Paddles Freec
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How to build DOUBLE AND SINGLE TOURING PADDLES DESIGNER Michael Storer Adelaide, Australia Email – [email protected] Table of Contents Table of Contents.................................................................................................................2 LICENCE..............................................................................................................................3 PADDLES – Overview..........................................................................................................3 Comments on Paddles.....................................................................................................3 TIMBER................................................................................................................................4 Timber Selection..............................................................................................................4 Plywood............................................................................................................................4 TIMBER LIST.......................................................................................................................4 EPOXY STUFF...................................................................................................................5 MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS..........................................................................................5 TOOLS.................................................................................................................................6 MAKING PADDLES.............................................................................................................7 Making the Paddle to Fit Yourself....................................................................................7 Shaping the Shaft.............................................................................................................8 Laminating a shaft ...........................................................................................................8 PADDLE SHAFT DIMENSION DRAWING...........................................................................9 Marking the Shaft...........................................................................................................10 Planing the first two faces..............................................................................................11 Rounding the Shaft – making and using a spar gauge..................................................11 Planing the second two faces.........................................................................................12 Marking the paddle blade scoops...................................................................................12 Cutting the scoops.........................................................................................................12 Making the blank 8 sided................................................................................................13 Cut the ply for the blades...............................................................................................13 Gluing the blades on the shaft – the dry run – NO GLUE YET......................................14 Gluing the blades on the shaft – the real thing!!!............................................................14 Fitting the handles to the single blade paddle................................................................14 Shaping the handles......................................................................................................15 Rounding the Shaft and handle......................................................................................15 Hand sand to get rid of sanding marks from rounding the shaft.....................................15 Final Epoxy coating........................................................................................................16 Painting and Varnishing.................................................................................................16 APPENDICES....................................................................................................................17 Cordless Battery Drill with Clutch...................................................................................17 Wet-on-Wet Coating and Dewaxing Cured Epoxy.........................................................17 Filleting and Gluing using “Snap Lock” Plastic Bags......................................................17 Giving Yourself Time......................................................................................................18 Building strong lightweight boats and items - a note on the use of epoxy......................18 © Michael Storer 3 LICENCE The download of this plan entitles the purchaser to build paddles for their own boat/s. The right to make paddles to these plans for sale to others is by a further small fee per paddle to be negotiated with the designer. Contact [email protected] The purchaser must decide whether the paddle will suit their purposes. I have offered a description of the paddle and its building which is offered in good faith, but it is limited in that it is my opinion only. As there is no control over the materials or workmanship there is no warranty expressed or implied. PADDLES – Overview Comments on Paddles There are two paddles detailed in this pack single bladed and double bladed. It is usual to carry single bladed paddles on a canoe, but a double bladed paddle can be useful as an auxiliary when paddling by yourself or in calm conditions. There is information on sizing the paddles to the user - this is particularly important on long trips. Kayaks and one person canoes usually use a double bladed paddle. Many manufactured paddles are designed to suit the strength of a competitive paddler who trains regularly. As a result the blades are too large and the recreational or distance paddler will tire quickly and have difficulty handling the paddle in waves and wind. The paddles in this plan have been designed around recreational use and a wide range of weather and sea conditions. They are general purpose, designed for covering distance, not for sprints or tight maneuvering against the clock. A specialist paddle will be better in those cases. The construction is solid timber for the shaft and two layers of 3mm ply for the blade. This form of blade construction is far stronger and lighter than shaping them from solid timber so it expected that the paddles will stand up to rigorous use. The construction also allows the paddles to be quickly constructed. The plans are in metric measure. This is by far the most convenient and universal system. Some of my more popular boat plans have materials lists in both systems to simplify ordering, however the building instructions are always in metric. © Michael Storer 4 TIMBER Timber Selection It is best to make paddle shafts from straight, kiln dried fine grain timber. The most appropriate timber to choose in Australia is Oregon (Douglas Fir). Most of the spruce (usually quoted in as the appropriate timber) that we see in this country is poor grade and warps badly when cut or over time. Spruce that is fine grain and dried properly will not warp but is expensive and hard to get. Paddle shafts need to be light but strong. Fine grain gives strength and resilience. To see if the grain is fine enough, look at the annual rings on the end of the piece. There should be 25 grains per inch. The timber should be knot free. Warped timber is heartbreaking in paddles, however a small amount of warping can be eliminated in the shaping process. Timber weights vary quite a bit. It is more important to have the timber fine grained and knot free, but if you have to choose between two pieces take the less heavy. Plywood The plywood for the blades should be 3mm thick. Gaboon marine ply would be recommended for its light weight. Contact me if you have difficulty finding a supplier in the sizes that you need TIMBER LIST all dimensions are finished sizes and are in mm unless stated otherwise. Oregon - Douglas Fir, Spruce, select dry stock. Fine grain, no knots. See notes above. Part Size Length Number Species 3mm Gaboon Ply 3ply Single Paddle 580 * 235 - 2 Double Paddle 525 * 180 - 4 Shaft Single Paddle 32 * 32 1500 1 Oregon Double Paddle 32 * 32 2500 1 Oregon Handle Single Paddle 32 * 36 250 1 Oregon Double Paddle none © Michael Storer 5 EPOXY STUFF Epoxy 1.5 litres will do two single paddles and a double Fortifier gluing powder 0.5 kg or less MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS Barrier creme for hands If you use it religiously the epoxy will come off with soap and water. DO NOT USE SOLVENTS FOR CLEANING SKIN. Bag of disposable gloves Foam rollers 1 - they have a thin layer of foam on the card board roller. If you can get a short roller cage handle (ask your epoxy supplier or included in kit) it means the rollers can be cut in three - a good economy for a little boat like this. Masking tape 19mm (3/4") wide Roll of plastic packaging tape 37mm or 50mm wide (1 1/2 or 2"). Sheets sandpaper - alumina paper (white grit) is best. 4 sheets each of 100 grit and 180 grit Some plastic sheeting would be useful. Heaps of clean, empty tin cans Stirring sticks made of scrap timber 200 by 20 by 6mm approx. © Michael Storer 6 TOOLS Tape Measure - The best type for boatbuilding has Metric on one side and inches with sixteenths marked on other. Metal straight edge around a metre (3 - 4ft) long. Combination square. Jigsaw and/or Japanese back saw. Tenon saw would work okay. Planes