made by circe
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These paddles are fairly heavy and are made from MDF board. I chose MDF board because it is easy to cut and easy to get a smooth finish on when sanded. Care must be taken not to inhale the dust when sanding, as it is an irritant to the lungs. |
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A simple way to get a symmetrical shape is to draw one half of the paddle on the fold of sheet of newspaper, then cut it out and open it up. Place the paper pattern onto the MDF board and draw around it.
Cut the paddle shape out of the MDF board and sand down all the edges until they are rounded off. Get a dampened cloth and wipe over the paddle to remove the sawdust. Leave the paddle for a while so it can dry off completely. When dry, paint the paddle with Japlac or another hi-gloss paint. Apply two coats of paint. Allow the first coat to dry completely, and sand it lightly before applying the second coat. |
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To make the paddle a little meaner, try drilling holes in the surface. This allows the air cushion to dissipate through the holes.
A solid paddle traps the air in a cushioning effect between the paddle and the target. That's why we drill holes, so that the cushion gets out of the way. It's also the main reason why a paddle or anything else on a wet bum hurts more: the air has a smoother surface to pass over, so it gets way faster -- less friction between air & flesh. The decision to drill holes needs to be taken before the paddle is painted so the edges of the holes can be sanded smooth |