DIY wood mash paddle

Get advice on making beer from raw ingredients (malt, hops, water and yeast)
Post Reply
Monkhouse
Steady Drinker
Posts: 64
Joined: Tue Oct 23, 2018 6:57 pm

DIY wood mash paddle

Post by Monkhouse » Mon Nov 29, 2021 6:33 pm

Hi, I wanted a wooden mash paddle but all the online shops are sold out! So it got me thinking about making one, doing a bit of research I’ve heard that maple is a popular choice but I can’t find any planks of maple for sale in the uk. The other option was beech wood.
Then I saw that axe handles are made from beech wood- I’m sure I could easily adapt an axe shaft for a decent mash paddle but does anyone know if the beech or hickory axe handles come untreated? I can’t find any info anywhere on wether they are treated at the factory or if they go through any processes that would harm the beer?
I’ve also got a length of what I believe is walnut that I could use but just thought I would gather others thoughts or experiences on this matter. Cheers!

User avatar
barneey
Telling imaginary friend stories
Posts: 5423
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:42 pm
Location: East Kent

Re: DIY wood mash paddle

Post by barneey » Mon Nov 29, 2021 7:43 pm

Many years ago I made a beech mash paddle, from memory I chose beech as its normally classed as being food safe and certainly a lot of the kitchen utensils are made from it. Cant remember if I treated mine but would make sure it was cleaned thoroughly after use. Single beech plank IIRC I removed a lot of the surplus with a bandsaw/jigsaw, hop / malt shaped holes and finished whittling by hand. The thread might even be on here somewhere in the mists of time

More of a fun project for me, I might even make another one to pass the time on my next camping brew trip but TBH I normally use a stainless mash paddle most of the time so the paddle is more of display unit.

Have fun :)
Hair of the dog, bacon, butty.
Hops, cider pips & hello.

Name the Movie + song :)

User avatar
barneey
Telling imaginary friend stories
Posts: 5423
Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:42 pm
Location: East Kent

Re: DIY wood mash paddle

Post by barneey » Mon Nov 29, 2021 7:52 pm

Just had a quick search, that was a long time ago :lol:

The link to the thread is viewtopic.php?f=6&t=54119&hilit=paddle

The photos have long been lost to the photobucket curse, so took another photo for you this evening it may or may not give you some ideas? The remote is there to give a sense of scale, it was made for the LARGE 3V system :)

IMG_0050.JPG
IMG_0050.JPG (2.2 MiB) Viewed 1351 times
Hair of the dog, bacon, butty.
Hops, cider pips & hello.

Name the Movie + song :)

Monkhouse
Steady Drinker
Posts: 64
Joined: Tue Oct 23, 2018 6:57 pm

Re: DIY wood mash paddle

Post by Monkhouse » Mon Nov 29, 2021 7:56 pm

VERY nice! I’m tempted to use the walnut plank I have stored, anyone have any reasons why walnut wouldn’t be a good choice?

guypettigrew
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2626
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:10 pm
Location: Christchurch, Dorset

Re: DIY wood mash paddle

Post by guypettigrew » Mon Nov 29, 2021 8:46 pm

Wow, barneey, amazing! A beech mash paddle with remote control. One of a kind.

Guy

User avatar
MashBag
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2140
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:13 am

Re: DIY wood mash paddle

Post by MashBag » Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:15 pm

Really tiny remote control too

User avatar
MashBag
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2140
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:13 am

Re: DIY wood mash paddle

Post by MashBag » Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:16 pm


Monkhouse
Steady Drinker
Posts: 64
Joined: Tue Oct 23, 2018 6:57 pm

Re: DIY wood mash paddle

Post by Monkhouse » Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:42 pm

Aye I did see that one, I’m a tight bastard tho

User avatar
MashBag
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2140
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:13 am

Re: DIY wood mash paddle

Post by MashBag » Wed Dec 01, 2021 9:21 am

Monkhouse wrote:
Mon Nov 29, 2021 9:42 pm
Aye I did see that one, I’m a tight bastard tho
Me too. And to be fair, that is a cut down plank.

To be honest. The contact time is so little, you don't need to fixate on which wood. Oak worked well for me.

Post Reply