Hey everyone, I'm looking to tackle a project by making my own canoe paddle. I know there are better materials and methods out there, but I'm kind of limited by my tools and resources at the moment. My goal is to create something that might last me about two years. I got an idea from someone who built a paddle using scrap wood and plywood with an epoxy finish. Here's my rough plan:
1. Start with a square rod, about 50 inches long—I'm thinking pine since I have lots of scraps.
2. Glue together two halves for the paddle part (around 1.5 feet by 0.5 feet) from thin plywood, maybe 4-5mm thick, and attach them to the end of the square pine rod.
3. Shape everything by planing and sanding, including tapering the pine rod for a beavertail paddle shape.
4. Apply a durable and waterproof finish, like epoxy.
I have a few questions:
1. What type of glue do you recommend? I have some Gorilla wood glue—will that work?
2. Is epoxy a good choice for a waterproof and durable finish?
3. For the top handle, should I use a wide piece of pine scrap (which means more cutting/sanding), or can I glue another piece of pine horizontally for the handle?
1 Answer
For plywood, any wood glue should work. The key here is how good your finish is because if moisture gets in, it won't hold up long term. You might want to consider fiberglassing over the paddle to create a super tough finish. That way, it'll be much more resistant to water damage!
Really? So the glue itself won’t be enough to hold it together? That sounds a bit concerning!