Replies

1. 
   DonfromUtah | Sep 21, 2005 01:37am | #1

   Ping pong? Canoe? Kayak?

2. 
   Floss | Sep 21, 2005 01:45am | #2

   fer spankin?

   http://www.jpkfinefurniture.com
3. 
   Segil | Sep 21, 2005 10:52am | #3

   I made canoe paddles once and used one piece, so there was no joint at all.  Cut two paddles out of your lumber, nested reversed to one and other, and you will keep the waste factor down.  The blade gets tapered down from the round shaft on the jointer to about 1/4" at the tip.  Just a simple paddle, but quite functional.

4. 
   DonC | Sep 21, 2005 03:55pm | #4

   The high end canoe paddles that I own are butt jointed,shaped,sanded,and then covered with fiberglass. the shaft is not covered. Wal-Mart inexpensive ones are also butt edge jointed and varnished. No fiberglass.

   I cover the very tips of all paddles with slow set epoxy and usually coat it 3 times. Quick set is too brittle. This really helps prevent moisture from attacking thru the torn end grain of a well used paddle.

5. 
   sapwood | Sep 21, 2005 08:11pm | #5

   I've made a few canoe paddles. I used one long piece of wood, usually oak or ash, for the handle and center of the blade. For the blade, I glued on a variety of wood species alternating light and dark to get the width I wanted. Then shaped the whole. This eliminates any joint between the handle and blade. It also allows you to use up some scrap lumber. Use waterproof glue.

1. 
   kenwerner | Sep 22, 2005 05:33am | #6

   I've made a handful [sorry for the pun] of bent-shaft and straight paddles. I like to steam bend and laminate 1/4" thick x about 1 1/4" strips into about a 14 degree bed. Great use for bowed stock. Gorilla glue. I butt joint the blade to this central part, and taper it to about 1/4". Shape the shaft with a draw knife and spoke shave. Shape the handle with a rasp. Epoxy the end of the blade for durability. Spar varnish. They hold up well, and weigh little. Find a paddle whose looks and lines you like and trace its shape on a piece of paper. Use that as a starting point for your blade design. Good luck.Ken Werner

6. 
   kenwerner | Sep 25, 2005 12:09am | #7

   here are pictures of a couple of bent shaft paddles. The dark one is walnut and bass, the lighter one is butternut and bass.

   This is my first time posting photos, so cut me some slack if they aren't any good.

   Ken Werner

   
1. 
   byhammerandhand | Sep 25, 2005 01:57am | #8

   There was a good article in Popular Woodworking recently (Issue 142, 8/2004) by John Wilson (the Shaker Oval Box Man). You may be able to buy this back issue directly from them or find it at your library or a friend.