This is my first attempt at making a paddle... I have an old beavertail paddle of unknown origin, I like it but it's too long for me. So I copied the basic shape onto a plank we milled from a beetle killed ash tree near the cabin. It's the second best plank I could find; the best became the new gunwales and thwarts for my canoe.
The grain through the shaft is perfectly straight, but there was a knot in the blade area, the extent of which was unclear until I started "carving away everything that didn't look like a paddle." Digging out the soft center left a sizeable void, which I filled epoxy mixed with black mica powder. Hopefully it won't affect the strength too much, but our lake is pretty mellow so it won't be worked too hard.
(The one on the right is the old one I copied.). I did take off a bit too much in the grip area, but it still feels pretty good in my hand. Just gotta do the final sanding and finish it, probably with Watco Teak oil. And maybe make another if I find a perfect plank; we're still cutting and milling dead trees.
The grain through the shaft is perfectly straight, but there was a knot in the blade area, the extent of which was unclear until I started "carving away everything that didn't look like a paddle." Digging out the soft center left a sizeable void, which I filled epoxy mixed with black mica powder. Hopefully it won't affect the strength too much, but our lake is pretty mellow so it won't be worked too hard.
(The one on the right is the old one I copied.). I did take off a bit too much in the grip area, but it still feels pretty good in my hand. Just gotta do the final sanding and finish it, probably with Watco Teak oil. And maybe make another if I find a perfect plank; we're still cutting and milling dead trees.
