Making paddles

I was just wondering if anyone knew the materials used now days
for making a modern canoe paddle. What kinds of woods, materials, angles of the blade, procedures.
Go easy on me cause I dont know squat about building canoes or anything...
I just wanted to see if I could make my own paddle with a massive blade, seeing now a days all the paddles have tiny little blades.
Any facts about light and strong materials would be helpful too.

Any manao is very appreciated...
shoots...

Submitted by hoolehuaboy08 on Tue, 02/10/2009 - 1:36pm



Every paddler should make there own blade at some point

if its your first I would start with Bass wood and if you have access to machinery I would rip then plane with a joiner 1" 1/4 strips. then glue them all together. the angle is 9 ish . if you could get a old blade somewhere take measurements of it. and then use a hand planer and grinder to shape it. then random orbadell sander it and get down to 150 grit and varnish


#1 Tue, 02/10/2009 - 2:32pm


wow

Thats exactly what I was looking for,
thanks for the help....


#2 Tue, 02/10/2009 - 4:02pm


any time


#3 Tue, 02/10/2009 - 6:00pm


using only bass wood on the shaft is ok if you glass it.. it still will break if you laminate it. beleive me i went through the times of trial and error.. trying different woods and different ways of making blade .. as for a big blade just order my new blade its a 10 1/4 in blade called the BEAST ! its a real good blade but its not for any paddler just the crazy ones.. .. my team riders really love it and juts reodered different lenghts.. mahalo..


#4 Tue, 02/10/2009 - 8:19pm


the wider the shorter?


#5 Tue, 02/10/2009 - 9:03pm


vijion - Do your paddle shafts have an irregular shape? meaning not round but more oval shaped? I used one once in the Lili'u race and cant remember if it was one of yours but I loved the feel way better than the Kialoa.


#6 Tue, 02/10/2009 - 10:52pm


jpi92109 my shafts are more rounder a lot more comfortable but i also can make to the customers specs if there willing to dirve to my shop.. did a few already and they where very happy with it.. mahalo.


#7 Wed, 02/11/2009 - 6:30am


Is a special join needed for the blade/shaft union, or is a glued scarf sufficient?


#8 Wed, 02/11/2009 - 8:26am


well I start with gluing the first blade strip to the back side of the shaft and let it set up then join the side blade pieces so they cross each other ,if that makes any sense. but that is the weakest point of the paddle where the blade and shaft meet. and try to get 100% contact for the best gluing bond. I just use carpenters glue but you could use 2 part epoxy

I guess Bass wood is soft for shafts . Vijion what wood would you suggest ?


#9 Wed, 02/11/2009 - 4:05pm


i use popular for my shaft.. but also use bass but i put a 1/4 inch popular between but thats only for my blade.. and my team riders.. for customers its all popular wood for the shaft.. and use structual adhesive for joining the blade angle thats the strongest glue .. using wood glue normally dont last .. ask me i repalced a few blades when i first started lol..


#10 Wed, 02/11/2009 - 6:02pm


Vijion
I forgot about Popular. we use to be able to get Sitka spruce but its hard to find any moor. remember Howard Hughes made the spruce goose out of it. light and tuff. we also use yellow cedar. maple if its cured long enough. heavy wood.

What is structural adhesive ?


#11 Wed, 02/11/2009 - 6:20pm


its a 2 part epoxy .. called T-88


#12 Wed, 02/11/2009 - 6:33pm


Also Vijion:

What kind of finish do you use? Varathane or Spar Varnish?


#13 Thu, 02/12/2009 - 11:58pm


thanks for all the info...

vijion, where is your shop in Waianae?
and do you have any 51 "beasts" left?


#14 Fri, 02/13/2009 - 11:33am


koacanoe.. i use epoxy for my finish but u can use spar varnish or polyurethane.. those are a lot cheaper..

hoolehuaboy08 sorry i dont have the best in stock every ones want thats blade .you can order one any tine just email me its on my website.. and yes my shop is in waianae..

Aloha, Danny Sanchez


#15 Fri, 02/13/2009 - 4:03pm


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