Moss Hollow's Homemade Mash Paddle!

Evan! · 01-14-2008, 01:18 AM

Well, it kind of sucks to be using this beautiful wood on something so utilitarian, but you use what you got, right? I needed some hard wood (that's certainly what she said), and maple fit the bill---all I had was some wormy, which is WAY too pretty for this, and some curly, which I decided to use. I don't have a coping saw, so it wasn't easy. I traced the outline with some varying-sized rolls of tape, because I don't have any curve templates either. I cut it out with a jigsaw, then squared the edges with a flush router bit. I sanded the edges, then took a 1/4" roundover router bit to it. I cut 7/8" holes staggered on the paddle end, rounded those out, then worked my way up on grits to 600. I then wiped it down with moist towel to bring out the grain, and went up to 600 grit once again. It took a lot of work, but I think it's ready to be put into the lineup...

**Lil' Sparky** · 01-14-2008, 01:41 AM

Looks like a mean spanking paddle to me.

Remember the good 'ol days when teachers and coaches could actually paddle kids in school?

**the_bird** · 01-14-2008, 01:43 AM

You going to put any kind of finish on it, or just let it built up a patina of wort, sweat, and tears?

Kaiser · 01-14-2008, 02:10 AM

that's some darn nice looking mash paddle you have there. I have one of the plastic ones that start hurting my wrist when I have to stir the mash for a bigger beer.

Kai

**cowgo** · 01-14-2008, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evan!

Well, it kind of sucks to be using this beautiful wood on something so utilitarian, but you use what you got, right? I needed some hard wood (that's certainly what she said

I don't care how exotic the wood is, it cannot be utilitarian when it comes to brewing beer...if that's your attitude then no wonder "she said" she needed some hard wood from you....sheesh. Priorities...it's the man code. Rule number 7.

**DeathBrewer** · 01-14-2008, 04:08 AM

"thank you sir, may i have another"

talleymonster · 01-14-2008, 04:17 AM

It would be cool if you could finish it with boiled linseed oil, like an old Military Surplus Rifle. I don't know if the linseed oil would be kosher with brewing though.

landhoney · 01-14-2008, 04:45 AM

Bronze it!

Evan! · 01-14-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowgo

I don't care how exotic the wood is, it cannot be utilitarian when it comes to brewing beer...if that's your attitude then no wonder "she said" she needed some hard wood from you....sheesh. Priorities...it's the man code. Rule number 7.

It wasn't meant to denigrate brewing at all, it's a simple matter of economics: curly maple isn't cheap. I love brewing, but I don't think that it's so sacred that I should be using a diamond-encrusted racking cane.

Woodworking is another hobby of mine, and if you could see the difference between a piece of curly maple that's been sanded to 1000-grit smoothness then had a few coats of deft applied, and a piece of curly maple that's just stirred the mash on an imperial stout, you'd know what I was talking about.

That having been said, it looks pretty damn nice right now, prior to being used....

I'm not going to finish it, I don't think. After the discussion we had the other day, I'm a little paranoid about using the salad bowl finish that I typically would use.

Now, bronzing, that's an idea!

**RichBrewer** · 01-14-2008, 11:46 AM

Nice job! Looks like it will work good.