Oars - timber aquisition brag

[Daddles]

I just went up to my local hardware store ... well, it's not the local one but it's the closest supply of half reasonable timber.
Object - to buy timber to make some oars for Redback.
I needed a min 11 inches wide and 6 ft long.

What do you reckon the chances are of finding that plank, in pine (radiata), CLEAR?
Hah, well, I did it. Admittedly the plank is 2.4 long, and there is a knot, but the knot is just past the 6ft mark.
For $13, a bit of sweat and half a can of varnish, I get a pair of oars - beats giving the boat shop $80, and these will be the shape I want (squared ends, long blades, etc).

And why would I be making my oars out of a noxious weed?
It's cheap.
It's light.
It's cheap.
It actually does a good job and seeing the oars are laminated from three bits, quite strong enough.
It's cheap.
And I don't mind stuffing up $13 worth of pine :D

Actually, I'm confident about this job - they'll be my second set of oars and the first ones are beauties, but at 4' long, a bit short for RedBack.

I make mine to Jim Mikalek's plans and they are well worth doing. One day, perhaps when I build that fancy rower I'm plaguing my friends about, I'll make a fancy pair with different coloured wood ... nah

Cheers
Richard

[Zed]

thanks for sharing that mate...

[bitingmidge]

Richard,

Are Jim Mikalek's plans based on the Peter Culler ones (balanced with square looms) like the ones on Bob Smalzer's thread?

Photos please!!

P :D

[Daddles]

Here's a link to Jim Michalak's article on making oars - mine are based on these. Instead of using 1" timber, I used 19mm, which still means you have to thin the blank down.

I'd like to show you a photo of the set I made, but they are still on the digital camera ... along with my photos of Scrat, the first Rowing Mouseboat ever made.

Lots of fun ... and they cure you of the desire to do things traditionally real quick - a power plane is very nice. Also good practice for making masts and spars, and those I do want to make out of good timber and will be rather irked if I stuff one up. But pine oars - great mate.

Cheers
Richard

[Daddles]

Richard,

Are Jim Mikalek's plans based on the Peter Culler ones (balanced with square looms) like the ones on Bob Smalzer's thread?

Photos please!!

P :D

I'm not aware of this link. Could you give it please? Old Bob might be a pedantic old goat at times but his 'how to' essays are excellent. :D

Cheers
Richard

[bitingmidge]

Bob's are in WRC, which is nice and light, but I'd hate to see them after a week with me!

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=9667

Cheers,

P

[bitofascallywag]

i got an old friend round the road who will make pine ones for 2 cartons boags,might cost you 20 of southwark

[Captain Chaos]

Southwark ( the Green Death ) used to be a good drop until lion nathan got hold of it & gave it the wedding night treatment.
cheers,
Chaos.