I like this blade shape... www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=46003 .. are you going to make one yourself?
DJ
Currently making one out of balsa wood and epoxy resin will try to post some photos when in finished.
Hey fat - took delivery of my new wood paddle this morning and it looks amazing. If you are interested i can post my thoughts on it after a surf with it this arvo and in the morning. my missus even commented on how beautiful the paddle looked and trust me my fox terrier has more interest in sups and paddles than she does.
Leave it to my buddy DJ to draw attention to my stupidity...
Before I had started to SUP myself I made my brother PonoBill a paddle, made myself one at the same time since I figured I might give it a go. While they came out beautiful they weighed about the same as an oar from a viking longboat and I was stupid enough to think the blade acted like a scoop (backwards) so I shaped the handle accordingly. Brother Bill's is a very nice wall decoration in the Ponohouse on maui and the other was auctioned off for charity as art after I did a woodburning of a humpback whale and calf. Later paddles have come out much better.....
1st two
Mako Shark inlays
Book Matched blade
Wood burning for the charity paddle....Best thing about this is that I've become great friends with the guy that bought it and we planned the cape Cod Bay Challenge together
This paddle was fast and light but I snapped the shaft while surfing. I've changed my methods since.
Best paddles you can emulate are the Malamas IMO. Light, strong, and beautiful.
Heres how he makes them.http://www.kenalu.com/2008/04/04/waterproof-artwork-malama-paddles/
Have fun...definitely gratifying to paddle something you've made with your own hands. I have to admit though...I paddle carbon most of the time. You just can't match the weight with wood.
Ok well i think i can do one will get some wood on monday and start laminating the handle will keep you up dated guys once finished will need to find out who to get glass from as the kits are to small
once finished will ge one of you to try it out for me cool ?
could mean that i wont be on here every night LOL
Hey fat,ask Piros mate he has made some awesome wooden paddles,check his profile and you bumped into he at MMN
btw,your spelling is good today,lol
maced out
yep fat i can see that,so your going to make a paddle, oh if I had the time
As I said before,they are art!
mac
Hi Stoneaxe,
What tool/device are you using for your wood burning?
I have been using a basic engraver from the hardware on wood products but that wouldn't allow the detail that you have achieved in the picture shown.
Courts
I'm sure Piros would not mind giving a few tips, remember his garage pics with that great looking double bend paddle, a real master craftmans job.
Rod
Nothing bizarre about that Stoneaxe, a little out of the ordinary maybe, but still a great Father- Daughter moment. Thanks for sharing. ( nice tat by the way )
Mick
I am currently making wooden paddles - up to paddle six so far. Check out
photos of last five. These paddles are made using Tasmanian wood. No snapped paddles yet. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Wow! They look absolutely amazing. The whales remind me of the artwork in Lahaina Scrimshaw shop at Whalers Village on Maui. Why does everything remind me of Maui? Anyway, coming from someone who really is not very artistic I find I can really appreciate your paddles. I bet you get some cool comments when you take them into the lineup. Nice one
Well it certainly felt a little weird to me to be tattooing my kid. It is kind of cool now that its done....all her friends want me to do one for them now. I've always been a popular Dad....
Beautiful paddles Clifton. What woods are you using? Nice combination of colors.
Here's a good resource for wood species selection...works for you guys especially...has a lot of Aussie species in it. A good way to check the strength/weight ratio. Very important factor is the MOE...modulus of elasticity...how far it will bend before breaking. The higher the number the better. I've started using a relatively low density but still high MOE wood for the spine of my shafts. Trying to maximize strength while still keeping it light. The rest of the woods are selected for density's below 400. Mostly I use cedar because its inexpensive, easy to get and comes in a wide range of colors right off the same rack. I mix in some exotics for grain and color.
This list shows some great woods down under for building paddles. Not sure how many are readily commercially available though. I'd love to get some of them. Bonewood sounds like it would make a great spine to a paddle.
Kind of a unusual wood reference...about building Noah's ark.
answersingenesis.org/the-flood/
i am using boat building timber mainly houn pine , kingbilly pine a bit of western red ceder, but the softer the wood the more epoxy it soaks up and the heavier the paddle both houn and kingbilly don't absorb much resin the paddles weigh the same as my oxbow 2 piece cabon paddle
might be a wall piece mate only working with one saw , one sanding grinder and clamps lol
sold all my gear years ago lol
but just won this at auction will help with next one
does anyone have a draw knife they want to sell or loan ?
like this if you dont know what they are see bellow