Well, before I started beer crafting, I had (and still do) a fully functioning woodworking shop. It didn't get much use this winter because the wood stove's smokestack collapsed and I never fixed it, but now that it's spring, I'll probably be toiling away in the shop on the weekends.
I always like having projects that allow me to do some practice on different skills, since I've been away from woodworking for years until just recently. So I was wandering around, and noticed that people were making mash paddles from maple and oak, left untreated so they don't leech into the wort. Things like this:
36" long, 3 1/2" thick paddles. Honestly though, for most cooler tuns you could get away with a 24" paddle.
Something like that shouldn't take long at all to make. So I figured I'd try and make one for myself in the near future. Probably in the next month or so.
So then I thought why not see if anyone else wants one? I can make them for whatever the material cost of a 2 foot slab of 2x4 maple is, which I think comes to around 10-15 bucks, I'd have to check for sure.
Holes in the paddle can be cut to any design so long as I can print it off. Do a quick google and see the various ideas people have come up with. I can also chisel a name in it if you'd like on the handle.
Anyway, thought I'd offer while I'm doing it for myself. Anyone interested let me know and I'll craft one out for you as well.
On a side note, if I can work the lathe this summer and not be terrified of it (the one tool my granfather left me that I'm terrified of, simply envisioning a chisel shooting out of it at my chest...), I'll start making wooden beer tap handles as well.
