Know How
PLANE AND SIMPLE. PHOTO: KAYDI PYETTE
[ CAMPCRAFT ] DIY Canoe Paddles WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• WOOD PLANK OR PADDLE BLANK PENCIL
• •
BAND SAW OR JIGSAW • SANDPAPER (VARIOUS GRITS)
• HONED SPOKESHAVE • •
EPOXY, VARNISH OR OIL 8 TO 16 HOURS
GET STARTED After determining paddle length, choose an appropriate one-and-a-quar- ter-inch by six-inch plank. Pencil in a centerline on both faces. Draw your paddle profile, including blade, shaft and grip—tracing a favored paddle is fair game. Cut the profile on a bandsaw to create the blank, then draw a centerline along this new edge, bisecting the width of the paddle.
THE BLADE Shape your blade by beveling with a spokeshave from the centerline of each face to the edge. Work to achieve a thickness of three-eigths-of-an-inch on the lower third of the blade, tapered from a thickness of five-eigths in the middle third. The upper third of the blade should taper to the width of the shaft. Leave a spine on the centerline in the upper third of the blade face. When the blade is the desired thickness, round the edges.
Tip: The sharper the edges the easier the blade enters the water. However, they are more easily damaged.
GRIP AND SHAFT Use the spokeshave to shape the grip. Pencil in lines along the lengths of all four sides of the shaft, halfway between the centerlines and the shaft edges. Using these guide lines, use a spokeshave to remove the four edges of your square shaft, creating an new octagonal shaft. Now remove those eight edges and continue shaping the shaft to a soft oval that fits your hand comfortably.
Starter Kit The Canadian Canoe Museum
offers would-be woodworkers a starter kit that includes a honed spokeshave, paddle blank and the book Canoe Paddles: A Complete Guide To Making Your Own for $161. Order at
www.canadi-
ancanoemuseum.com.
FINISHING Use a piece of 80 grit sanding cloth to remove tool marks and give an even shape. Sand again with 120-150 grit paper to remove the 80 grit marks, then 220 grit sandpaper to finish. Consider a light stain on white woods, such as ash. Finally, finish with an exterior grade polyurethane/spar varnish or marine oil. Follow manufacturer directions. RUSS PARKER
j DIGITAL EXTRA: Click here for more detailed instructions and photos.
HOW TO CARVE YOUR OWN BEAUTIFUL BLADES
While the idea of carving your own paddle may be intimidating, it’s an at- tainable project for anyone with the right tools and willingness to learn. Follow this step-by-step approach to produce paddles you can be proud to use and show off.
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