I watched the free paddle build instruction videos a few days ago. I have pretty good skills and knowledge of woodworking in general, experience from one previous paddle build which turned out really good, and everything laid out and planned, but I found myself going back to the videos and checking many things. I have to say the course was really, really good, and gave many valuable pointers and advice. The system is basically fool-proof and very forgiving. You can tell Brian has teached and helped a lot of people making paddles before, because he points out several key things that are easy to overlook for a beginner. If you follow the instructions you will definitely end up with a paddle ranging from good to excellent. If you are unsure of the specific dimensions I guess the (cheap) plans which also are available at the site, are a good thing to buy. But the wood he's working with in the video is like nothing I ever seen in reality... It almost looks unreal, how easy it is shaped with the blockplane and sand paper. The pine I'm forced to work with is like concrete in comparison. Both in weight and workability. I had to really lean in with 60 grit paper for several minutes on the edges to round them off, while in the video they are lightly touched a few strokes with 120(?) grit, together with a warning that it's really easy to overdo it... Only good thing with this pine is that it's quite strong, and that you can reduce the thickness of the blade, compared to one in red cedar. Anyway, that free video class is great advertisement for all the other more advanced courses. I'd like to build an F1 someday, and it's reassuring seeing the quality of the video instructions.
Thanks for the feedback, Think about checking out the advanced paddle building video on the website. It has you doing most of the work with power tools which can be a timesaver if you’re working with tougher wood it’s just a lot less forgiving if you make a mistake. Also thanks for the compliments it’s kind of hard for me to watch this video at this point because our new stuff is just light years better but I’m hoping to get back and re-film it at some point. It’s really not that great!
I see this again after a long time and I can't help but amaze him for his work, knowledge and the brilliant way he has to transmit it. Thank you, greetings with admiration, from Argentina
The only issue there is because it’s a wider kayak the blades need to be longer to reach the water which means the paddle can get a bit heavy but I know a lot of people who do it.
Thanks for your course and plans. I’ve made a couple of paddles now, the latest is a beautiful one from European alder. The first one I made from cheaper spruce, but alder was much more pleasant to work with. Ended up buying a power planer next to my block plane. Makes the job so much easier. I also found a power sander quite suitable for rounding the loom. Not that much previous experience in woodwork, but this got me excited. Shame the sea is frozen now, can’t take the paddle for a spin just yet! Edit: Oh, and I used pure tung oil for the finish. Looks wonderful with alder, hopefully it does the job.
Well this video made my fell alot better about useing stock wood from the local yard :) Now just have to learn to make it look the right way ! But for the price of stock wood Ill can do test1, test2 and so on with many sticks before the wife notice.
I like your videos very much ,just started a skin on frame kayak and will follow it with a skin on frame canoe ,thank you for the inspiration to try the builds myself.
What’s the weight difference in the red cedar Greenland paddle and the normal 2x4 you made. Would like to make one myself but I’m thinking is it worth it if your on a long trip carrying that heavier weight…if it is of course
For the same size, it’s a difference of about a half pound, which is pretty significant. I really don’t like paddling with a paddle that weighs 2 lbs. 6 oz., but I love paddling with one that weighs 1 lbs. 10 oz.
Have you built one yet? Im thinking of giving this a go with a cheap 2x4 until I can find a place that sells cedar or any better type of wood. If anything it can be a backup paddle
Would not a wider blade be better, 2x6 ? But I have only canoe experience so maybe don't understand the whole Greenland paddle thing. Have to say I love your work beautiful useful art.
Interestingly because it’s longer the immersed blade surface really isn’t that much different than a normal paddle. Think of it like a helicopter blade versus an airplane wing they both work just a little bit differently.
Greenland is the style then i guess? How does it preform? Isn't it annoying that the blades are in the same position on both sides? I want to make a kayak paddle for my canoe which ive build last year. (Just finished making a canoe paddl3as well. Haven't tested it yet)
If you go to our homepage here on UA-cam, and click on playlists, you’ll find a whole series on Greenland paddles, and the first two videos do a great job of explaining the performance and advantages
Great build! Funny though, I would guess that it was more like a $3000.00 paddle, based on all the tools needed to do it in two hours. Of course the next one will be much cheaper.😀
I have done the whole process with hand tools (handsaw, drawknife, plane, etc.) took about 5-6 hours IIRC. If I could only have one power tool, it would be a bandsaw. I also have a paddle made on a CNC router, took the same 2 hours as Brian took.
