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Oh, and I forgot. I removed the shafts from the clamping jig while they were still green, so I kept them clamped to a flat table for a couple days. Not sure if I needed to, but I'd rather do it and not need to, than skip it and regret it.

Stripper: You're jumping the gun. you'll have to wait. Just kidding, I used the same method Cruiser used in his thread. I affectionately call it "gunk tips". I color epoxy with wood flour, add short glass fibers to reinforce, then add more flour to soak up any excess epoxy juice. I glassed...

Well, as Brian (AKA "Cruiser") pointed out in his thread: https://www.canoetripping.net/threads/building-some-new-wood-composite-paddles-for-2020.120222/ with every new canoe comes the need for a couple new paddles. Having completed my first stripper build in late fall, I felt the need to...

Well, I've got my BWCA permit for June 2023. Entering at EP 14-Little Indian Sioux. Really looking forward to the 7 day trip. Already started the test kitchen of light weight foods.

Forgot the link to their website if you've never heard of them: https://generalfinishes.com/

I've long been a fan of General Finishes products. I use them for fine woodworking, and I used them on a recent paddle build for the grips. They're basically a formulated penetrating oil finish. You can't hardlly mess them up. If it's bare wood, I saturate it on first coat. It soaks in...

Thanks Bill: That looks just about like what I'm interested in. Lots of options for "wrong turns" to extend the trip. I'm planning to get Fischer maps of the area, to start planning. Yeah, I know it's busy season. One of the downsides of teaching.... not very flexible on days off. Hoping...

I'm a teacher, and so is my wife, so probably early June-mid August. I have no problem entering/exiting at different points. I live in Wisconsin, but other than that, I have no preference east or West. Last time I was there, I put in in the Ely area. Found another source for suggested...

Thanks for posting this. I'm just starting to plan a BWCA trip for this summer. Haven't been there in a long time, so I'm starting from square one. It'll be my wife and I, possibly our dog, if I can get her to settle down in the canoe. I'd say i'm upper intermediate, my wife a beginner...

Making & shaping your own handles really isn't that hard, or require exotic tools. I made my first two paddles following Cruiser's thread: https://www.canoetripping.net/threads/building-some-new-wood-composite-paddles-for-2020.120222/ I did asymetric handles, and shaped them with a bandsaw...

Well, I just finished my first paddle build. I was going to be ambitious, and make 4 straight shaft, and 2 bent shaft for myself and my wife. Then people started coming out of the woodwork asking me to make them bent shaft. Rather than say "no" I put bent shafts on hold. I also decided to...

I'm just getting my wood together, and looking at BB paddles, they seem to use basswood quite a bit. Made me wonder why, then I looked at wood density. Quite a range, from slightly lighter than cedar, to quite heavy. I have quite a bit of 8/4 laying around, for carving. One thing led to...

Brian: I get what you're saying about using the glue joint to accent the wood strips. I've never done it, but plan to on my upcoming paddle build. The lazy river stripe I showed earlier is for a cutting board. I stay away from epoxy for cutting boards. I know it's food safe after full cure...

Wow, Brian: As with your solo tripper thread, awesome detail and pictures, not to mention incredible craftsmanship. Just as I'm looking for information on paddle making to while away my winter work time, I come across your thread. How fortunate for me! I'm planning to make 4 straight shaft...

I may have started the thread, but it truly was the comments, and responses to requests for help along the way that made it worth looking at. That, and the fact that it took me 6 months to complete. I'm working on a few wrap up documents that I'll share when they are done. "lessons learned"...

As you can see from this picture, there's not a flaw to be found. A perfect build. 😉😉 Oh, wait. Maybe I should have backed up farther. It's a bit hard to evaluate the paddling, since it was a short launch, and I was using a couple cheap kayak paddles. From what I could tell, it'll do...

Well, it's been a long time coming, but the canoe is done until spring, when I'll give it a light buff, and another coat of varnish. I have 3 coats on now. I actually finished it 3 1/2 weeks ago, but I've been waiting for the varnish to cure enough to launch it. It finally saw the water on...

Yeah, Jim. I remember you warning: "Don't weave too tight" Just not sure what too tight is. That's why I bought enough webbing for 4 sets of seats. One for this canoe, one for the next, and two extra for redoing these after I paddle it a bit. Unfortunately, any paddling yet this fall is...

Well, I thought I was going to finish this weekend, but two rather disheartening set-backs. When I was doing final sanding on the inside, prior to varnishing, I noticed an area on the outside of the hull by the stem that I wasn't happy with. The edge of the bias strip was still noticeable to...

Finally had time, and heat to get the first coat of varnish on the inside. One electric space heater keeps my small work area 65-70 degrees. However, my small work area also collects varnish fumes rather quickly. As I wiped down with denatured alcohol, and varnished, I really started to...