Clearwood Blog
Stories about board building, builders, materials and more
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Standup Paddleboard Building Tutorials
Standup Paddleboard Building Tutorials
We don’t want summer to end too soon but we do want to plan for the inevitable change of the seasons. The fall season here in the Northern Hemisphere is when many woodworking enthusiasts are planning winter projects, and building a hollow wood SUP (standup paddleboard) or…
Building a Lightweight Board
Building a Lightweight Board
Building a lightweight hollow wood board of any style can be a challenge but, in the end, not that hard if you choose the “right” materials. The very best wood for building hollow wood boards is a species of wood called paulownia tomentosa. Pauownia t. has the perfect blend of weig…
Tool Requirements for Strip Planking
Tool Requirements for Strip Planking
Tool requirements for strip planking a paddleboard are simple; a basic set of hand tools and a few basic power tools are all that is required. The enhancement of our woodshops with a more diverse set of tools is something most woodworkers strive for, but strip planking is s…
Board Construction
Semi-monocoqueHollow Wood Paddleboard Construction Techniques
Hollow wood paddleboard construction techniques are common to many different hull shapes. The build method for all the boards I design is strip planking. Strip planking, for those not familiar with the process, is the application of strips of wood t…
Paulownia Wood Lumber
Paulownia Wood for Strip Planking
Paulownia plantation
Paulownia wood for strip planking is a topic important for building strong and light boards. We have discussed paulownia wood for strip planking hollow wood SUP’s and surfboards i…
Hollow Wood SUP and Surfboard Structures
Hollow Wood SUP and Surfboard Structures with Integrity
Hollow SUP’s, surfboards and prone paddleboards that are built from strips of wood over a light framework all have one thing in common; a semi monocoque structure. What is a semi monocoque structure? Think of an aircraft fuselage or wing on most aircraft …
Make your own wooden paddleboard
Make your own wooden paddleboard
Are you looking for a winter project? Have you got some spare time and space in your garage? If so, have you considered making your own wooden paddleboard? It might not be the quickest way to get out on the water but it’s sure to be the most rewarding. Are you up for the challe…
Closing up a Hollow Board-Tasks to Consider
Closing Up a Hollow Board-Tasks to ConsiderCompleting the assembly manual has taken me longer than I had planned and I am hearing from some “CLEARWOOD” board builders that are nearly ready to strip the bottom and close up the shell of the board. So let’s go through the basics of what we need to consider before…
Wood
WoodIn my world, we make things out of wood. But it wasn’t clear at first just how involved our relationship with hollow wood paddleboards would become. Surfboards, paddleboards, and sup paddles have become an obsession. I have always involved myself fully when I commit to doing anything worth doing and buildin…