Canoe with a View : : Canadian Open Canoe forum

...I seem to have accidentally gone and bought two lumps of maple and a lump of black walnut!



The problem is this you see, last year when I started paddling with the chap, he used to complain that he couldn't keep up with me. Since then he has not only got better at paddling than me, but as also crafted himself a couple of larger bladed paddles. My relative speed is now somewhat lacking.

so new paddle required. must be:
1 - nearly as light as the one in the picture
2 - have 50-100% more blade area
3 - not be financially assessed by SWMBO

the theory is that I should be able to get two paddles out of these three bits.

I reckon a couple of slivers of the walnut (£7.50 that lump cost!!!!) each side of the centre of the paddle should look nice and even add a little strength to the finished article. The handle should be pretty interesting too, but we'll see what happens!

Luckily the woodwork shop at work is empty for the next 6 weeks so I've got a fine selection of tools to make the job look like someone else did it!

I'll keep you posted,

G-Clamp Pete

p.s. Baggy - am i right in thinking you've got a spoke shave?

Look forward to seeing the project as it progresses....

50 - 100% larger than a Beavertail.... That's one HUGE blade Petey.....

Cheers
Red.

I noticed Biff has a paddle similar to mine but with maybe the blade being a 4/3 mine. Jealous i was!

I've got an outline drawn out which doesn't look wrong at all. only an inch or so wider, but quite a lot deeper. It's in proportion I reckon.

Hiya

(26-07-10 07:36 PM)Petey Wrote: [ -> ]...I seem to have accidentally gone and bought two lumps of maple and a lump of black walnut!

About time to

(26-07-10 07:36 PM)Petey Wrote: [ -> ]The problem is this you see, last year when I started paddling with the chap, he used to complain that he couldn't keep up with me. Since then he has not only got better at paddling than me, but as also crafted himself a couple of larger bladed paddles. My relative speed is now somewhat lacking.

You will not have noticed that my faster day coincide with the days that I eat two tins of baked beans mixed with wheatabix.
If this works for you I will have to start on my Mark III paddle!

(26-07-10 07:36 PM)Petey Wrote: [ -> ]3 - not be financially assessed by SWMBO

Good luck with that

(26-07-10 07:36 PM)Petey Wrote: [ -> ]p.s. Baggy - am i right in thinking you've got a spoke shave?

Yup, and I am happy for you to borrow it.

Speak soon
Mark

and we're off!

or rather, the missus has disappeared with the kids

Into the workshop and after a brief bit of tutilage I'm let loose on the bandsaw.

first one bit of black walnut becomes two


and a few minutes later i have a pile of batons


and then the maple is done too.


I hit two problems after this - firstly i couldn't find G-clamps big enough, so notched the corners of the outer strips, and then I discovered that I am capable of using a band saw to cut a wiggly line. Even with the g-clamps in place, i was clearly creating two slotted spoons

I had a little play with the belt sander, but realised this was an error, so had a hunt around and found a planing machine. Awesome gadget


I was fortunate enough to be discovered at this point and someone helped me track down two larger g-clamps, so now I had both problems sorted out and got busy with the glue




and that's where we are for now, I'm not sure whether to use maple or walnut for the grip, or hold out for some burl... no rush

These might be useful for the next stage...

Looking Good....

However I do feel that images like this should not be put infront of Tim...., He might have a relapse you know.....

(29-07-10 12:40 PM)Petey Wrote: [ -> ]

Cheers
Red.

OOOOOoooooooo band saw. I might send you a piece of ash to cut out :-)

bring it to HML