> Hi Mick:

> I have been thinking of a way to make a hollow core _crank_ shafted
> paddle. Your comment about the pvc reminded me of a project my Boy scout
> troop undertook one fall. The goal was to outfit the entire troop with
> snowshoes for a winter hike. When the time came to make the frames, we had
> an external mold in the shape of the shoe's frame, and an 8 foot section
> of 1" pvc. Hot (reeeeaaally hot) sand was poured into the pipe and
> allowed to bake the pipe to the consistency of cooked spaghetti. It was
> then pressed into the mold and allowed to cool. The sand was poured out
> and the pipe remained in the shape of the shoe. I see no reason this could
> not be adapted to the paddle shaft project. But how to remove it?
> Reheating to the softening point would probably make it less durable under
> tension to draw it out of the cured tube.

> Ed Valley

Holy cow! what an interesting approach - it'll take some time for me to get my mind wrapped around some of the possibilities here.

Here's another. Paul talks about wax paper being really good. I've been trying to think of a material that has a phase change somewhere in the region of not harming the glass(carbon) layup. But what about wax itself. Like take some 3/4" rope or tubing or rolled paper, pour a good layer of wax on, shape the wax for ovals, and paddle ends, lay up the composite, cure and then heat the sucker up and every thing drips out.

One idea was to freeze the water in the garden hose(say under pressure), layup and then bring to room temperature, drain the water and pull the tube, but I guess epoxy doesn't cure at freezing temps!!!- dang it!

The other idea was to use a bundle of say 1/16" piano wire 6' long and magnetize the whole bunch to make it strong, after cureup reverse the current and all the individual pcs of wire fall out. (I think this idea is prob out to lunch)

-mick