Homemade Mash Paddle Pics

[malweth]

Interesting fact my one week old sons name is porter.

Wow, you definitely win the SWMBO award for this . . . being allowed to name a kid after beer!!

 

[Fizzycist]

Here's mine, just finished, sitting in my mash tun. Maple, rough cut then filed and sanded smooth. Pretty simple, but the place I got the wood only sold 10 foot lengths, 6 inches wide, so I have enough to make 7 more this size. A little more practice with my power tools and I'll try something a little fancier.

 

[Jsslack]

Looks good, brother, i want to see the other seven.

 

[Fizzycist]

Hah, you will when I do them! I want a whole collection of neat looking ones to put in my basement bar and use in rotation.

 

[Jsslack]

henceforth when brewing, i command thee to play clutch (or some other suitably rocking tunes) at full volume while air-guitaring on your mash paddle between stirs. post pictures of aforementioned rockingoutness on this forum and reap the praise.

you're welcome.

This was its maiden voyage. A SMASH with briess 2 row and galena hops.

 

[sweetcell]

today, the internets belong to you.

<bows down>

(bonus point for the groupie-attracting kiddie toys in the background)

 

[cheapseatsbrew]

My mash paddle made from some fairly green leftover white oak. Can't wait to brew my first all grain batch.......hell who am I kidding my first batch of beer period.



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[Jsslack]

The grain in that looks pretty sweet. Very shapely, as well.

 

[cheapseatsbrew]

thanks dude we shall see if it holds up over time.

 

[Barnstormer]

My mash paddle made from some fairly green leftover white oak. Can't wait to brew my first all grain batch.......hell who am I kidding my first batch of beer period.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/img2534db.jpg/

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I like it as well, good job!

 

[Swanie]

My dad made these for christmas. I got one, my uncle got one and my dad made one for himself. It was made with hard maple from my brothers crib he had as a baby, who is now 15.

 

[funnycreature]

For those who made a maple paddle - what are the best tools to use? I do not want to spend a lot because that would defeat the purpose of saving money by doing it myself. Thanks all!

 

[Fizzycist]

I use a drill to cut started holes, a 25 dollar jig saw with some regular old fine tooth blades, a file and some sandpaper for smoothing. Nothin too fancy.

 

[icebrew]

Awesome mash paddle my son made for me.

 

[funnycreature]

I use a drill to cut started holes, a 25 dollar jig saw with some regular old fine tooth blades, a file and some sandpaper for smoothing. Nothin too fancy.

Any suggestions for more intricate work like carving? I'm afraid that if I buy a $10 set of carving knives they will not work right.

 

[TaylorInOK]

Any suggestions for more intricate work like carving? I'm afraid that if I buy a $10 set of carving knives they will not work right.

I've dabbled. I got a set of carving knives from my stepdad and started playing around.

The handle is combination carving knives and dremel carved:


Here's the weave grip being carved out, all carving knives except for the drill holes between the weaves:


Finished weave grip:


Paddle:


Its not usable, unfortunately. The middle of the wood was dried out and i didnt notice it until i cut into it... went ahead and finished it anyway. Turned out pretty cool but now its just decor.

 

[funnycreature]

I've dabbled. I got a set of carving knives from my stepdad and started playing around.

The handle is combination carving knives and dremel carved:


Here's the weave grip being carved out, all carving knives except for the drill holes between the weaves:

Finished weave grip:


Paddle:


Its not usable, unfortunately. The middle of the wood was dried out and i didnt notice it until i cut into it... went ahead and finished it anyway. Turned out pretty cool but now its just decor.

That is excellent! I don't dare asking how long it took you... Where do you get the ideas/methods for the templates? Also, it looks like you are using the cheap carving knives too (no offense if they're expensive ones, I don't know anything about carving).
One last question: You cannot use the dry wood because it would crack?

 

[TaylorInOK]

That is excellent! I don't dare asking how long it took you... Where do you get the ideas/methods for the templates? Also, it looks like you are using the cheap carving knives too (no offense if they're expensive ones, I don't know anything about carving).
One last question: You cannot use the dry wood because it would crack?

Thanks

Took about a month working a little at a time on it. I drew alot (A TON) as a kid and have always been kinda creative but the only real things that i came up with myself was the tribal'ish pattern and the outline (horns etc) of the paddle. Everything else was inspired/half-duplicated from some of the wonderful works of the people on this site and beyond.

