Homemade paddle

[Singeblister]

WHen i saw how much canoe paddles cost I thought I would make my own , not a great pic of the paddle, but pics of the decor I did on it , I got carried away with my old paints one night sat in the loft both are water colours which are varnished over to seal it in. paintings are supposed to be water nymphs or fairies whatever you want to call them good one side evil the other
hope you like em

This is one of the test paintings i did on paper

 

[Matt Weir]

Superb John I think you may have started a trend.

 

[Singeblister]

lol only problem is Matt i dont want to use it in case i scuff it on a rock , did the Mersey today and had to use one of Gregs plastic things coward that i am , was a great day though my first river grade 2 rapids , ask Greg what the bottom of the river is like Matt

 

[mentalnurse]

cant wait to see it after a few trips out... but looks great mate.

 

[andywinkk]

They are cool i saw them on friday at johns, which wall in your house are you going to hang them on john lol

 

[andy_e]

Aww, you can't not use them - nice work though mate

 

[norseman55731]

I have been mulling over the idea of carving my own canoe paddle. What kind of wood did you use?

 

[John Fenna]

Now that is style!
How does the paddle feel in use?

 

[Bodge]

Nice one SB

Bodge

 

[Bernie Garland]

Well i know now who's getting a commission to do my paddles, when i fetch my canoe of spam,brilliant work,John.

Benie

 

[Tony]

I want to make a paddle, I need to just get on with it, I wonder if there's a paddle maker going to the Moot???

 

[Matt Weir]

ask Greg what the bottom of the river is like Matt

LOL I take it he took a dip

 

[SOAR]

Very nice work John, looks great.

 

[Gailainne]

Oh I like that, nice one John, interesting you only signed the "pretty side" tho .

Sorry I wont see you and "mother" at the moot this year, enjoy your water trip, use the paddle, if you scuff it a bit, you can always make a new one

Regards

Stephen

 

[Singeblister]

try to answer a few questions
The paddle is made from a solid piece of ash which started life 2" thick by 9" wide and 9ft long , the price for this wood started out at £48 I laughed at wood supplier until he came down to £28 then coughed up the money out of the piece I made one paddle which is all once piece the rest was cut up into square section some of that made the seats and hangers in my canoe and i have some long stave's left to make more paddles , need to safe up for some nice cherry and do a laminated one.
I did use the paddle before it was painted and it worked very well was nice to use but it was a tad heavy so I took it back in the workshop and thinned out the shaft and the blade, I had a couple of bad weeks with my leg and was stuck in this was when the paints came out lol
Sadly I wont be attending the moot this year , money is to tight
If anyone fancies making their own paddle its not that hard just takes a long time , I did 95% of mine by hand with a spoke shave the other 5% being cut out on a band saw and the use of an electric sander very rewarding though, and it does feel nicer to use than anything you can buy ,,,yes even a grey owl

 

[Singeblister]

LOL I take it he took a dip

He did but he was trying to master a very hard maneuver some fancy stroke that moves you out of rocks way and the like while going at speed , only problem is ,,, if you get it wrong you sink hehe
:Thinkingo

 

[brancho]

Nice work indeed

 

[timtom1]

very nice work mate!