Building Wood Blades

[whbd18 0]

I take carpentry in school and I want to make a couple wood blades.

What Type of wood?

What kind of fiberglass wrap?

What kind of Glue?

website links as to where to buy or view this stuff will help too,incase my local Home Depot does'nt have it.

[cch 0]

One of my friends once built a stick in woodshop. I recall him saying the blade was the hardest part as there are a lot of joints that need to be glued togather flush, his was alright but it still had a little bulge in the heel. Iam pretty sure he used ash for the whole thing but iam not positive. I couldn't tell you how good it worked because he was always to afraid to use it. oh and he did not use any fibers or wrap. That would definately be cool to try, i would go for it if i still had wood shop class.

[Quintin 16]

Whatever they use on skateboard decks should be nice and strong so Canadian Oak probably.

[ktang 34]

Somewhere I read that hickory is used for the hosel.

I have over-heated wood Easton blades in the past, which delaminated the wrap. I used the fibreglass wrap and resin from Bondo kits to re-laminate them.

I once found an intact composite blade from an Easton hybrid (composite blade, wood hosel). I was able cut a slot in a longer butt-end extension, epoxy in the composite blade, shape the heel, and fibreglass wrap the blade and hosel. However, I didn't reinforce the tenon, so that's where it broke.

I think epoxy should be used to hold the pieces together. The bevel between the cheek pieces and the blade looks like a difficult cut (router?), but everything else looks straightforward.

I notice that some of the older blades have two thinner laminates making up the majority of the blade, and the newer ones have a single thicker blade. I think that it might be easier to curve two thinner laminates and then clamp them together to form the curve that you want, and then afterwards you can use a bandsaw to cut your blade pattern.

If I remember correctly, somebody on here made a whole stick in their carpentry / woodworking class. One of the manufacturers gave him some tips. Unfortunately I can't find the thread using "Search".

[sc37 0]

Epoxy sounds good. But for type of wood, use what's in baseball bats which is mostly ash or hickory I believe. Lightest and most durable. Oak would cost some $$$ and it's pretty heavy.

[whbd18 0]

I heard Birch is used or used to be used by some companies,so Im going to try ash or birch.

[ktang 34]

OK, I found the thread. It's kovalchuk71's.

Blade material help

[whbd18 0]

OK, I found the thread. It's kovalchuk71's.

Blade material help

Thanks,but it really doesnt give any info on the supplys needed.

I know how to make the blade.I took one apart to see how to make it.

-Im going to use ash

-Epoxy? or wood glue?

-Know the only thing I need to know is where to get the fiberglass wrap?

http://guitarplayernails.com/Merchant2/mer...&Category_Code=

Is this the fiberglass wrap that I need?

[logan 0]

I work part-time in the woodshop at design school.

The carpentry involved in fabricating your own blade is not very difficult.

I've modified some blades, but never fully made one from scratch. Frankly, it is a bit time consuming, and unless you are doing a good dozen, it is expensive for a one off. It is still a great project for a basic course though.

I'm currently building my own dragonboat paddle though. Very similar methods, but lots more sculpting/carving involved.

The hardest part about building a blade, I suppose would be getting the right proportions and correct fit. Also fiberglass work takes some practice to get nice and clean.

Regarding materials, Ash is standard in most blades.

Marine epoxy(used for boats and canoes) works great as it is resilient in damp environments(well suited for ice and slush in hockey).

You can use it for both the joinery, and the fiberglass layup.

Want a strong hosel? Try salvaging strips of glass/graphite off the shaft of an old wood stick, then use them to laminate the two sides of the hosel. (like the Easton Fibre Plus wood blade).