: Anyone tried using this stuff for making a paddle?
I've only had experience with this stuff in building construction. The I-beam type is much lighter and about 25% stronger than equal sized dimension lumber.
The laminated beams, which I assume you have been looking at are very strong and very heavy. They're essentially inch and a half exterior plywood. This stuff holds fasteners very well, don't try to pull a 16d out of it. It would be difficult to carve or shape it because of the density of the wood plys and the phenolic glues. I can't say enough about it as a constuction material, but it's better to build boats in than with.
That said, there was a piece in Fine Woodworking's last issue on a guy who uses sheets of this stuff to make elegant patterned furniture.