I have heard Greenland paddles described as “flying” through the water and providing lift. Yet the plane of a wing gets some lift by its asymmetrical shape- flatter on the bottom as opposed to the top. Yet, best as I can tell, pictures of Greenland paddles I have seen appear symmetrical top side to bottom side. Any explanation for this?
Both sailboat keels and stunt plane wings are symmetrical foils, The angle of attack functionally flattens and accelerates the flow on the “underside” and slows the flow on the top generating lift.
@@capefalconkayak thanks. Also in terms of buoyancy, are wooden paddles more buoyant than the carbon fiber Greenland paddles made by Gearlab? Or are they about the same?
Up until now no one has made a good Greenland paddle out of carbon fiber, always too stiff and too buoyant, but gearlab changes that. I was so impressed by their paddles that I became a dealer. If you’re in the market for one and you feel like supporting the channel we should be stocking them within a few weeks and 10% of our gear sales profits go to supporting native builders.
If we could say one thing about Inuit builders, it's that they weren't precious about being "traditional" they used anything and everything they could get their hands on!
I'm keen on buying a Greenland paddle. I've been told they aren't that great for sea kayaking in rougher waters because the paddle can't grip the water properly. Thoughts?
Yeah that’s not really true. The blade grips the water just fine. There’s also a lot of advantages because you can extend it in a flash and get triple the grip on the water for an aggressive maneuvering stroke. It’s also much easier to roll with. The only thing a Greenland paddle doesn’t grab well is really aerated water but that’s actually a good thing I know a lot of people who have sustained serious shoulder damage getting thrashed in the surf, and that’s not likely to happen with the Greenland paddle. Generally I wouldn’t use one for white water just because it can be a little bit challenging to brace into really soft foam but for any kind of sea kayaking it’s what I prefer.
@@capefalconkayak great to hear from you. Your videos are greatm I've watched this one many times. Hopefully I'll be paddling a greenland paddle in 2021!
@@capefalconkayak I like kayaks that don't have a flat or slightly flat front deck. I saw your video on the "Traditional North Alaskan Hunting Kayak" and looked around on your you tube home page and your www.capefalconkayaks.com/ web site to see if you had any more videos on this kayak, but couldn't find any more (lots of greenland kayak videos); I don't think I've even noticed one in you half (or smaller) scale modals. Wooden Kayak paddles; I've never had or used a wooden kayak peddle and was always concerned about loosing my aluminum paddle due to it sinking under the waves before I could grab it if it ever slipped out of my hands. Watched another of your paddle videos showing how to use your wooden paddle to stabilize the kayak (good ideas). last weekend I started watching your "Skin-on-Frame Kayak Prep Course" video(s) (that's alot of good info)
One of these days I’ll make a skin on frame kayak just to hunt in, sounds like a lot of fun hunting from the water like that. Anyone got any information on places where it’s legal to hunt from water?
Which means the didn't have to put up with the crap wood that we get. That said, you want light, strong, good grain, rot resistant. Choose the right wood for the job, off the shelf or off the beach.
@@capefalconkayak Sorry, The monitor seems to distort the size of it. Saw another video where someone used your instructions and he had a yardstick in front of the 2x4 and it was about 3-1/2". I have a length of 2x4 in front of me and the width looks shorter. Must have something to do with my monitor.
Well, in June 2021, that would be the $8, 2 hour Greenland Paddle Build. It was a real shock to me, thinking that a 2" x 4 "x 8' was someplace between $2 and $3 each, but now is pushing $8. All my assumptions about approximate cost are trashed again. I guess I need to keep buying Chinese crap on the internet, because there are a whole lot more things that its not worthwhile building in America.
2 $ and 2h for a paddle, of course. For $ 2 you don't even get cheap spruce and in 2 hours that isn't finished either. Unless you have machines and do without drawing. That alone takes at least 30 minutes, as well as sanding with 40, 80, 120, 150 and 180 grit. 2h for a paddle, forget it, only those who haven't built a paddle believe that.
