Kudzu

Since I couldn't paddle today, I built a paddle. Well I started yesterday so actually I finished a paddle today. It's a Greenland style double bladed kayak paddle.

I have been saving this nasty piece of wood for a while now. I think it is old grown Western Red Cedar but I am not sure. It also looks a lot like mahogany but I don't think so.

Doesn't look like much does it? It was one of two diving boards on a boat house I salvaged.



Under all the dirt and weathering is a beautiful grain and along side is some samples I was considering.



I cut it up and then glued it up and let it dry overnight.



Saw it to rough shape and start working it hand planes, spoke shave and rasps.



Here I was about to start working the shoulders to fit my hand.



Here it is after a lot of work with the hands tools and a lot of sanding and a coat of oil






All this is left is to take it to the water and see how it performs. Make any changes and then varnish it.

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It seems I have reached the point where I can forget things easily....of course this just means there is always room for more.

firehawkmph

Kudzu,
Nice job on the paddle. Hard to believe that old cruddy piece of wood turned out so nice. Way to recycle.
Mike Hawkins

frankp

Kudzu, good looking paddle. Looks more like mahogany than cedar to me, especially after the finish, but I'd have to test it to be sure. Why don't you send it my way and I'll give it a few strokes on the potomac and get back to you with the wood species...

How're the boat kits coming along?

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"I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!"

--Theodore Roosevelt

jdixon

Nice pictures of the paddle build. Looks great!

John

Terry Beeson

Funny how a lot of people would look at that old piece of lumber and think only of firewood... Nice work!!

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I cut that board three times and it's STILL too short!!!...
http://www.geocities.com/capt9992002