Author Topic: Re: Birch canoe paddle/ tested it out /pics  (Read 11540 times)

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Offline Jesse

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Re: Birch canoe paddle/ tested it out /pics
« on: March 19, 2010, 07:39:51 pm »
This was my attempt at making a paddle. Not sure if it is right or not but it was fun to make and I though it came out pretty good. Its made from a white birch tree I cut at my dads a few years back. It wasnt quite wide enough so I glued on 1 1/2" pieces on the blade edges. The main part of the blade + the shaft and handle are all one piece.
Also my first attempt at wood burning. I think the sandhill crane looks good but up close its blotchy. There is a trick to wood burning I just dont know it ;D
« Last Edit: March 24, 2010, 10:54:04 pm by Jesse »
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."
    --Frank A. Clark

Offline John K

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Re: Birch canoe paddle
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2010, 07:46:48 pm »
Looks great Jesse ! I bet it's light !!
The only way to fail is to never start !

HatchA

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Re: Birch canoe paddle
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2010, 08:19:39 pm »
Looks like a really nice paddle.  What are the dimensions of it?  Did you seal it at all?  I'd be afraid of the glued edges de-lamming from water submersion  :-\

Offline youngbowyer33

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Re: Birch canoe paddle
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2010, 08:41:30 pm »
thats awesome
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us"

Offline Jesse

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Re: Birch canoe paddle
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2010, 08:53:51 pm »
Thanks a lot guys.
It seems pretty light to me :)
Yes I did seal it. I have 5 coats of spar urethane on it now so far. The shaft is 1" thick The blade is 3/8" thick in the center and tapers to the edges. The blade is 6 1/2" wide and it is 60" long. My favorite paddle broke and that was 62".
« Last Edit: March 19, 2010, 08:57:57 pm by Jesse-S »
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."
    --Frank A. Clark

Offline cowboy

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Re: Birch canoe paddle
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2010, 08:58:43 pm »
I can't tell any difference between that one and the one's at the store. You did a great job on her! I wonder how much an osage paddle would weigh ::) hmmm ;D.
When you come upon a track or trail you do not know, follow it to the point of knowing.

Offline Jesse

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Re: Birch canoe paddle
« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2010, 09:13:41 pm »
I wonder how much an osage paddle would weigh ::) hmmm ;D.
might be a bit heavy  ;D Im not sure if birch was a good choice but its what I had. I did a search for a birch paddle and found nothing :) I think cherry and cedar are the preferred woods.
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."
    --Frank A. Clark

Offline DanaM

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Re: Birch canoe paddle
« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2010, 09:14:11 pm »
Cool paddle Jesse, just don't let Angie get after ya with it ;) :D

You get everything straighened out with the boss?
"Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things."

Manistique, MI

Offline Jesse

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Re: Birch canoe paddle
« Reply #8 on: March 19, 2010, 09:16:26 pm »
Thanks Dana. Yeah its pretty well straightened out with the boss. I Just have to try and get tuesday off yet :)
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."
    --Frank A. Clark

Offline DanaM

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Re: Birch canoe paddle
« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2010, 09:18:58 pm »
Cool we leavin on tuesday ;) ;D
"Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things."

Manistique, MI

Offline Jesse

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Re: Birch canoe paddle
« Reply #10 on: March 19, 2010, 09:19:42 pm »
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."
    --Frank A. Clark

Offline DanaM

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"Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things."

Manistique, MI

Offline Jesse

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Re: Birch canoe paddle/ tested it out /pics
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2010, 10:53:23 pm »
I spent the last few days testing out the paddle. Canoed about 15 miles. Today was fun. We went down a beautiful stretch of the peshtigo river that had plenty of class 1 rapids with two stretches of solid class 2 rapids. We got soaked and a boulder put a hole right through the front of my canoe but it was a blast. The paddle held up great :)
Here are some pictures I took in the calm areas. Wish I got some of rapids but I was more worried about keeping the canoe from flipping ;D
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."
    --Frank A. Clark

Lombard

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Re: Birch canoe paddle/ tested it out /pics
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2010, 11:05:13 pm »
Looks good in the photo, the woodburning too.

Offline ricktrojanowski

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Re: Birch canoe paddle/ tested it out /pics
« Reply #14 on: March 24, 2010, 11:50:37 pm »
Cool paddle,  Nice to see it is working out well too. 
Traverse City, MI