: hello everyone!
: while i wait for my epoxy to cure i decided to buy a "top choice"
: 2x6 and make a greenland paddle. it is/was going good but i noticed that
: when i cut out the loom part the hunk of pine is warping. i think i cut
: away some of the grain that kept the hunk of pine straight. now i know why
: people use laminations, switch the grain up to avoid warp. is this warp
: part of "the deal" with traditional paddles? should i just leave
: it? ideas anyone? i thought of finishing the paddle, soaking it in water,
: then clamping it down to my work bench. if i do this, will i have to do
: this every time when i use it?
: cluess, bent, and left handed,
: brett the hitman hart

The high moisture content of 2 x construction grade lumber will cause it to warp as it dries in unpredictable ways. Once it starts to warp and twist it's difficult to correct.

You could have luck making paddles from 2 X's if you bought some clear 2 X s and let them dry for a couple months in your shop. You must "sticker" (place small sticks perpendicular to the board length) and weight the board so it will dry straight.

Clear 2 X wood is most likely from 2 X 10 and 2 X 12 boards because they are cut from larger trees. The wider boards are usually stored in drier places because they cost more and turn over is lower so the likelhood of finding drier clear wood is best in the wide 2 xs.

In college a friend of mine was so proud of the end table he built of 2 X lumber. That was until it dried and only three legs ever touched the ground again.

This why you should not use 2 X lumber for a strongback.

All the best,

Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K
www.LaughingLoon.com