> Hi Paul,

> Where abouts can I find the plans that you made reference to? I think that
> sounds like a great option, might as well do the whole nine yards.

> Thanks for all of the other detailed info too, it sure did help.

> Paul

I did a quick search and came across a posting by someone who had just finished making a paddle like this in February. You might try e-mailing them and asking where they got plans, or if they just made it from scratch.

Generally the plans seem to be pretty simple. The blade is as wide as your board, and you narrow the middle down, and round it, to be the shaft (or loom?)

Start with a clear 7 or 8 foot 2x4.

If you make the handle part 3 feet long your paddle blades will be either 2 or 2.5 feet long. If you make the center part 4 feet long then the blades will be each 6 inches shorter.

I haven't tried this myself, but if I wanted to do this I would start with a clean, knotfree ( or very tiny knots) 2 x 4. (The actual measurements are 1.5 by 3.5 inches.) I'd use my table saw to remove 1/4 inch of wood from the thickness of the plank, making it 1.25 by 3.5 (could use a power plane, or a bandsaw for this, too)

Then, using the table saw or band saw I would shape the blades by cutting away slabs a bit over 3/8 inch thick, and about 2 feet long on both sides, at each end.

That should leave me a rough blade at each end of the board, about 3/8 inches thick, two feet long, and centered on the plank.

Then I would go back to the band saw, or use a sabvresaw to cut off pieces about 1 inch thick and about 3 feet long from both sides of the middle of the board. That should leave me a square handle that is about 1 and 1/8th to 1 1/4 inches square in the center of my former 2x4. I would leave a chunk of wood about 3 inches long between the middle ( handle, shaft or loom?) of the paddle, and the blades.

Finally I would get a plane and round off the handle, thin the blades a bit to make them lighter, and I would shape the block of wood between the blades and the handle by hand so that one part of the paddle merged smoothly into the other.

A few minutes with a bandsaw and a lot of time with a plane, or a belt sander, and I should have a nice paddle.

Can't find a clear 2x4? Look at the molding and trim area at the hardware store and get some square molding. Glue it up to make a piece that is about the shape you want, and then cut your paddle from that.

To keep the blades strong, cover with a layer of glass cloth and 2 coats of resin. You can make really thin and flexible blades that are also strong.

You can also use a closet rod ( birch or fir are common) about 4 or 5 feet long. Cut or plane the ends to create a flat area a few inches long and glue ( or screw) on pieces of thin plywood for blades. Cover the blades and the joint between the blades and the handle with glass cloth and epoxy resin for strength.

The possibilities are great.

Hope this helps.

Paul G. Jacobson