I am getting ready to make the move from brewing beer with malt extracts to brewing with all grain. The key step in the process is mashing, which is where you steep the malted barley in hot water to convert starches to fermentable sugars. Traditionally, a wood paddle is used when the malt and water are combined to stir it to keep the malt from clumping into dough balls. There are a variety of mash paddles available commercially. However, being a woodworker, I felt that I should make my own.
I found a piece of 4/4 maple about 6” wide and 27” long in a dark, dusty corner of my shop. Perfect. I trimmed the ends and laid out my paddle design. The first step was to drill holes at each end of each slot with a forstner bit using the drill press. Then it was just a matter of connect the dots using the scroll saw. Then I cut the paddle out at the bandsaw. I sanded the edges with the oscillating sander. I had a little clean up work to do to the slots using a cabinet maker’s rasp and a file. I ran a round over bit over the entire paddle, 1/8” for the business end and 1/4” for the shaft and handle. Sanded the entire thing to 220 grit and called it done.
This was a utilitarian project, so I wasn’t looking for figured wood. There is a nice bit of streaking in the shaft. I consider that to be a pleasant bonus.
