Those humps where the shaft transitions to the paddle face are really difficult to get the glass to sit flat. I think either cutting relief slits or using super light glass (like 2 ounce) would make the job nicer. Looking good!!!
Showing posts with label Paddle Making. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Paddle Making. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Steering Paddle
Charlie's latest paddle - a OC-6 Steering Paddle 
Those humps where the shaft transitions to the paddle face are really difficult to get the glass to sit flat. I think either cutting relief slits or using super light glass (like 2 ounce) would make the job nicer. Looking good!!!
Those humps where the shaft transitions to the paddle face are really difficult to get the glass to sit flat. I think either cutting relief slits or using super light glass (like 2 ounce) would make the job nicer. Looking good!!!
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Breaking in the New Paddle
I took the new paddle for a surf this morning at Flat Island. The wind was up so even the short paddle over to the break from the parking lot was challenging. Even with all that, the paddle felt really good. The shaft didn't even feel like it was deflecting at all (I was hoping for a little give - makes it easier for the shoulders and elbows you know).
For the next paddle, I think I can thin down the shaft diameter even more. We'll see - for now, this one is a winner.
For the next paddle, I think I can thin down the shaft diameter even more. We'll see - for now, this one is a winner.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Laminating the Front Face of the Paddle
I spent a few hours at Charlie and Amy's house. I feathered out the fiberglass laps from Saturday's work, and placed the carbon and fiberglass on the front face of the paddle.
I shaped in a curve to the edges of the paddle - and because of that the carbon kept wanting to lift off the edge. I had to coax the carbon to make it stay on the edge as the epoxy cured.
Here is the finished product. I thought it turned out well. I should be able to surf with this on Saturday (oh wait a minute - some @ssh0le stole my truck Sunday night from the apartment complex parking lot!!!! UFB!!!! For the record, this is the third car that has been stolen from me while living on Oahu... what is it about me, Oahu and stolen vehicles????) - what am I going to do without the Surf Taco....
I shaped in a curve to the edges of the paddle - and because of that the carbon kept wanting to lift off the edge. I had to coax the carbon to make it stay on the edge as the epoxy cured.
Here is the finished product. I thought it turned out well. I should be able to surf with this on Saturday (oh wait a minute - some @ssh0le stole my truck Sunday night from the apartment complex parking lot!!!! UFB!!!! For the record, this is the third car that has been stolen from me while living on Oahu... what is it about me, Oahu and stolen vehicles????) - what am I going to do without the Surf Taco....
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Carbon Fiber Layup on the SUP Paddle
After working at the fish pond, I got a bunch more work all pau on the paddle today. Glued on the handle, laminated the carbon and fiberglass onto the back of the paddle face and shaft.
The fiber lay went really well - nicely saturated and a cool 'x' pattern emerged from the carbon fiber/fiberglass.
Tomorrow will clean up from today's epoxy work and laminating the front paddle face, the throat of the paddle and the front of the shaft. I am getting anxious to take this thing into the surf!!! Maybe next weekend.
The fiber lay went really well - nicely saturated and a cool 'x' pattern emerged from the carbon fiber/fiberglass.
Tomorrow will clean up from today's epoxy work and laminating the front paddle face, the throat of the paddle and the front of the shaft. I am getting anxious to take this thing into the surf!!! Maybe next weekend.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Two and a Half Hours Work...
And after that I got past the final sanding point!
I used a surform with a microplane blade - way better for shaping than most tools out there both in efficiency and ease of use. I'll post a picture of it tomorrow.
So far, this paddle is super light - I'll revisit this statement once the carbon fiber, fiberglass and epoxy start getting added to it. I plan on covering the back face of the paddle, the back half of the shaft and some portion of the front paddle face. That's all for tomorrow (including drilling out the paddle handle and epoxying it on).
Charlie doing some work -
Comparing stick sizes
Mine's bigger
I used a surform with a microplane blade - way better for shaping than most tools out there both in efficiency and ease of use. I'll post a picture of it tomorrow.
So far, this paddle is super light - I'll revisit this statement once the carbon fiber, fiberglass and epoxy start getting added to it. I plan on covering the back face of the paddle, the back half of the shaft and some portion of the front paddle face. That's all for tomorrow (including drilling out the paddle handle and epoxying it on).
Charlie doing some work -
Comparing stick sizes
Mine's bigger
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Speaking of Finishing...
After class today (I'm taking an energy efficiency series of classes), I went to Charlie's house to... work on the paddle. I got the shaft sanded down into the oval shape I was looking for. I also got the shaft and blade glued up.