They are very, very cheap knives no offense taken. I really don't know much about carving either... at least not the technical aspects. I just tested different things on scrap wood to see what looked cool.

If the wood is dried out, it's extremely porous and will soak up liquids and rot really quickly. I could have tried to seal it or oil it but i didnt want to take the chance of damaging it.

 

[funnycreature]

Thanks

Took about a month working a little at a time on it. I drew alot (A TON) as a kid and have always been kinda creative but the only real things that i came up with myself was the tribal'ish pattern and the outline (horns etc) of the paddle. Everything else was inspired/half-duplicated from some of the wonderful works of the people on this site and beyond.

They are very, very cheap knives no offense taken. I really don't know much about carving either... at least not the technical aspects. I just tested different things on scrap wood to see what looked cool.

If the wood is dried out, it's extremely porous and will soak up liquids and rot really quickly. I could have tried to seal it or oil it but i didnt want to take the chance of damaging it.

My dream is a paddle from wildvinecarvings.com:

but it's almost $250. So I thought I'd try my luck.

What wood are you using? I bought some maple and it seems very hard... WIll get the cheapo knives after work then and try some dummy carving as you did!

Thanks again!

 

[TaylorInOK]

My dream is a paddle from wildvinecarvings.com:
but it's almost $250. So I thought I'd try my luck.

What wood are you using? I bought some maple and it seems very hard... WIll get the cheapo knives after work then and try some dummy carving as you did!

Thanks again!

Yeah that's very impressive! I used maple. It's not bad once you get used to it.

You'll need a wood burning tool to run the darkened details like that. They can be bought pretty cheap too at your local dept stores.

Best of luck!

 

[funnycreature]

Yeah that's very impressive! I used maple. It's not bad once you get used to it.

You'll need a wood burning tool to run the darkened details like that. They can be bought pretty cheap too at your local dept stores.

Best of luck!

Thanks! I might try my soldering iron first but maybe I have to buy a wood burning tool. It will be a "sit in front of the telly with wifey and still do something useful" project

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Yes, she will love it as you sit in front of the T V together, whilst doing wood burning........

 

[funnycreature]

Yes, she will love it as you sit in front of the T V together, whilst doing wood burning........

It will smell much better than beer farts for sure! I just have to be careful about not igniting the fumes!

 

[71westbrewing]

First paddle.

 

[funnycreature]

Got my maple and managed to cut the general shape with an electric saw but just trying to carve anything out of this wood seems so tedious! I wish I could spend the money on some decent tools but I'm stuck with the semi-dull $35 set from ebay.... Does anyone have suggestions how to use a router or a dremel for carving?

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Got my maple and managed to cut the general shape with an electric saw but just trying to carve anything out of this wood seems so tedious! I wish I could spend the money on some decent tools but I'm stuck with the semi-dull $35 set from ebay.... Does anyone have suggestions how to use a router or a dremel for carving?

Get some bits suitable for wood, for your Dremel, and practice on some scraps that you cut away.
You'll notice, ( quickly), that traveling in one direction is more controllable than the other!

Router?..............You'll need a stout template / guide to follow with one of these, and the same applies as above.

I've ruined quite a bit of stuff with a router..............

 

[funnycreature]

Get some bits suitable for wood, for your Dremel, and practice on some scraps that you cut away.
You'll notice, ( quickly), that traveling in one direction is more controllable than the other!

Router?..............You'll need a stout template / guide to follow with one of these, and the same applies as above.

I've ruined quite a bit of stuff with a router..............

Thanks for the heads-up! I thought the router would be the better choice but wrong again

What kinds of bits are you referring to? I got plenty that came with the dremel (clone) but they're probably the wrong kind...

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Your Dremel probably came with some "burrs" or "rotary files" type of bits.
These teeth will normally clog up with wood.
You want something with a more "open" pattern.

Do you have the booklet with your Dremel?
It should show what's available, and recommended for different material types.

Or look here:

http://www.dremel.com/en-us/Accesso...400+Series+&application=Carving&material=Wood

I didn't know what model you had, but plug in everything about your project on the home page under "Fast Finder", on the top right.

 

[funnycreature]

Thanks! My wife ordered a no-name dremel clone from amazon I think but the bits should fit just fine! This set looks about right:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Dremel-Carving-Engraving-Kit-11-Pieces-689-01/202349447#.Ug5k6pKxdnE

At least most numbers match when I'm searching for rotary hardwood carving

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Give it hell!