Okay, here’s my blog post about working with hard maple for a keel:

So, I decided to take on this project – building a keel. And not just any keel, one made from hard maple. I’d heard it was tough stuff, good for something that needs to stand up to a lot of stress, but let me tell you, “tough” is an understatement.

Getting Started

First thing I did was get my hands on the wood. Finding a good piece of hard maple timber that was long enough and straight enough wasn’t easy. I went to a few different lumber yards, feeling the wood, checking for knots and any weird twists. Finally found one that looked promising. It was heavier than I expected!

Shaping the Beast

Next up was the real work – shaping the keel. I started by marking out the shape I needed, using a template I’d made. Then, I used my saws to get that rough shape made step by step. Hard maple, yeah, it’s HARD. My saw was definitely getting a workout. It took way longer than I thought it would.

• Made the Template.
• Saw and shape.
• Check and saw again.

After the sawing, it was time to refine the shape. I pulled out my planes and chisels. This part was slow, careful work. I didn’t want to take off too much wood. Every so often, I’d stop, check the shape against my template, and make adjustments. I kept planing and chiseling, planing and chiseling, until the shape was just right.

Smooth Operator

Once I was happy with the shape, it was all about getting it smooth. Started with coarse sandpaper, then moved to finer and finer grits. This part, let me tell you, was a real arm workout. Hard maple dust everywhere! But seeing that smooth, almost polished surface emerge was super satisfying.

The Finish Line

Finally, after what felt like forever, I had a finished keel. It was solid, smooth, and exactly the shape I wanted. Holding it in my hands, feeling the weight of it, I felt a real sense of accomplishment. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was definitely a challenge, but a rewarding one. My arms are still a little sore, though!