Clash of the Mash - Cú Chulainn style mash Paddle

[Garry]

I have an Igloo 10 gallon mash tun. It's tall and narrow. Currently I use a plastic paddle to stir my mash. The plastic paddle is too short and soft for the job (insert Viagra joke here). I didn't want to get a stainless mash paddle because I didn't want to scratch the inside of the cooler. I've been looking up wooden mash paddles on the outerweb and I decided to go with a hurley. It's hardwood, just the right length, curved at the bottom (to suit the circular cooler) and has a grippy bit at the top. They are also readily available and it will be the first time in my life where I've put one to good use 

I bought the hurley this morning. I must have a head on me that says, "WTF is a hurley", because the lad at the till asked me, "You going to try a bit of hurling?" I should have just said yes and smiled, but instead said, "No, I'm going to use it for mixing grain!" He has me chalked down as a loony!

I'm sure I'm not the first to think of it, so lets see your hurley mash paddles fellas

Here's mine. (GAA heads may find the following images distressing! In fact, I must make sure my father-in-law never sees it  )

[RichC]

is that a kids learner Hurley? Musta really confused the clerk. Did u cut it out with a jigsaw? Its a brilliant idea!! Looks great

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[Shanna]

If memory serves me correctly Shiny did the same thing about a year back. I created something similar out a left over oak floor board. Great job altogether.

Shanna

[sub82]

Looks class! Does it need oiled or anything to preserve the wood?

[imark]

Nice job Garry. Is ash food safe?

[Garry]

Yeah, I used a jigsaw. The ash is hard stuff, there was lots of smoke coming off the blade  I bought the longest hurley they had, it's 36". I know feck all about sport but it's not a kids hurley 

I searched the forum for others. All I could find was spud's paddle (sweet job). Would love to see what any of the rest of ye are using so post your pics 

From the bit of reaserch I done Ash is a good timber to use in food grade applications

It must be food safe so?

From my limited research of oils and finishes, you're better off leaving the wood bare.

[Shane Phelan]

Boom!

Literally the most difficult thing I have ever drilled. Its a kids sized one from Aldi or Lidl.

[Garry]

Nice one shiny. It is actually hard enough to drill. You expect it to be soft like pine but there's a bit of resistance there.

I found this article very useful. It will explain the finish or no-finish better than I will.

[Shane Phelan]

The one thing I would take away from that guide is using a bench drill. I would have used the one in work if I had known what I was letting myself in for! 

[Will_D]

Here's mine:

Made from white oak (floor board).

No holes in mine as I thought why let the smaller dough balls get away intact?

Also the non-existant holes cannot collect existant malt!

The pyrography is not the best but it does allow me to sign in to the NHC (password is on the back  : )

[Garry]

That's a fine stick Will  I hope you don't use the same password for everything though?

Pyrography  Now that's a new word for me  I was going to burn the letters into mine too but I didn't want to break my soldering iron (ok, I was too lazy).

I thought the holes would help break up the dough balls though?

[Will_D]

I did use my soldering iron, fine bit, max temp, held steady with a pair of long needle nose pliers.

A proper pyrography iron would have been better though.

When you see the quality of pyro'd wooden objects it makes you realise that there is a lot more than just burning the wood with a soldering iron.!

[ColinC]

My attempt! It's one of the kids hurleys outta Adli or Lidl

[johnrm]

@Garry, Trish says it's very Orla Kiely-esque.

[Garry]

@Garry, Trish says it's very Orla Kiely-esque.

That's the look I was after, she has a good eye  The value has just quadrupled!