: I imagine that a small chunk of paraffin disolved in some paint thinner, or
: lighter fluid or turpentine or whatever could be wiped on a paddle, and it
: would soak in. After the solven evaporated the wood would remain filled
: with wax which should repel the water rather well. I understood that this
: was basically how Thompsons worked. Question is: Has anyone tried it?

I regularly wax my antique tools (cast iron and wood surfaces) using homemade paste wax made from beeswax softened in gum turpentine. I haven't tried this on Greenland paddles, though. I would be worried that the wax finish might be too slippery when wet, but this is only speculation.

As a tangent, I know a few paddlers who use soft surfboard wax on their paddles to add "gription". I tried this but found it messy as the wax got all over my gear, and it tended to give me blisters.

Greg Stamer