How To Carve A Cedar Canoe?

This 1984 Mother Earth News tutorial provides a detailed guide on carving a canoe from a single cedar log. The tutorial focuses on selecting, shaping, and hollowing the log to create a strong, straight-grained tree, such as cedar, fir, or spruce. The canoe was first carved as a model from a section of a willow, and then an actual full-size canoe was created from a 30 by 8 redwood log.

To prepare to make a strip canoe, one must purchase a strip canoe kit from a reputable canoe company and select the desired model. The art of crafting a wilderness dugout canoe keeps ancient traditions alive by using skilled hands and patience. The process involves several steps, including strongback and molds, milling the strips, bending the stems, building the hull, and closing the hull.

The tutorial emphasizes the importance of fresh cut wood species for better splitting and carving. The first operation is debarking, which can be done using a bark spud or heavy wood. The next steps involve working the wood, fashioning the waterline strips, building the hull, and making the mold for the canoe.

How do you bend cedar strips?

Bending Wood with Water. Another method for bending wood involves soaking it in hot water until it becomes pliable. Once pliable, you’ll be able to clamp it to a form and allow it to dry. When it’s cool and dry, it will take the curved shape of the form.

If you’re crafting a woodworking project or selecting trim for a remodel, you’re not limited to straight pieces of lumber. Learning how to bend wood can quickly upgrade your projects and add a touch of style.

This guide will walk you through various methods of wood bending and the types of wood best suited for the job.

What Are the Wood Bending Basics?. Wood fibers are naturally tough and rigid, which makes them resistant to bending. However, these fibers become more pliable when exposed to heat and moisture. This is because heat and moisture break down the lignin — a compound that gives wood its rigidity — allowing the fibers to move more freely.

Is Cedar good for canoes?

Northern white cedar is absolutely the best wood for canoe ribs and planking. Its light weight, strength, flexibility and rot resistance can not be matched by any other wood. Although Maine has vast quantities of white cedar, it is still very difficult to find, select and sort out the knot- and defect-free lumber that is required for canoe construction.

The rough stock, ribs, and planking offered by Northwoods Canoe Company are from plain-sawn lumber, which means most of the pieces will have flat grain patterns. All wood is of the best premium canoe grade. A one inch thick board is normally thick enough to produce two ribs or thee pieces of planking. The edges of lumber are rough, so to produce a 3″-wide plank, it needs to start with a 4″-wide board to smooth up the sides to the 3″.

Northwoods Canoe Company has been able to obtain a treasured amount of quarter-sawn white cedar which is available ONLY as pre-cut planking, 3″ wide, 5/32″ thick, in six- to eight-foot lengths.

How many hours to build a cedar strip canoe?

“It’s a very rewarding experience to build a canoe. It takes a lot of time—around 120 hours on average. So when it’s finished and you’ve created something as beautiful as a cedar strip canoe, you should be proud of what you’ve done.

“I think it’s really worth the experience. I hope you try it!”

(At the end of the film is a list of resources for building your own cedar strip canoe. Photos courtesy of Trailguide Pictures.)

What paddling questions can we help you with? Call or email our Wisconsin-based customer service team today: 715-755-3405 • (emailprotected). More for you…

What are the cons of a wooden canoe?

Cons: Susceptible to sun damage. Lack of rigidity can lead to poor performance over time.Heavy.

Best For: Recreational paddlers and rambunctious kids. Perfect for a cottage.

Softshell. Travel canoes are made of durable and flexible reinforced fabrics like PVC, polyester and nylon. Some require setting up an internal structure, giving form to the fabric, while others are completely inflatable. Many will pleasantly surprise you with their durability, performance and price. Some models are rated for class IV whitewater.

How do you finish raw cedar?

• Sand the wood thoroughly to ensure a smooth surface for a professional finish.
• Use a quality wood stain to enhance the natural beauty of the cedar, and choose a finish that will protect the wood from moisture and sunlight.
• Apply the stain evenly and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying time and number of coats.
• Consider using a clear topcoat for added protection and a glossy finish.
• Take your time and be thorough in your application to achieve a flawless, professional look.

Drying and curing the cedar wood. To dry and cure aromatic cedar wood, it is essential to let the wood acclimate to the surrounding environment. This process helps prevent warping or cracking of the wood after it’s been worked on. The best practice is to let the cedar wood sit for at least two weeks in the room where it will be used. This allows the wood to adjust to the moisture content of the room and reduces the likelihood of future issues.

Adding protective layers for longevity. When finishing aromatic cedar, it’s essential to apply protective layers for maximum longevity. These protective layers can include varnish, lacquer, or polyurethane. Applying these coatings helps to safeguard the wood from wear and tear, moisture, and UV damage. Remember to sand the cedar smooth before applying the protective layer to ensure a perfect finish.

What tools do you need to build a cedar strip canoe?

Suggested Tools for Strip-Planked Boatbuilding ClassesJack Knife.Japanese Pull Saw.Low Angle Block Plane.Utility Knife.Flat Spokeshave.Pencils.

Suggested Tools for Strip-Planked Boatbuilding Classes.

The workshops where these classes are held are generally very well equipped, however there may not be enough of every tool for everyone, so to get the most out of your time in class, it is a good idea to bring whatever tools you can.

• Tool List:. Good To Have:. Organic Vapor Respirator
• Hearing Protection
• Putty Knife
• Chisels
• Sharpening Stone
• Tape Measure

How long to soak cedar to bend it?

One to three hours How long do you have to soak wood to bend it? Soak wood for at least 30 minutes to get a bend to it. However, the longer the better, soak for at least one to three hours, if possible.

Bending wood transforms solid, straight wood into graceful curves. It’s often an adjunct to another project, such as building furniture, baskets, musical instruments, toys, or crafts. It’s also fun to play around with on its own.