I watched the free paddle build instruction videos a few days ago. I have pretty good skills and knowledge of woodworking in general, experience from one previous paddle build which turned out really good, and everything laid out and planned, but I found myself going back to the videos and checking many things. I have to say the course was really, really good, and gave many valuable pointers and advice. The system is basically fool-proof and very forgiving. You can tell Brian has teached and helped a lot of people making paddles before, because he points out several key things that are easy to overlook for a beginner. If you follow the instructions you will definitely end up with a paddle ranging from good to excellent. If you are unsure of the specific dimensions I guess the (cheap) plans which also are available at the site, are a good thing to buy. But the wood he's working with in the video is like nothing I ever seen in reality... It almost looks unreal, how easy it is shaped with the blockplane and sand paper. The pine I'm forced to work with is like concrete in comparison. Both in weight and workability. I had to really lean in with 60 grit paper for several minutes on the edges to round them off, while in the video they are lightly touched a few strokes with 120(?) grit, together with a warning that it's really easy to overdo it... Only good thing with this pine is that it's quite strong, and that you can reduce the thickness of the blade, compared to one in red cedar. Anyway, that free video class is great advertisement for all the other more advanced courses. I'd like to build an F1 someday, and it's reassuring seeing the quality of the video instructions.
Thanks for the feedback, Think about checking out the advanced paddle building video on the website. It has you doing most of the work with power tools which can be a timesaver if you’re working with tougher wood it’s just a lot less forgiving if you make a mistake. Also thanks for the compliments it’s kind of hard for me to watch this video at this point because our new stuff is just light years better but I’m hoping to get back and re-film it at some point. It’s really not that great!
I see this again after a long time and I can't help but amaze him for his work, knowledge and the brilliant way he has to transmit it. Thank you, greetings with admiration, from Argentina
I just bought my first greenland paddle made out of cedar & I love it , it is my first Greenland paddle .
Do Greenland paddles work well for a sit on kayak?
The only issue there is because it’s a wider kayak the blades need to be longer to reach the water which means the paddle can get a bit heavy but I know a lot of people who do it.
Awesome - very helpful project for people who want to try greenland paddle without spending a bunch of money - thank you!!
Thanks for your course and plans. I’ve made a couple of paddles now, the latest is a beautiful one from European alder. The first one I made from cheaper spruce, but alder was much more pleasant to work with.
Ended up buying a power planer next to my block plane. Makes the job so much easier. I also found a power sander quite suitable for rounding the loom.
Not that much previous experience in woodwork, but this got me excited.
Shame the sea is frozen now, can’t take the paddle for a spin just yet!
Edit: Oh, and I used pure tung oil for the finish. Looks wonderful with alder, hopefully it does the job.
Thabk you all the way from the armpit of Zimbabwe.
Well this video made my fell alot better about useing stock wood from the local yard :) Now just have to learn to make it look the right way ! But for the price of stock wood Ill can do test1, test2 and so on with many sticks before the wife notice.
Cool Brian. Enjoy the quick dip into gettin' it done. Love all you do.
If I can make my next one in anything approaching 2 hrs with just hand tools.... :D Nice work Brian!
I think you just inspired me to make one.
I like your videos very much ,just started a skin on frame kayak and will follow it with a skin on frame canoe ,thank you for the inspiration to try the builds myself.
Very nice 👍 thx for sharing
Yes thanks for your response that makes sense all a matter of perspective.
That is awesome
SWEEET !!! And I’m gonna look right now for the video of that gorgeous ‘yak behind you. 😳🤙
2 hours - What you can do when experienced. It will take me three days when I start trying with your plans.🤣 Guess I should get started!
👍faster than to buy a paddle 😉 gelernt ist gelernt 🙂🙃🙂
Regards from good old Germany
//MAtz
Man. The way you make a paddle is so totally different to how I do. Im not nearly that fast for one. Nice work!
As always - great stuff
This is the first *porch woodwork shop* i’ve seen😂
What’s the weight difference in the red cedar Greenland paddle and the normal 2x4 you made. Would like to make one myself but I’m thinking is it worth it if your on a long trip carrying that heavier weight…if it is of course
For the same size, it’s a difference of about a half pound, which is pretty significant. I really don’t like paddling with a paddle that weighs 2 lbs. 6 oz., but I love paddling with one that weighs 1 lbs. 10 oz.
