wood for mash paddle

so what do you all think is the best wood to use for a mash paddle please post pics if you have them thanks

Maple.

Don't have a pic at the moment, but mine is made of maple. I've seen others made out of walnut.

+1 on maple, the harder the better...

Cheers!

pnh2atl said:

Maple.

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This

another +1 on maple. I got an 8ft section for $4 at the local hardwood store, enough to make 2 paddles. I'm not a woodworker and don't have all the tools but i got it done.

I usually use maple. But one I brew my Brutus smoked irish ale I make a paddle out of oak and. Scorch it everytime I stick it in my mash to get a nice smoke flavor. Red oak taste better than white oak in my opinion

so looks like i need to get a piece of maple thanks guys

Found a batch of maple at my local Home Depot for mine...

I've used maple, walnut, and cherry. They have all worked equally well (in my opinion). This is one I just whipped up for my brother and it is walnut with four coats if butcher block oil.

Being from down here in S. E. Louisiana, we have a pretty good supply of some beautiful old growth cypress. Being that cypress is very water tolerant, it seems like a good fit.

I made a Mash Paddle out of a piece of Maple about a week ago. I bought it for about $8.00 at Menard's.

Maple w/ butcher block finish

Hard Maple is the best. I have a nice one made out of sugar maple with the bird's eye imperfection. It is possibly the most gorgeous thing ever.

I made one out of a branch of white oak that fell in my back yard. $0.00!

Sorry, too lazy to take a pic and post it.

It split a bit on the end so I have harvested another branch that is drying in my garage. I have to figure out what kind of wood it is. I don't want to poison myself.

big_al_in_k-zoo said:

I made a Mash Paddle out of a piece of Maple about a week ago. I bought it for about $8.00 at Menard's.

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I have the same lazyboy. Now I just need to make me a mash paddle...

Stick with hardwoods, and avoid any woods known for oils (i.e. teak) or intense characteristics (i.e. aromatic cedar or mahogany). My rule of thumb is to stick with woods known for use in foods or brewing. Birches and maples are all very neutral woods used for things like toothpicks, cutting boards, etc. Various oaks are obviously associated with barrel-aging properties. Beeches, applewood, cherrywood, and hickory are all associated with smoked malts and other smoked/roasted foods.

My mash paddle (sorry, no pic) is carved of a 3/4" thick cherrywood plank with hop pictures carved in each face. No finish on it - I'd rather not add the foreign substances.

Get a wood burner or strong solder iron, measure then burn your gallon marks on the edge. Trust me! :rockin:

I do a lot of woodworking and have lots of scraps lying around the shop. I used this piece of quartersawn white oak to make my mash paddle last night. I am brewing my first all grain beer tomorrow. I'll try to attach a pic of the paddle to this post.

Thanks,

Fred

One of the very few Sassafras Paddles. I rarely hit it with some grapeseed oil.

Mine is literally an old piece of untreated scrap lumber...

I've been meaning to make one out of some red oak. I want to make one for my friend who has a nano brewery in Danville, ky. this helped. thanks for every one that responded to this post.

I made a paddle out if 4' long piece of 1X6 Maple. I will try and add a picture but this app keeps crashing on my phone ...not a 100% original idea but I made a barley grain design in the wide part of the paddle.

Some places use boat paddles

Mine is Maple. Seen here during my first all grain brew this weekend.

How about mahogany? It's actually cheaper than maple right now.

I used Maple with a butcher block finish

I was told Oak can give off bad Tannins...

I used a 2x2 oak with 1/2" and 1-1/2' dowels for my staff of power.

Tannins? Only if you bring your mash to a boil.

Brickout said:

How about mahogany? It's actually cheaper than maple right now.

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I know that in general, mahogany is more rich in oils than most woods - that's part of why it's so dense and heavy. It also creates a sawdust that is so fine (particularly with power sanders) that breathing protection is highly recommended - the particles can easily be inhaled and can be deposited in the lungs. It is usually used as a detailing trim material or for inlays due to its beautiful colour.

I've heard that the pore structure allows more of it to be extracted (if you look at the end grain of a diagonal cross-section of mahogany, you'll see tiny holes all through it) - although I think the oils take a fair amount of heat to liquify.

Personally, I'd do a little google-searching on industrial or culinary uses of mahogany before putting it to use in contact with my beer.....however, I have a e-Brew system in planning that will be sheathed in wood for aesthetics/insulation and I'm currently debating between African mahogany, teak, and kukui....

DarkBrood said:

I know that in general, mahogany is more rich in oils than most woods - that's part of why it's so dense and heavy. It also creates a sawdust that is so fine (particularly with power sanders) that breathing protection is highly recommended - the particles can easily be inhaled and can be deposited in the lungs. It is usually used as a detailing trim material or for inlays due to its beautiful colour.

I've heard that the pore structure allows more of it to be extracted (if you look at the end grain of a diagonal cross-section of mahogany, you'll see tiny holes all through it) - although I think the oils take a fair amount of heat to liquify.

Personally, I'd do a little google-searching on industrial or culinary uses of mahogany before putting it to use in contact with my beer.....however, I have a e-Brew system in planning that will be sheathed in wood for aesthetics/insulation and I'm currently debating between African mahogany, teak, and kukui....

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Ring-porour vs diffuse porous is the key here. Oaks are strongky ring-porous and the cells will start to break down faster than sugar maple. Birch is good too. Basically anything that would be used for a countertop typically will work. My paddle is from sugar maple.

Oak 2x2

I decided to bring the mahogany back and just go with maple.

wfred said:

I do a lot of woodworking and have lots of scraps lying around the shop. I used this piece of quartersawn white oak to make my mash paddle last night. I am brewing my first all grain beer tomorrow. I'll try to attach a pic of the paddle to this post.

Thanks,

Fred

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Go Hawks!

thanks to all that replied gave me some great ideas:rockin:

wfred said:

I do a lot of woodworking and have lots of scraps lying around the shop. I used this piece of quartersawn white oak to make my mash paddle last night. I am brewing my first all grain beer tomorrow. I'll try to attach a pic of the paddle to this post.

Thanks,

Fred

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even as an iowa state fan i can appreciate this one! nice work wfred!

I made mine from cherry.

Def. go with woods common in the food industry, stay away from oily woods or nut wood (allergies in some people), in my humble opinion......Maple is the best