-
Do
I need woodworking experience
to make a
paddle?
- Do
I need a shop full of expensive
tools?
-
Is
it difficult to make a
paddle?
- How
long does it take to make a
paddle?
- How
much does it cost to make a
paddle?
- How
can I be sure that my paddle
fits me
properly?
-
Is
the book worth
$20?
Do I need woodworking
experience to make a
paddle?
No, you don't need woodworking
experience and the book assumes
that you don't have any. The skills
needed are pretty basic and you
develop them as you go. Making a
paddle is an ideal first
woodworking project. If you're an
experienced woodworker, you may
find some new techniques in the
book.
Do I need a shop full of
expensive tools?
No, only a few basic hand tools
are required, but if you have more
than the basics, we'll show you how
to put your tools to use making
paddles. Both hand and power tool
use are covered in the book and
often several options are explained
for a given step.
Is it difficult to make a
paddle?
Making Greenland paddles is
surprisingly easy, especially with
the step-by-step method in the
book. Diagrams and photos are used
extensively to illustrate the
instructions. It's fun, it's
rewarding and anyone can do it.
How long does it take to make a
paddle?
That depends on your skill level
and how much finishing you do, but
a beginner should be able to make a
paddle in 8-12 hours at a relaxed
pace. Once you've made one paddle,
you'll complete your next paddle
faster. Remember, nobody makes just
one!
How much does it cost to make a
paddle?
Using western red cedar, the
cost will be around $20 or less,
but it can be less than $5 if you
use a pine 2x4 stud. For your first
paddle, you'll probably spend
somewhat more unless you already
have the necessary tools and
supplies, but they will be useful
for future paddles and other
woodworking projects. For what it
would cost to buy a paddle, you can
purchase all the tools and supplies
you need, plus enough wood to make
several paddles.
How can I be sure that my
paddle fits me
properly?
Sizing the paddle is covered
in-depth in the book. However,
personal preference plays a big
role and the optimum dimensions and
shape can only be determined
through experience. At less than
$20 per paddle, you can afford to
experiment. For the price of one
commercially-produced Greenland
paddle, you can make at least a
half dozen cedar paddles and
perhaps as many as twenty!
Is the book worth
$20?
Of course it is! Seriously, I
could have made the pages smaller
and included lots of "white space"
to pump up the page count until the
book was impressively fat, but I
decided that a size that allowed
large photos and lots of
information on each page made more
sense. Many customers have
commented favorably on the amount
of information and the quality of
the photos and diagrams. Look at it
this way; the price of the book is
about equal to the cost of making a
cedar paddle, so if it saves you
from making a mistake on one, it's
paid for itself.
