Making my own paddle from a large leafed lime tree WIP

[Retired Member southey]

Cheers guys, I don't have any draw knives or scrapers, but will move to a small rasp and sanding once its dry enough, thanks for the concern Gill matey, I where thongs most of the time, but I am very focused on the task, I have a lesson scar on my right ankle/shin that reminds me of how easy it can be to hurt yourself with an axe, slightly drunk and decided to play, it is a silly and dangerous decision to make and I got away lightly with a two inch scar and no cut tendons, the one thing I will make for any future projects this size is a shave horse, the axe work brilliantly as a shave as long as its very sharp, I use a Morton whet stone from QDanT often to keep it hair popping slicey. I haven't done anything to the paddle today but will have a sanding session later, and shape the handle, though I keep going to the garage to look at it.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Grabbed a lime axe handle i messed up a little while ago to do a rough strength test, it is roughly the thickness of the thickest part of the shaft, I weigh 88kg, not much and a short stick ut it didnt bend at all,

 

[Stew]

Nice! Glad I'm wrong about the strength. I guess now I think about it more, as a paddle, it would be fine. Just couldn't help thinking of it as a soft wood but then water isn't exactly a problem in that respect. More dubious about an axe handle though!

 

[Retired Member southey]

used it to mock up a short handle for a double bit, now looking for a longer bit of maple

 

[Retired Member southey]

just to make myself feel better, thought id try the same standing on it test with a piece longer and rougher than the shaft on the paddle

[video=youtube;iATxnIddaM4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iATxnIddaM4[/video]

I am currently in a boots and shorts phase, much like my winter look of boots a trouser but better for air guitar,

 

[DaveBromley]

loving the air guitar at the end dude!

Dave

 

[Retired Member southey]

Cheers dude! Much like lube, there's all ways time for air guitar!

 

[dwardo]

Nice riff. Nice paddle.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Did a little shaping today, will round the blade shoulders tomorrow and smooth down the shaft, then just hide it out of my sight and leave for a couple of months to dry out,

This is the knife im using, the smallest of the mora classic range,

I is great at making shavings,


Cheers Southey!

 

[persistent king]

looking good Dave

 

[Retired Member southey]

Lots of sanding today, I really need to see a otter tail paddle side on and from the bottom

I think i need to start thinning the blade from here(see finger) down to the tip

Then gonna trim down the shoulders to get the right(in my head) shape and hopefully a nice elegant finish,

Cheers Southey!

 

[Retired Member southey]

first oiling yesterday, I have gone ahead with this and not let patience win, silly me! it currently weighs 1.6 kg, will shape the handle more when the oil had dried completely, next one will be shaped out of a plank or pre dried wood hopefully Ash from local timber yard, it a great project and brilliant when you start to see a paddle more than a plank,

all knots have been constantly fed danish oil,

I will get the proper camera out once I have finished it off poperly,

Lime is a stunning wood with a lovely grain, Im looking forward to making the bowls and cups from the other half of the log! I mad a couple for the blackberry group from branches cut from the lime in the garden, and they have a soap stone kind of look when finished,

Cheers Southey!

 

[Bluemerle]

Patience is a virtue! lol What the hell, thats a great looking paddle.

 

[Retired Member southey]

Reading this guide helped a lot, nice an simple leaving enoiugh for you work out to make it your project,

paddle how to

 

[Retired Member southey]

Patience is a virtue! lol What the hell, thats a great looking paddle.

Thank you very much, there is a place in Odiham that rent out canoes for ten pounds an hour on the Basingstoke canal, so might have go an try it out before i get access to a cheaper one,

 

[Retired Member southey]

Hey guys I need a little helprolleyes is this thin enough and a good shape for the blade?

do you think I should drop the shoulders a little?

Cheers!

Southey,

 

[Mesquite]

Lovely bit of carving there Dave...

 

[Retired Member southey]

Cheers matey! I think a shave horse and a draw knife are definitely called for before the next one though, think I will use the other half of the log for to make one,

 

[Mesquite]

Cheers matey! I think a shave horse and a draw knife are definitely called for before the next one though, think I will use the other half of the log for to make one,

And waste all that lovely carving wood???:yikes: That would be so sinful

Have a look on the forum as there's been a few made from scrap timber for relatively little money.

 

[Retired Member southey]

No fear! I have found a gooooooood supply! with more to come in the autumn