More spoon thrills

I bet you couldn't wait for the next instalment.

Having roughly shaped the spoon of the oar to the overall curve, we then set about making it less like a pizza peel and more like, well, an oar.

The traditional Thames skiff oar is very slim: when I started rowing (in black and white) that sort of blade was called a toothpick.

Thames skiff blades. Picture courtesy of Hobs.

These were superseded by the Macon oar: a fuller shape. The plans we are basing our design on are close to the latter.

It was a simple job to lay a template over the rough block spoon and  cut away the surplus:

Working across a pair helps to ensure uniformity

 

Then comes the really hard work of refining that 'blank'. Lots of careful chiselling, planing and sanding:

Taking Shape

We are up to our eyes in sawdust and getting through sheet after sheet of sandpaper. The most effective tool is an angle grinder with a sanding wheel attached. This enables us to shape very quickly and effectively, though it rather stings when you accidentally sand your knuckles with it.