I've been on the lookout for THE piece of wood for a paddle for some time. Most of the wood I've picked through has been good enough to build a deck or a fence from but nothing seems to be free enough of knots to build a paddle from. This is my first crack at building a paddle and from what I've read here chances are I will want to make another of different dimensions after I actually try it.
The nicest pieces of wood for a loom seem to be 1X2 8' spruce that are actually made of shorter pieces finger jointed together. These pieces are straight and knot free, if 2 of them were laminated so that none of the joints lined up would they make a suitable paddle shaft? I don't know if the glue in the finger joints is water proof or not, maybe immerse a test piece in boiling water and see what happens.
At about a buck apiece is there a good reason why I shouldn't give it a try for a first paddle?

Thanks,

Ken

: Hi Greg,

: I agree, I should have said the least expensive. I just bought an $18 Alaskan
: yellow cedar 2x6, which is expensive for a 2x6, but cheap, cheap, cheap
: next to carbon fiber paddles.

: My laminated spruce shafts are lighter than CF paddles.

: Shawn