Ultra-light paddle

Currently working on an ultra-light FreeStyle Paddle. Paulownia and walnut.
In the 1st photo I am applying a sealer coat of epoxy to the sanded blade. In the second photo, a layer of 4 oz. fiberglass cloth has been applied. The weight of the clothespins help keep the cloth wrapped around the edges while the epoxy cures. On most fiberglass sheathed blades, that I have seen, the fiberglass does not wrap around the edges. This is just one small detail that sets Dogpaddles apart from the crowd. The blade will subsequently receive 2 additional coats of epoxy, before being sanded and varnished.

Those clothespins do the trick alright.
Jim

Great looking paddle! That paulownia wood is an interesting choice! I’d love to get my hands on some unfortunately it seems hard to come by around these parts.
What do you expect the final weight to be at?

Rubbaboo said:

Great looking paddle! That paulownia wood is an interesting choice! I’d love to get my hands on some unfortunately it seems hard to come by around these parts.
What do you expect the final weight to be at?

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I'm shooting for 19 oz. It's a 38" shaft with a length overall of 58". I'll post the actual weight when finished.

Marc Ornstein said:

I'm shooting for 19 oz. It's a 38" shaft with a length overall of 58". I'll post the actual weight when finished.

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Acquiring paulownia is difficult. My understanding is that it originally came from the orient and was planted in the states both as an ornamental tree and also in experimental plantations for possible lumber harvest. In recent years it has been deemed to be invasive. In many areas efforts are underway to eliminate it. For the most part, there doesn't seem to be much interest in harvesting the wood from the elimination efforts. I obtained my current supply, some years ago, from one of the experimental plantations. I've not been able to get more from that source. A friend has been involved in eliminating some invasive trees and is attempting to salvage some logs for me. Currently they are on an island. He will attempt towing them to shore, this spring. If he is successful and if they are of good quality, I'll have them sawn and replenish my supply.

I have a piece 15” wide 2” thick and 27” long. I traded something for it a couple of years ago and I’m not sure I’ll ever use it. Kind of a bad trade on my part I guess. If anyone wants to pay the shipping and a donation to a charity I’ll send it. Of course I’ll share pics of the piece if someone is interested.
Jim

Marc Ornstein said:

Acquiring paulownia is difficult. My understanding is that it originally came from the orient and was planted in the states both as an ornamental tree and also in experimental plantations for possible lumber harvest.

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I was active on a sawmill forum for a while that also had a lot of loggers and foresters. As I recall one of the reasons paulownia failed as commercial lumber was that it required a lot of maintenance to keep the trees limbed and cleaned to produce quality logs, especially early on in their growth. Most growers neglected this and as a result the logs were low quality. And while the lumber is in demand in Asia it seemed to just never catch on here.

Alan