> Last month I started to shape an 8' 2x8 into a kayak paddle.
> I borrowed a friend's scroll saw to cut the basic outline. Now I am
> thinning out the blades and rounding the handle. The work is slow
> going with the hand tools I have been using, a spokeshave, a block
> plane, and a shurform plane.

> If anyone has created a paddle from a single piece of wood, I
> would be interested in hearing the tools you used. Even if you haven't
> built a paddle, I would welcome suggestions.

> The wood I am using is ash.

> P.S. This is a first posting from someone who has been reading
> this thread for a year. I've learned much. Thanks for keeping this
> thread going.

I completed a laminated paddle from Nick Schade's plans last March.

The laminations use the wood grain to advantage. I used spruce for the shaft and cedar and mahogony for the blades. The shaft is about 1.25" and my blades start at aprox 3/8" at the shaft and taper to 1/8" tips and edges. Curved blades. Feathered.

Block plane, surforms, spoke shaves and a sears 6" disk sander for shaping and epoxie to glue it, spar varnish for that finish look.

I think I will aquire the recommended 4" grinder for the next paddle. Most likly I will skip the band saw step and grind the curved blades from thick flat laminations.

I'm not surprised the hand tools are tedious, Ash is tough wood. Keep your tools sharp and take your time. Every thing I try takes way longer than I planned for when I started.

RNS