Homemade Mash Paddle Pics

[bierandbikes]

I have some 1x6 white and red oak boards drying in my barn. They were cut about 2 months ago.

Is white or red oak a good choice...assuming I have that on hand rather than maple.

How long should I let it cure before I use it in my mash?

Paul

 

[delta]

How long should I let it cure before I use it in my mash?

Paul

One year per inch of thicknesss is the general rule for air drying lumber.

 

[jcaudill]

Here's my new paddle... Dad is genius. The beer is just for effect Our family is deep rooted in Berlin and I have always been a fan of the Berlin Bear.

 

[Barnstormer]

I have some 1x6 white and red oak boards drying in my barn. They were cut about 2 months ago.

Is white or red oak a good choice...assuming I have that on hand rather than maple.

Paul

I guess I would choose the piece that has the tighter grain IMO. I think either would work out fine though.

 

[Grossy]

I made mine out of a rough piece of Mesquite wood.

Here it is with my BIAB set up.

 

[CoalCracker]

Nice! What is that made out of?

 

[jfrizzell]

Here's mine. Made from a scrap piece of maple I've had laying around, leftover from another project.

 

[Grossy]

Nice! What is that made out of?

The wood is from a Mesquite Tree.

The picture does not do it justice, the wood is red, like cherry, and the paddle turns a deep red when wet.
You can find a mesquite tree in front of 50% of the homes in Tucson, AZ.
My brother in-law is a cabinet maker so I got a piece of rough-sawn from him.

The tree makes a seed pod that the Native Americans in this part of the world have been making bread with for centuries. Next year I plan on making a beer using mesquite beans. I hear they make an earthy bread, so I'm thinking it would go great in a stout.

Here are some better pictures.

 

[CoalCracker]

Wow beautiful. My dad is a cabinet maker so I can get pretty much anything. May have to try that.

 

[Strongbad52]

This is the one I made out of a piece of acacia I got as a sample from a flooring store.

 

[Strongbad52]

I had to cut off the tongue and groove and sand off the finish and the grooves on the back of the board.

 

[jcaudill]

Figured I'd toss this up just for kicks. This is a 5' mash paddle I made for a local brewery whose mash agitator is seized!



It's one-piece, solid red oak, sanded and routed. The middle holes are also routed but the smaller holes are not. I may go back later and do that.

 

[ThinMan]

My Dad made mine out of unfinished Beech. He seems to think it should be one of the most flavor nuetral woods there is. Heck, Budweiser is aged on it so you know there has to be no flavor in it!

 

[Rake_Rocko]

Here's mine. It's one piece of solid red oak. It's close to 42" and the paddle is about 5.5" wide. Right now it's unfinished but I am about to put mineral oil on it. This took a whole for me to do and I am in love with it! I can't wait to use for the first time!

 

[sweetcell]

Right now it's unfinished but I am about to put mineral oil on it.

i don't think you want to put mineral oil (or any oil) on it. some will come off into your brew and will cause problems, like poor head retention.

sweet paddle!

 

[DakotaRules]

Here's mine. It's one piece of solid red oak. It's close to 42" and the paddle is about 5.5" wide. Right now it's unfinished but I am about to put mineral oil on it. This took a whole for me to do and I am in love with it! I can't wait to use for the first time!

Love it!

 

[passedpawn]

Here's mine. It's one piece of solid red oak. It's close to 42" and the paddle is about 5.5" wide. Right now it's unfinished but I am about to put mineral oil on it. This took a whole for me to do and I am in love with it! I can't wait to use for the first time!

I made one out of African Teak. It was so sweet. Snapped in half on my first brewday with it. Good luck!

I used tung oil on mine (I use this on everything - it's safe to use around food). Teak does't really need it, since it's a very sleek oily wood anyway, but it did shine up nicely. Rub it in really good and let it sit for a few days - dries slowly but you will love it - guaranteed.

 

[Rake_Rocko]

Ya know, I have really been battling with myself about putting mineral oil on it or not... Ive been back and forth and back and forth. I came to the conclusion to just do it because I love the way it looks now, and I've read multiple people say that they have finished theirs with mineral oil with no ill effects on their finished beer. So, I said to hell with it and did it.

So that's what my thinking was... And ya know what, if it does affect my finished beer, then I've lived and learned.

 

[passedpawn]

Ya know, I have really been battling with myself about putting mineral oil on it or not... Ive been back and forth and back and forth. I came to the conclusion to just do it because I love the way it looks now, and I've read multiple people say that they have finished theirs with mineral oil with no ill effects on their finished beer. So, I said to hell with it and did it.

So that's what my thinking was... And ya know what, if it does affect my finished beer, then I've lived and learned.

No worries.

 

[zmad2000]

Just finished my first mash paddle.
I am a hammock camper and the outline is from this site http://www.hammockforums.net/

 

[Rake_Rocko]

Thanks sweetcell for the compliment and I respect your concerns, but I've done much research and found that people who have oiled their paddle and used it multiple times, they had no ill-effects to their finished beer or head retention specifically.

I therefore said F it and went ahead and oiled it. I think it looks better with the grain color popping. If I do experience bad outcomes with the finished product, then ill know not to use oiled paddles in the future.

Considering the amount of time the paddle will actually be in contact with the wort, I'm not going to stress about it anymore.

 

[Rake_Rocko]

Oops, I'm an idiot. I didn't realize my reply went to the next page and thought that it didn't post. Haha sorry for the double post.

 

[passedpawn]

Just finished my first mash paddle.
I am a hammock camper and the outline is from this site http://www.hammockforums.net/

Very cool. I had no idea of this thing.

 

[Rake_Rocko]

Zmad,

I like that! Really sweet! What did you use to cut out the design in the paddle?

I used a scroll saw and it was such a pain on mine. I did get better as I went though an my cuts got smoother as I went.

 

[g-love]

Zmad - nice! I'm thinking about moving over to a hammock for backpacking purposes too. Thanks for the forum link

 

[zmad2000]

For most of the work i used a foldable camp saw, dremel and sandpaper. Later on I was able to get access to a belt sander to round over the edges. Since i live in an apartment and the walls suck sound wise i cant use power tools.

 

[Barnstormer]

I used butchers block oil on mine. I oil it after I've cleaned it when I'm done mashing, that way it has plenty of time to soak in and dry before the next brew. I haven't noticed any ill affects in my beers with it that way. I did not oil my first paddle and it dried out and started to crack after only 10 batches or so.

 

[Rake_Rocko]

Yes that is exactly what I DON'T want to happen. I had mineral oil on hand so I used that. It seemed that it will work great. It applied just like tung oil (I'm comparing to that because I have used it before on other wood). Besides I think butchers oil is mineral oil and something else mixed, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[bierandbikes]

Has anybody used bees wax to finish their mash paddle? I have used it on turned wood pieces and it gives the wood a beautiful shine and protects. However, I don't believe is penetrates much below the surface and I have never used it on a piece that would be in contact with hot liquid. Any thoughts?

 

[zmad2000]

Here i just asked the same question a few days ago. Here is the link to the thread: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/mash-paddle-finish-371876/

I had great results with mine. It turned the maple a nice light golden color and made the grain pop. Havent used it in a brew yet.