Have you built one yet? Im thinking of giving this a go with a cheap 2x4 until I can find a place that sells cedar or any better type of wood. If anything it can be a backup paddle
Would not a wider blade be better, 2x6 ? But I have only canoe experience so maybe don't understand the whole Greenland paddle thing.
Have to say I love your work beautiful useful art.
Interestingly because it’s longer the immersed blade surface really isn’t that much different than a normal paddle. Think of it like a helicopter blade versus an airplane wing they both work just a little bit differently.
What are you looking for in the grain of the wood? Straight grain or grain that's closer together (or both)
Straight grain is more important and I generally don’t like grain that’s too tight or too wide somewhere in the middle is about right.
Would the same principle with yew wood .the dark / light wood for the compression like a bow and arrow bow.
Greenland is the style then i guess? How does it preform? Isn't it annoying that the blades are in the same position on both sides? I want to make a kayak paddle for my canoe which ive build last year. (Just finished making a canoe paddl3as well. Haven't tested it yet)
If you go to our homepage here on UA-cam, and click on playlists, you’ll find a whole series on Greenland paddles, and the first two videos do a great job of explaining the performance and advantages
When you said the 2x4 was $2 I figured it must be a really old video... with 2020 inflation it’s now $6 lol
Again, actually a 2 x 4.
Ho provato a seguire il corso, ma non c'è possibilità di avere i sottotitoli in Italiano 😢😢
Nice!
Great build! Funny though, I would guess that it was more like a $3000.00 paddle, based on all the tools needed to do it in two hours. Of course the next one will be much cheaper.😀
A tablesaw, chop saw and a few hand tools from the used market............$300
I have done the whole process with hand tools (handsaw, drawknife, plane, etc.) took about 5-6 hours IIRC. If I could only have one power tool, it would be a bandsaw. I also have a paddle made on a CNC router, took the same 2 hours as Brian took.
nice! I hope you can find tight grain for your frames
I have heard Greenland paddles described as “flying” through the water and providing lift. Yet the plane of a wing gets some lift by its asymmetrical shape- flatter on the bottom as opposed to the top. Yet, best as I can tell, pictures of Greenland paddles I have seen appear symmetrical top side to bottom side. Any explanation for this?
Both sailboat keels and stunt plane wings are symmetrical foils, The angle of attack functionally flattens and accelerates the flow on the “underside” and slows the flow on the top generating lift.
@@capefalconkayak thanks. Also in terms of buoyancy, are wooden paddles more buoyant than the carbon fiber Greenland paddles made by Gearlab? Or are they about the same?
Up until now no one has made a good Greenland paddle out of carbon fiber, always too stiff and too buoyant, but gearlab changes that. I was so impressed by their paddles that I became a dealer. If you’re in the market for one and you feel like supporting the channel we should be stocking them within a few weeks and 10% of our gear sales profits go to supporting native builders.
I loved your free course, after finishing uni I bought a boat second hand off facebook and could only afford a fe £5 pieces of cls.
I've watched many of your videos have you ever watched the documentary on tukto it shows how to make a kayak out drift wood and super primitive toils
좋은영상 감사합니다 ~👍👍👍
Is that the same router the native ancient Greenlanders used? 😁 Nice video!
If we could say one thing about Inuit builders, it's that they weren't precious about being "traditional" they used anything and everything they could get their hands on!
Great stuff. New here. love your work
Beautiful paddle, I made a similar one from redwood. Do you recommend a specific type of finish?
I'm experimenting with Rubio Monocoat right now. The sample size bottles are just enough for a GP
Was it SPF ?
Or cedar?
I'm keen on buying a Greenland paddle. I've been told they aren't that great for sea kayaking in rougher waters because the paddle can't grip the water properly. Thoughts?
Yeah that’s not really true. The blade grips the water just fine. There’s also a lot of advantages because you can extend it in a flash and get triple the grip on the water for an aggressive maneuvering stroke. It’s also much easier to roll with. The only thing a Greenland paddle doesn’t grab well is really aerated water but that’s actually a good thing I know a lot of people who have sustained serious shoulder damage getting thrashed in the surf, and that’s not likely to happen with the Greenland paddle. Generally I wouldn’t use one for white water just because it can be a little bit challenging to brace into really soft foam but for any kind of sea kayaking it’s what I prefer.
