My Build of a "Boat Paddle Box"

Posted by Tom Walters on January 1, 2013 at 11:33pm

Inspired by Rand Moore's comprehensive write up on the "Boat Paddle Box, I have decided to take a crack at one myself.

 

Here is the start.  I am doing two at once.  The neck is oak with mahogany strips glued on for the sides.  I am going to cut a scarf joint for the headstock and add some wings.  One of the stick dulcimers will have a mahogany back and sides.The other body will have mahogany sides and a walnut back.  Both tops are going to be "iron spruce"  from Mario in British Columbia.

 

Here are some pictures of the start.

 

Gluing the mahogany onto the neck:

 

The top of iron spruce and the back of walnut thicknessed:

 

 

Mahogany top being joined:

 

 

Stay tuned and thanks again to Randy for inspiring me.

 


Tom

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Replies

  • Rand Moore January 5, 2013 at 1:06am

    Hi Tom.

    The frame will get some reinforcement once you glue on the top sound board and the back board. I use 0.5cm thick wood (cherry and sapelli), and I was a bit concerned about its strength, but after gluing on the top and bottom it seems plenty strong. As long as you're not planning to use the instrument for personal protection (in bar fights and the like), it should be strong enough.

    -Rand.

  • Tom Walters January 5, 2013 at 12:50am

    Here is the latest.  I did make the boxes bigger and put  a reinforcing strip between the two side pieces of wood.  Unfortunately, that made bending more difficult and some of the side parts started to crack.  I added some reinforcements and had to make the width at the bottom a little smaller.  Here are some pictures:

     

    th_IMG-20130105-00149_zps111d9782.jpg

     

    th_IMG-20130105-00151_zps26f3ffc6.jpg

  • Rand Moore January 2, 2013 at 12:59am

    Hi Tom,

    Looks like you are off to a good start. Nice choice of wood. I look forward to seeing how they turn out. My latest project is to try to adapt my paddle box dulcimer design into a "Flying V" dulcimer. Here's a quick drawing of what I'm thinking...

    240883279?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024Will likely have to extend the length of the sound box so the "cutout" due to the V-shaped tail-block doesn't take away so much from the volume (square area) of the sound box. I've got the V-shaped tail-block joined and braced with a 90 degree angle bracket. Will start the rest of the instrument soon.

    -Rand.

  • wormil January 2, 2013 at 12:06am

    I made a boat paddle ukulele, lots of fun. 

  • Order99 January 1, 2013 at 11:52pm
    OOOoooooohhhh....

    Staying tuned, sir! I can't wait to see this one..
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