: My problem is finding clear verical grain red cedar 2x4's. The laminations in
: the blank that I build, appear to help make the whole stronger, by not
: having a weakness in one piece that goes all the way through. I've been
: building them with the clear vertical grained small stock that I have just
: laying around.

Mike,

I rarely bother looking through the 2X4's, although I run across a few nice ones from time to time. I usually use 2X6's or larger; 4X4 cedar fence posts often produce a good paddle-blank, sometimes two. The local lumberyard has the boards stacked horizontally, so it is easy to examine the end grain. I always wonder how they manage to place the single board that I want at the very bottom of the stack!

Greg Stamer