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Mem's making a paddle so do I....

The shears are "Wiss KV2" Kevlar shears. https://www.motioncanada.ca/productDetail.jsp?sku=02429538 is one place the may be found-- the shears are very basic, but work well for Kevlar cloth and mat. Mine are worn out, but I've had them for 10 years.

There are other newer designs, but essentially a serrated shear is appropriate for Kevlar. Noah's Marine carries a larger Kevlar shear; all of these shears are pretty costly.

The Kevlar bump-strips on these paddles are new rough-ins that are still curing; they'll be shaved down and covered in a smooth coat of G/flex. I'll post a photo when they're done.
 
What do you use to shave them down, since doesn't sand really well?? I've used single cut coarse file with success but I'm interested to see what is your technique!!
 
I try to catch the Kevlar/G/flex bumper strip when it's like hard rubber, similar to a hockey puck. It's not sticky, and I can use a spokeshave. Depending on temperature, this is around about 12 hours.

After full cure, I do the final shaping with 100 and 120 grit sandpaper stuck onto boards-- a hard wooden board for the flats, and a medium-hard rubber board for the curves. I try to resist using a bench disc or belt machine on the tips and edges because they can take a big bite if you sneeze! Also, it's difficult to determine what's level and square holding the paddle up to the machine. Smaller hand-held sanders tend to round everything off.

Therefore it's hand-sanded.
 
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Seeing this post reminded me that I needed to make a new paddle for this season. Finished this one off last night, just needs another coat or two of finish.The blade design template was copied off a paddle I purchased a few years back. Good for rivers where I spend most of my time.
Solid ash shaft, butternut and poplar strips.
 
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Ok, that look awesome!! I might have to still that from you!! I have done tips like that but using only G-Flex, they are pretty good as wear strips, but not great if they get jammed in between to rocks...
 

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No shame on using what you have and what works for you!! But don't it feel good to work w/o the noise and the dust?? Life is not all about speed!
Looking good! I will have to wait for the restive the work on the girls ww paddles, I ran out of Epoxy and need warmer temperature to do the glassing outside!!
 
Got most of the planing done. going to sand down the rest, shape the shoulders a little smoother, then start on the shaft. So far, I'm liking it, seems to be coming in fairly light too.

 
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So I finished and refinished a few paddles lately, one is a birch paddle I made for my self, the other one is one a friend of mine bought form me a couple years ago and I needed to refresh it for the summer. I also made a nice deep water paddle for my niece, and fixe the one my wife broke the grip last fall...
I still don't know why the pictures don't load the way I picked them... ho well...
Info bellow the pictures...(missing some stuff that doesn't show...)
So here it is: The Birch paddle, is 66" long, the blade is 28"x 6.25" weight in at 1.05kg it has a reinforced tip.

The small sitka spruce for my niece, is 54" long, the blade is 25"X5", it weighs 0.420kg it has a reinforced tip
The wife's sitka spruce is 60", Blade is 27"x5.5" it weighs 0.520kg also have a reinforced tip.
The small otter tail, is 58", blade is 27"x5.5" it weighs 0.620kg
 

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Mine is basically finished now, just have to put on the clearcoat and varnish, pics in a week or two! Canot, when you mentioned birch, you got me thinking I really want a one piece birch paddle now, I love working with birch, gonna look for some next week!
 
I like how that shape is turning out mem.
What paint do you use Canot?

I don't use paint... I use Aniline Dye, Lockwood, water soluble https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/dept/CLWW. They are really nice dyes and easy to work with. I like the bright colours!! They don't interfere with other finish, but if you are not careful, they tend to "bleed" pass where you want them to end... So I started to scribe a really shallow line/border where I want to have a define line where the finish have to stop!!
 
So I finished and refinished a few paddles lately, one is a birch paddle I made for my self, the other one is one a friend of mine bought form me a couple years ago and I needed to refresh it for the summer. I also made a nice deep water paddle for my niece, and fixe the one my wife broke the grip last fall...
I still don't know why the pictures don't load the way I picked them... ho well...
Info bellow the pictures...(missing some stuff that doesn't show...)
So here it is: The Birch paddle, is 66" long, the blade is 28"x 6.25" weight in at 1.05kg it has a reinforced tip.

The small sitka spruce for my niece, is 54" long, the blade is 25"X5", it weighs 0.420kg it has a reinforced tip
The wife's sitka spruce is 60", Blade is 27"x5.5" it weighs 0.520kg also have a reinforced tip.
The small otter tail, is 58", blade is 27"x5.5" it weighs 0.620kg

That's some beautiful looking work there. Nice job!

Alan
 
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