That's a good idea for roughing one out, and for an experienced paddle builder for finishing as well. But for most of us amateurs the end result would look like a snake.

I roughed the shaft out with a ROS, and finished with this block in less than 30 minutes. The shaft came out as straight and true as any off the rack at the kayak shop, in minutes. The block cost $.20 and 15 minutes, and the "skill" is designed into it. For those of us who haven't devoted 10 years to learning the art, and don't intend to, this is a nifty shortcut to professional-quality results.

: I round my paddle shafts with a 80 grit beltsander belt cut to give me a long
: tough strip of sandpaper. I clamp my paddle in a vise and work the
: sandpaper across the shaft like I'm polishing a shoe,not that anybody does
: this anymore. Maybe you young folks don't know what polishing a shoe looks
: like. You hold on to the ends of the long strip of sandpaper holding them
: down over the paddle shaft and pull back and forth. The sandpaper quickly
: cuts down the high spots and creates a round profile. 80 grit cuts VERY
: fast using this method so be careful not to take off too much material.
: Then go to 150 grit doing the same sanding method and finish with 220 with
: the grain.

: All the best,

: Rob Macks
: Laughing Loon CC&K
: www.LaughingLoon.com