Hi, I'd like to show a paddle I made during winter/spring this year.
I wanted to make a paddle out of a local wood (mid Sweden) and chose out a birch, as straight and with as little branches as possible. The bucksaw in the picture is a small model, the one used to make the paddle was a bigger one made on the spot before sawing and chopping down the birch (diameter about 35cm). It was December, around freezing, snowing lightly. The log was split using two axes next to each other. A rude plank was chopped out and then I left it to dry for two months.
So two months later I took the SFA and started chopping out a rude paddle, making sure everything was straight with a rope and sight. It was nicer to work on it once the temperature started to get just under or around freezing in March. So then I made the final shaping with the axe and went over to the crooked knife. Rounding the shaft, thinning the blade and finalizing the handle. Left it to dry until May and oiled it with linseed oil and a little tar.
I was afraid it would bend during the drying process but it didn't too much, it did a little though, but nothing I can notice while paddling with it.
The only cutting tools used.
The Algonquin blade.
The handle.
Hope you like it.
I wanted to make a paddle out of a local wood (mid Sweden) and chose out a birch, as straight and with as little branches as possible. The bucksaw in the picture is a small model, the one used to make the paddle was a bigger one made on the spot before sawing and chopping down the birch (diameter about 35cm). It was December, around freezing, snowing lightly. The log was split using two axes next to each other. A rude plank was chopped out and then I left it to dry for two months.
So two months later I took the SFA and started chopping out a rude paddle, making sure everything was straight with a rope and sight. It was nicer to work on it once the temperature started to get just under or around freezing in March. So then I made the final shaping with the axe and went over to the crooked knife. Rounding the shaft, thinning the blade and finalizing the handle. Left it to dry until May and oiled it with linseed oil and a little tar.
I was afraid it would bend during the drying process but it didn't too much, it did a little though, but nothing I can notice while paddling with it.
The only cutting tools used.
The Algonquin blade.
The handle.
Hope you like it.
