Mash Paddle version 1

[cmoewes]

After checking out the price tag on the all wood mash paddles at the LHBS I decided "I could make one of those".

So here it is. Started out as a 1"x6"x4 piece of Maple.

After a few minutes with a pencil, my jig saw and my router and here are the results.

Needs a little fine tuning and sanding, and I'll add some holes into the paddle but not bad for $11 and 20 minutes in the garage.

 

[kh54s10]

Functional but I can see that you did not measure anything! Mine is cut out of an oak branch that fell in the back yard.. No holes and it is curved.

 

[cmoewes]

Functional but I can see that you did not measure anything! Mine is cut out of an oak branch that fell in the back yard.. No holes and it is curved.

Measured, yes, cut straight , no. But it will work until I get the gumption to make a new one.

 

[MaxStout]

Looks good and functional. Nothing wrong with that. Adding some holes will help it stir through the mash easier and break up the doughballs.

Sure, you could have made something more intricate, but after stirring several mashes the exposure to hot water is going to make the wood look rough anyway.

 

[Hamaki]

My diy oak paddle is nothing fancy, no intricate carvings and not exactly symmetrical. I smack it on the top edge of my keggle to knock grain off back into the mash after stirring. Some of the works of art I've seen on this forum I'd be afraid to do that with.

 

[max384]

Looks good and functional! Who cares if every cut isn't exactly symmetrical. Symmetrical cuts only matter to the eye, they won't make the paddle perform better when stirring the mash.

Only thing I would add are some holes or slits cut in the paddle to break up dough balls.

I actually just made my first mash paddle (also after seeing the price of mash paddles and figuring "I could do that.") this weekend. Here's the design I used for helping break up dough balls.

I'm not sure if you can tell since it's not a closeup, but I've got some asymmetrical cuts as well... but I'm still very happy with the final result, even if it wouldn't win a mash paddle beauty contest! :rockin:

 

[cmoewes]

Looks good and functional! Who cares if every cut isn't exactly symmetrical. Symmetrical cuts only matter to the eye, they won't make the paddle perform better when stirring the mash.

Only thing I would add are some holes or slits cut in the paddle to break up dough balls.
...

I'm not sure if you can tell since it's not a closeup, but I've got some asymmetrical cuts as well... but I'm still very happy with the final result, even if it wouldn't win a mash paddle beauty contest! :rockin:

Wow,Very nice. And looks like you have the same jig saw I do.

I noticed that half way through my cuts that my blade and base plate weren't exactly perpendicular so that threw me off.

I'm going to try and climb my way back to my drill press and add some large bore holes to help with dough balls (and cut out some weight).

 

[max384]

Wow,Very nice. And looks like you have the same jig saw I do.

I noticed that half way through my cuts that my blade and base plate weren't exactly perpendicular so that threw me off.

I'm going to try and climb my way back to my drill press and add some large bore holes to help with dough balls (and cut out some weight).

Were the blade and base not perpendicular? Or were your cuts not perpendicular? I ask because blade deflection (which leads to cuts not being exactly perpendicular) is a common problem with jig saws. It most commonly comes when you're forcing the blade into the wood instead of letting the saw eat the wood at its own pace, so to speak. When this happens, the saw dust isn't clearing the blades fast enough, and deflection can result, and so can burning. Just something to keep in mind as a possibility.

 

[cmoewes]

Added a few holes and routed them just needs a bit of sanding