Bending wood is a two-step process: first, softening the wood, then forming it. Steam or very hot to boiling water are good agents for softening wood. Wood can also be softened by creating multiple cuts on the back of the wood using a saw. This method is called kerf-cutting. Read on for all the instructions on how to bend wood.

• Steam Bending. Wood for steam box
• Scrap blocks of wood (for feet and supports)
• Hose (to fit on to fitting and desired length)
• Nails (for box)
• 2-inch long brass pipe fitting

What are the disadvantages of cedar?

Disadvantages Of Cedar WoodHardwood cedars may not last as long as some other hardwood species.Some types of softwood cedar can become dented easily.It is expensive compared to wood like pine.It requires regular maintenance as the color may fade away due to chemical reaction.

Cedar trees originated in the Himalayas and in the Mediterranean, but are currently grown in temperate climates all over the world.

Cedar trees can grow up to 131 feet in height and 8feet in diameter.

Some types of cedar wood are classified as softwood and some types are classified as hardwood.

How many hours does it take to build a cedar strip canoe?

“It’s a very rewarding experience to build a canoe. It takes a lot of time—around 120 hours on average. So when it’s finished and you’ve created something as beautiful as a cedar strip canoe, you should be proud of what you’ve done.

“I think it’s really worth the experience. I hope you try it!”

(At the end of the film is a list of resources for building your own cedar strip canoe. Photos courtesy of Trailguide Pictures.)

What paddling questions can we help you with? Call or email our Wisconsin-based customer service team today: 715-755-3405 • (emailprotected). More for you…

How thick should cedar strips be for a canoe?

1/4″ All of our boats have been built with the 1/4″ strips with no consideration given to thinner stock, and no further consideration will be given here. Western red cedar strips 3/4″ wide and 1/4″ thick are the target.

I had intended to write a new section about how I make strips, based on a chapter from Strip Building the Virginia – Reproductions of an Adirondack Classic, written by Mike Olivette and myself. Rather than butcher the chapter, I include it here in its entirety, with minor formatting concessions to Microsoft Front Page. The sketches are by Dick Millet.

Besides describing the strip making process, it is hoped it might encourage strip builders to add an Adirondack guideboat to their fleet, and also provides a sample of the flavor of the book. As for the book, we hope it will be published by the end on the year.

Chapter 8 – The Strips. Perhaps the mostsignificant difference between a traditionally built guideboat and a modernstripped reproduction is the use of many narrow strips to cover the ribbed hullrather than the eight or so comparatively wide planks.John Gardner, writing about using modern methods and materials in theDurant book, suggests using narrow strips, waterproof glue, and epoxy to build aguideboat. At the time of his writing, the building of small paddle androwing craft from edge-glued narrow wood strips was in its infancy.Strip widths were variable among builders, and edge treatment of thestrips to improve the joints was almost non-existent.Some boats were built with simple edge glued joints with the edgesbeveled with a block plane, and a few had no edge treatment at all, dependinginstead on a lot of filler to close the inevitable gaps. Gardner mentions adouble bevel on one edge fitting into a mating “V” notch cut into the other.

What is the best finish for a cedar strip canoe?

The only varnish that I would avoid is Schooner Varnish. There have been occasional problems reported over a couple of decades with Schooner not hardening-up properly over WEST. It doesn’t happen every time, but there does seem to be enough evidence of problems to be cautious. I generally use Captain’s Varnish over WEST epoxy. It is high quality stuff with a good UV absorber and I’ve used it for a long time with excellent results. I usually apply it to hulls in thin layers using a yellow Gougeon roller, followed by tipping it out immediately with a soft brush. I seem to get much better thickness control and far fewer drips or sags that way than I do with a brush.

If you’d asked about System 3 epoxies, I’d tell you to go buy their spar urethane – That and Interlux spar varnish are the only things I’ve found that cures over this particular epoxy. Has anyone else found something that works with System 3?

Should I put polyurethane on cedar?

Caution. Transparent, non-flexible, film-forming finishes such as lacquer, shellac, urethane, and varnish are not recommended for exterior use on cedar. Ultraviolet radiation can penetrate the transparent film and degrade the wood.

Tips on Finishing Western Red Cedar Outdoor Applications. How to Apply Finishing to Real Cedar. How a finish is applied to cedar is as important for durability and good performance as is the finish-substrate combination chosen for the job. Finishes can be brushed, rolled, sprayed or applied by dipping. The application technique, the quality and quantity of finish applied, the surface condition of the substrate, and the weather conditions at the time of application can substantially influence the life expectancy of the finish. The application guidelines suggested here should be followed in concert with the manufacturer’s directions for the product.

Paints. Paints of all types such as vinyl-acrylic, modified-acrylic, and oil-based top coats are all suitable for cedar but test results show that good-quality 100%-acrylic formulations perform best. To achieve maximum paint life, follow these steps:

• On bare new or restored cedar, apply one coat only of water-repellent preservative (1% or less of wax by volume and content). Allow it to dry for the period of time recommended by the manufacturer. If the wood has been dip treated, a longer drying time may be needed. Do not paint before the solvent from the water-repellent preservative has evaporated because the paint may then be slow to dry, may discolor, or dry with a rough surface.
• Apply a good quality stain-blocking primer as soon as possible after the water-repellent has dried. The primer coat is very important because it forms a base for all succeeding paint coats and should be used whether the top coat is oil-based or latex-based. Application rates recommended by the manufacturer should be followed.
• Apply the top coat over the primer. If two top coats are to be applied, allow the first to cure for the period recommended by the manufacturer before applying the second. In cold or damp weather, allow extra time between coats.