Custom Canoe and Kayak Paddles

[jmhockey23]

Really liked looking thru a bunch of the member projects people have shared and thought I'd share some of my work. My friend and I started a hobby custom canoe and kayak paddle business after making some canoes about a year ago. We enjoy the art of making something different each time we make a paddle. Here are some photos of our work! If you want to see more you can check em out in our gallery:

http://www.winnebagopaddles.com/gallery.html

Thanks for looking!

 

[bobfog]

Really like that work.

If I were you I'd consider branching out into walking sticks, umbrellas, etc. I think they'd really sell well. Especially umbrellas.

 

[mike_aa]

Nice!  I especially like the ones with the thin inlays.

Thanks for posting!

Mike A.

 

[Holmz]

I would find it interesting to understanding your process... Not to make paddles, but to see how the general concept flows.

I assume you are using something like West Systems to keep it all water tight?

 

[jmhockey23]

I would find it interesting to understanding your process... Not to make paddles, but to see how the general concept flows.

I assume you are using something like West Systems to keep it all water tight?

For finishing, we do use an non blush epoxy and for some paddles also fiberglass. We then coat them with several coats of marine spar varnish. Then we buff them to a high gloss up to 4000 grit, polish and wax them. We make them ready for water use, but some people do use them as decoration.

 

[lunchman]

Beautiful work. I'd love to see more of the design and manufacturing process as well as which Festools are used in their production.

 

[Holmz]

So no special glues in the middle then? Just Gorilla or the similar PVA?

By the way, it is nice to see a thread on product.
Those are some fine looking paddles.

 

[Rob-GB]

Very nice work.
As a paddler of both canoe and kayak and having made my own paddles I can really appreciate the work involved.
Rob.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

Those are very nice paddles, I think the decorative designs are brilliant. Craftsmanship is impeccable..

 

[jmhockey23]

Beautiful work. I'd love to see more of the design and manufacturing process as well as which Festools are used in their production.

We actually just purchased our first Festool products with the Pro 5 sanders. We're excited to use them some more with all the sanding steps we go thru. One of our more commonly used tools we built ourselves. We made a couple drum sanders. We have a how to page with some details of our process including videos of the sanders:
http://www.winnebagopaddles.com/how-to.html

So no special glues in the middle then? Just Gorilla or the similar PVA?

By the way, it is nice to see a thread on product.
Those are some fine looking paddles.

Titebond II or III are water resistant, other brands I'm not sure of.

 

[Vondawg]

Very nice looking paddles ! Watching the guy on the website, drum sand with long sleeves and bare hand made my eye brows shoot up though. Thanks for sharing.

 

[HMR]

Nice work!  Paddles look great!  Thanks for sharing.

 

[UKPaddlesports]

Stunning paddles indeed

 

[RickyL]

Amazing work, how fast does that drum spin?

How many hours in the average finished article?

 

[jmhockey23]

Amazing work, how fast does that drum spin?

How many hours in the average finished article?

Thanks! We have adjustable pulleys on the drums and we tend to leave them on the slower side, but an actual number I'm not sure. The motors we used are 1750 RPM, but I'd way we're quite a bit lower than  that. For time, we've gotten more efficient to where it's maybe 4-5 hours or so.