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Happy Winter Solstice! 🌇🌃
Paddle making extravaganza
- Thread starter memaquay
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Lol Alan, you should see the size of the kid making that one. We've got some giants up here.
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Hmm... I dunno... looks like an art class except more paddles! 
I don't normally make multi laminates, but I needed an ottertail to round out my demo paddles. Maple shaft, I think it's walnut, and cherry. Got some weird purple wood too, have no idea what it is, but hand planes reaqlly nice.
If it’s purple when cut but eventually turns brown it is most likely Purpleheart.
Nice paddles.
Jim
Nice paddles.
Jim
Nice. Are you gonna let the kids paint that paddle? If I were you I wouldn't let Darby, Danielle, Kelly or KIm anywhere near that.
Just a hunch.
Just a hunch.
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Purpleheart would be OK as a very thin lam or accent on the handle, but it’s very dense and heavy stuff. It can also be a bear to work with. I had a piece that I ended up final shaping with a file.
Yes it is Woodpuppy, I have some in the shop now and have worked with it. A friend of mine is building a 65’ schooner and used it for the stem, keel, and sternpost. That is where the pieces in my shop came from.
Jim
Jim
Well, the extravaganza is over, yesterday was my last day of work for this year. I have been released into the wilds once again. Around 25 paddles were made between two classes, most of them were pretty good, nice looking and functional. I'm paddled out now though, won't be making anymore for quite a while.
Really nice work. Take any photos of the talented craftspeople holding their paddles? They should go in the Yearbook for sure.
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Very nice. Enjoy your summer. Hope to see you July(ish).
I have used purpleheart for knife handles. It is harder to work with than any wood I have seen.
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Works of art, each and everyone. Behind every good student there is an even “GOODER” teacher.
Great job Memaquay, you have given those kids a great gift and something that will be a remembered for a long time.
Great job Memaquay, you have given those kids a great gift and something that will be a remembered for a long time.
I like them all, to get the students to make such nice paddles takes a special talent, well done.
That's a wonderful shop project for kids. But it starkly limns the differences in culture between Ontario and most parts of the USA, where kids would say, "What the heck would anyone need a canoe paddle for."
The variety of blade shapes is comprehensive, my favorite (not that it matters) currently being probably the 5th from the right. The patterns are creative. Great job by teacher and students.
The variety of blade shapes is comprehensive, my favorite (not that it matters) currently being probably the 5th from the right. The patterns are creative. Great job by teacher and students.
My 9yo would be more excited about a blocky paddle in Minecraft. He’d probably go whack sheep with it.
(video game characterized by pixelated stages, objects, animals, and people as a throwback to those gen 1 poor res games)
If you are trying to fill holes, thickened epoxy isn't really a good tool.
Consider setting up a little dam around the holely site and use unthickened to fill the holes, just fill the dam area and let it seep into the hole(s).
keep the mixed epoxy spread out to maximize working time and keep the dam area topped up as it seeps into the hole. If the holes exit anywhere, slap a piece of tape over any hole exits.
The epoxy will keep flowing long after it kicks, so having the dam reservoir allows the epoxy to keep wicking into the holes long after you figure it has stopped.
In the morning, the excess green epoxy is easy to scrape off and you will likely have completely filled the holes.
Just food for thought
Brian
I think that the shape of voyageur paddle blade is due to it being a cheap quick way to knock out a bunch of paddles - straight sides, no curves, perfect for mass produced carved work paddles.
