Nice job and great pictures...Thanks heaps.

DJ

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the encouragement.

Rod

Keep thinking and when the picture is clear, build it, then learn from your mistakes.

Jarrah being a hardwood, with a density of 850kg, compared to balsa of 110kg which is what I use...Hmmm

Rod

Here are some of the finishing images, I'm going to use the paddle before the final spray coat tommorrow.

The paddle, sanding finished, in the spray room.


The spray racks with the paddle spray jigs in place.


A closeup of the paddle spray jig.


The paddle set up on the spray jigs and ready for spraying with acrylac paint. I don't use two-pack urethanes because of the Isocyanates in them.


The first spray coat on the face side. The paddles get sprayed twice and sanded with 320 dry rub paper in between the spray coats.


Closeup of the first coat on the blade face


My fast drying paint tool.


The first spray coat on the chilli side


Closeup of the chilli fabric with the first spray coat


After tommorrows test paddle I'll write a small biased report in the review section..

Rod

Great stuff Rod. I was telling Woogie Marsh who I work with and is chief test pilot and consultant on the Penetrator about you and being a paddle craftsman himself he told me to check out your paddles. Woogie makes KiaKaha paddles, a lot of them and was suitably impressed with your efforts. I was wondering have you ever thought of giving Western Red Ceder a go for the shaft? We use it quite often for yacht hulls, great longditudinal strength, lightweight and it loves epoxy. Wrapped with a single 4oz. plainweave, placed diagonally to the shaft sounds like it could work well to me. Run this down into your balsa cored carbon blade cover one side with that sweet chilli fabric and presto, one hot paddle!!!!
Bear in mind I've never made a paddle and this was just a thought. Thanx for the offer of a beer or two next time Im passing by, after checkin' what you're up to just try and keep me away. By the way what do you mean 50? you look exactly the same as 20 years ago. Cheers, Stuey

Some more paddle images, these are of the finish painting sequence.

The face of the blade fine sanded with 320 dry rub


The final gloss spray coat has been applied in this image. compare this shot to the earlier one of the single coat, this one has a higher gloss and more lustrous finish.


The chilli side ready to spray for the second time


The final spray coat on the chilli side


I have used this new paddle for about 5 hours now and I am getting used to the flex and how to control the thinner shaft. I will do a review this week. But right now I'm playing around with bluetack, I am using it to change the face shape of the paddle. This is why I chose a neutral flat plane for this blade.

Rod

great work rod,i've seen fabric used on fins before and thinking of doing something similar on a windsurf fin i am making at the moment.what is best to use,cotton nylon,etc or doesnt it matter?

Hi pirrad, any fabric works as long as the resin does not dissolve the fabric.
Just make sure you put those roving edges around the blade.

Rod

Hi Clarky, I think I make my rails tough enough to withstand the most vigorous rail basher, I learn't this lesson a couple of years ago . I loaned my board and it came back with dings in the rails, dings, I could not believe it.!!
The same guy bashed crap out of, and dinged the blade as well!!

Rod