Hopefully it is straight, or there's going to be a lot more sanding than I was anticipating.
Next is fine tuning the blade rails (light sanding), fairing in the top of the blade with the bottom of the shaft, preparing the handle, laminating carbon/glass onto the backside of the blade, part of the front, parts of the lower shaft and wherever looks like it would benefit from the carbon fiber. Lastly would be a coat of polyurethane on the unepoxied sections of the paddle/handle and then let it all cure for a day or so (or until the weather gets a little less windy).
Hopefully it is straight, or there's going to be a lot more sanding than I was anticipating.
Next is fine tuning the blade rails (light sanding), fairing in the top of the blade with the bottom of the shaft, preparing the handle, laminating carbon/glass onto the backside of the blade, part of the front, parts of the lower shaft and wherever looks like it would benefit from the carbon fiber. Lastly would be a coat of polyurethane on the unepoxied sections of the paddle/handle and then let it all cure for a day or so (or until the weather gets a little less windy).
Charlie's Paddles Progressing to the Pau
I think these were from last Sunday... it's all starting to blur together... too much making paddles...
I need to finish my paddle so I can start surfing again and get my days straight.
I need to finish my paddle so I can start surfing again and get my days straight.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
More Work into the Paddles
I picked up some balsa sheets from the local craft store out here (Ben Franklin - no more Michaels or JoAnns for me, unless I move back to the Mainland).
After deliberating for a while, an optimum solution for gluing up the sheets was made. And I also decided to use fiberglass in between the layers to keep the overall weight down, but beef up the overall strength to the paddle face. The end product will have four layers of glass separated by three layers of thin balsa.
Charlie is embellishing his second canoe paddle with some wood burning. Should be pretty cool.
After deliberating for a while, an optimum solution for gluing up the sheets was made. And I also decided to use fiberglass in between the layers to keep the overall weight down, but beef up the overall strength to the paddle face. The end product will have four layers of glass separated by three layers of thin balsa.
Charlie is embellishing his second canoe paddle with some wood burning. Should be pretty cool.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Amy's Paddle Almost Pau
We spent a good chunk of Saturday walking through the steps to make sure the handle got on well.
Now Charlie has to finish sand and coat with polyurethane spar and the paddle is pau!
Now Charlie has to finish sand and coat with polyurethane spar and the paddle is pau!
Monday, February 23, 2015
Rough Parts Glued Up - SUP Paddle
Speaking of making SUP Surfing Paddles, here is the raw version of the one I'm making.
So Charlie is not making the paddle - these pictures were of him cutting the shaft stock for the one he is building. But cutting the shaft pieces (you want to glue them up so they have more strength than just a single piece) and making sure they are near the final diameter (so you don't spend all your time sanding away the excess wood) are the first steps.
Here is the shaft all glued up. A paddle handle (not sure if it'll go on this paddle or not - we figured out another way to make a handle out of the excess shaft material) is in the last picture. Work for next week - maybe gluing up the paddle face.
So Charlie is not making the paddle - these pictures were of him cutting the shaft stock for the one he is building. But cutting the shaft pieces (you want to glue them up so they have more strength than just a single piece) and making sure they are near the final diameter (so you don't spend all your time sanding away the excess wood) are the first steps.
Here is the shaft all glued up. A paddle handle (not sure if it'll go on this paddle or not - we figured out another way to make a handle out of the excess shaft material) is in the last picture. Work for next week - maybe gluing up the paddle face.
Getting Closer...
Charlie is making a canoe paddle for Amy. I've been watching to learn how so I can make my own (SUP Surfing version).
Rough sanding the blade and rounding out the shaft is pretty much done at this point.
Rough sanding the blade and rounding out the shaft is pretty much done at this point.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Paddle Progress
Charlie cranking it out - paddle face glued up
Time to get busy with the belt sander... I'll probably make a paddle once I'm finished with the hand planes. But for now it is a great learning experience for me just to watch.
Time to get busy with the belt sander... I'll probably make a paddle once I'm finished with the hand planes. But for now it is a great learning experience for me just to watch.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Making a SUP Paddle
Next we stopped by to check up on a friend - Charlie Bisgard. Turns out he had just finished gluing up a SUP paddle blank. I showed him my new kickboard. His joints between slats were way nicer than the way I finished off that old alaia (which is now the paipo/kickboard/handplane). Looking at the paddle kinda got me thinking about making a few myself... maybe one that can double as a flats/stakeout pole - yeah right - with all my spare time.... you have to pick your battles and right now it would be faster to buy one rather than glue one up properly and carve it out nicely.
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