Horned Mash Paddle from Hell

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TaylorInOK

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Who doesnt need an evil mash paddle? AKA: Got really bored and wanted to make something cool.

Current pic from today.
Current.jpg

Used various round objects (pvc pipe, elongated bowls, compass) to get good round lines. A ratchet set works beautifully for various smaller sizes.
cuttingbase.jpg

Jigsaw only to cut the base.
basecut.jpg

Used a mix of dremel carving bits and hand carving gouges to get the tribal'ish paddle holes dug.

I've sanded the heck out of it and yes the horns are sharp. Still has alot of strength too. 3 feet long.

I'm learning relief carving so next i'm going to add a woven patern on the handle for grip and i have several other places that i'll be carving a raised hop etc.

Alot left to do with it.
 
Thanks! I'm mapping out the relief weave grip now and will post a new pic when its done or close.

I'm brand new to relief carving so i'm practicing on some scrap maple left over from the base cut.

Practice relief carved hop. Notice the deep gouge to the left when i slipped... the gouges are sharp as all get-up so i think i grew at least three grey hairs when that happened.
practicehop.jpg

Practice weave. The weave i'm planning out for the paddle handle is much smaller.
practiceweave.jpg
 
Thanks everyone for your support!

It'd be cool if you could wrap the weave around the whole handle.

All the way around would be great but would take forever so i'm going half way around for this first shot.

TRAGEDY: The more i sanded I found the middle of the paddle to be mostly grey and porus. I guess the tree got an infection? Anyway, the back of the paddle is now ugly and discolored... i'll post a shot of it but there's no way it will stand up to a mash. Bummed out but looks like i'll be staining and hanging when its done. Trudging on.

Here's some pics from tonights work on the weave grip.

First things first to lay out the grid. Going detail small on it so my spacing is 1/4 inch.
weavegrip_layout.jpg

Next is to hit each intersection with a constant flip-flop of horizontal and vertical marks.
weavegrip_layout2.jpg

Then drilled holes in the middle of each square. Had to mark each one with a point to be sure i hit it.
weavegrip_holes.JPG

Now time to get the hand tools out. Making stop cuts following the horizontal and vertical markings, then just a diag cut into each horizontal.
weavegrip_chisel1.jpg

Stopped for the day.
weavegrip_current.jpg

After all the initial cuts are made is to clean up the spaces in the middle of each strip, round over the tops and get some texture going.
 
Finished the base cut for the weave grip and have started cleaning up between the cuts to remove the "drilled" effect and bring out the strands.

weavegrip_1.jpg

Here's a closer shot of the grip. You can "kind of" tell where i've started cleaning between the cuts.

weavegrip_2.jpg

Coming along nicely. Tomorrow i'll finish up the cleanup and start rounding the strands to make them look more like leather cuts.
 
TaylorInOK said:
Finished the base cut for the weave grip and have started cleaning up between the cuts to remove the "drilled" effect and bring out the strands.

<img src="https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=56336"/>

Here's a closer shot of the grip. You can "kind of" tell where i've started cleaning between the cuts.

<img src="https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=56337"/>

Coming along nicely. Tomorrow i'll finish up the cleanup and start rounding the strands to make them look more like leather cuts.

Did you seriously cut that grip? That's crazy
 
This is AWESOME! Did you already know how to do all of this or are you learning as you go? How/where are you learning your techniques?
 
That is by far the coolest looking mash paddle I have ever seen... even if it has to hang as decoration you gotta be pleased w/ that!!!
 
Thanks to everyone for the great comments. Makes me work harder!

Did you seriously cut that grip? That's crazy

Yep I measured out a 1/4 inch grid and cut them out using a dremel for spacing and hand gouges for the rest.

This is AWESOME! Did you already know how to do all of this or are you learning as you go? How/where are you learning your techniques?

This is the second thing i've carved actually. The first was the top of my bottle tree posted HERE. Teaching myself. Mostly its from searching "relief carving" on you tube. Lots of great vids out there that explain how to do it.

satan made me mash.
:rockin:

Nice work. I was supposed to get some blanks and start playing with some chip carving this winter... Time flew by.

I would love to try chip carving too. My parents work over seas and sent me a set of chinese hand carving gouges. Figured i'd give them a shot.

Current Update: My ADD kicked in a bit. I took a look at the grip and liked it but it didnt flow with the overall design of the paddle so i expanded a bit and added a dragon tail. Still cleaning between the cuts.
weavegrip_current0410.jpg
 
Little update:

The weave grip is done.. also put a little texture in the dragon tail. Some cleanup on the cuts needed there. I also rounded the horns on the bottom. It actually looks pretty cool with the flat top i may just sand and leave it.
0411weavegripfinished.jpg

Just for fun to show how tight the pattern is.
0411dime.jpg

Here's the hop vine pattern i'm going to try and make look good.
0411vinepattern1.jpg

Started the trace cuts. I'll be pulling the outline out and flaring it to make it look kind of gun stock carved.
0411vinepattern2.jpg

Again, thanks for all the great comments!

EDIT: the vine hop pattern is kind of foo-foo i know but it's all part of it i guess. Figured id put little horns on the hops or something so it's at least an attempt at sticking with the evil theme. It's also at a stage now that i can sand it all off if i don't like it.
 
Thanks guys!

Burn out the vine. I think it would look cool.

I've never done that, but i'll play around with the idea before i do anything else with that part. I know there are specialty tools for doing it but do you think a soldering iron would work?
 
Ok so i grabbed the soldering iron and it worked ok... just took forever but i practiced on a larger hop i'd cut out and was playing with techniques. I really like how you can shade doing this.

So thanks Tom! I think i may go that route with the vine... though i may have to wait until i can afford the burning tool... they are pretty inexpensive but i still have to wait for payday.

Here's the practice hop i tried burning on.

0412burnpractice.JPG

EDIT: Sorry for the crummy picture.. i uploaded a new on hopefully that's a bit sharper.
 
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