@@capefalconkayak great to hear from you. Your videos are greatm I've watched this one many times. Hopefully I'll be paddling a greenland paddle in 2021!
Damn, i paid 20 dollars for the wood and took 2 years finishing it (it's not finish so far)
cool
Hey Brian very cool cheap paddle but the camera lied...seems you did it in lless than 5 minutes on my clock. (>: Your videos are outstanding.
What kind of wood was that. KD doug fir perhaps?
Just some garbage SPF. Works just fine though!
What about The "Traditional North Alaskan Hunting Kayak" you posted around a month prior to this video?
What about it? I'm not sure what you're asking.
@@capefalconkayak I like kayaks that don't have a flat or slightly flat front deck. I saw your video on the "Traditional North Alaskan Hunting Kayak" and looked around on your you tube home page and your www.capefalconkayaks.com/ web site to see if you had any more videos on this kayak, but couldn't find any more (lots of greenland kayak videos); I don't think I've even noticed one in you half (or smaller) scale modals. Wooden Kayak paddles; I've never had or used a wooden kayak peddle and was always concerned about loosing my aluminum paddle due to it sinking under the waves before I could grab it if it ever slipped out of my hands. Watched another of your paddle videos showing how to use your wooden paddle to stabilize the kayak (good ideas). last weekend I started watching your "Skin-on-Frame Kayak Prep Course" video(s) (that's alot of good info)
do you really have a woodshop on your front porch?!
nice
One of these days I’ll make a skin on frame kayak just to hunt in, sounds like a lot of fun hunting from the water like that. Anyone got any information on places where it’s legal to hunt from water?
Laundry Sauce 2 ...if you’re gonna be self-reliant like that......
Why not make ALL such paddles out of stock pine from the merchant? If it works...it works. The Inuit didn’t have merchants, they had the sea shore.
Sitka spruce in kodiak..
Which means the didn't have to put up with the crap wood that we get.
That said, you want light, strong, good grain, rot resistant. Choose the right wood for the job, off the shelf or off the beach.
Have yet to find a good 2x4 at the regular sources here.
but I shall.
made mine from a good portion of an 18 foot 12x2!
@@danfurkert7887 Those are more than two dollars! But good move, thanks for the reminder.
Look on the edges of wider boards.
Eh? Can’t get 4x2? 4x2 in a 2.4 mtr length is a perfectly normal and ready to use size in UK. Looks the same in USA/Canada too.
@@josephinebennington7247 Not easy to find a 4x2 with proper grain/lack of knots in construction grade lumber. Thanks.
Beahahajaaaa! 2x4's ate now $11.17.... 😆😅🤣😅😆😛 Still a good deal though...
nice radius template lol
Nice video but I can't help but notice: you have a band saw on your porch! You must live in a safe neighborhood!
Nah, just a really crappy bandsaw and treacherous porch stairs.
Hope most people realize that he is using a 2x6. A 2x4 would give small blades.
Actually, it is a 2 x 4. And this is a common width for a greenland paddle.
@@capefalconkayak Sorry, The monitor seems to distort the size of it. Saw another video where someone used your instructions and he had a yardstick in front of the 2x4 and it was about 3-1/2". I have a length of 2x4 in front of me and the width looks shorter. Must have something to do with my monitor.
@@johngallagher912 no worries
$2 dollars and 2 hours, with $2000+ in equipment and probably well over 2 years of experience.
Well, in June 2021, that would be the $8, 2 hour Greenland Paddle Build. It was a real shock to me, thinking that a 2" x 4 "x 8' was someplace between $2 and $3 each, but now is pushing $8. All my assumptions about approximate cost are trashed again. I guess I need to keep buying Chinese crap on the internet, because there are a whole lot more things that its not worthwhile building in America.
2 $ and 2h for a paddle, of course. For $ 2 you don't even get cheap spruce and in 2 hours that isn't finished either. Unless you have machines and do without drawing. That alone takes at least 30 minutes, as well as sanding with 40, 80, 120, 150 and 180 grit. 2h for a paddle, forget it, only those who haven't built a paddle believe that.