the tangs of the fork.
A piece of solid aluminium bar was turned down to the required diameter for the
handle, and a 6mm hole drilled in one end to a depth of around 40mm to take a cut-down section of the teaspoon handle. The
bar was then drilled out from the other end to reduce the weight, and to take a plastic bung.
A securing hole was drilled
and tapped through the handle/teaspoon and an M3 stainless machine screw inserted. The hole around the teaspoon stem was
then filled with Durafix EasyWeld rod, and the resultant rough weld was cut back in the lathe and refinished, then the exposed aluminium
and stainless steel was polished to a bright shine.
Finally, some marine grade waterproof adhesive lined heat shrink sleeve
was applied around the handle to make it easier to hold. This is typically used to protect electrical joints on boats and is
most commonly black. We located some red sleeving which turned out to be nearer pink in colour - great for our young client!
Spork polished and ready for heat-shrink to be applied.
Solid bar drilled out to reduce the weight.
Spork prior to cutting and grinding marks being sanded and polished out.
M3 countersunk machine screw ensures stem cannot work
loose.