Dynamite Payson's Pictorial Guide to making your own oars!

1. Make a plywood pattern of the oar length wanted. The buy a fir or spruce framing lumber 8" wide. Lay the pattern on it and trace around     (Click photos to expand)
2. Draw a centerline from grip to end of blade and cut out on bandsaw.
3. Draw centerline on edge of blade plus blade thickness.
4. If you trust yourself, cut blade taper on bandsaw.
5. Taper loom with taper gauge.
6. Finish taper with electric hand planer, and sand.
7. Saw loom taper on table saw. Finish with block plane to 16 sided.
8. Turn 60 grit sanding belt inside out. Tack inner tube on piece of closet pole with 1/4" rod in it... and go for it! You will be pleased with speed and results.
9. Loom protection: Burn the end of braided nylon and fasten end to loom with brass E. pin. About 7" or 8" is plenty. Wrap tightly around loom and pin other end.
10. Make button from 3/8" 3 strand dacron. Cut on a bias with heat gun and epoxy in place snug to braided wrapping.
11. Finished oars before loom protection.