: . . . I have a couple
: paddles which are soaked, and I like the finish better. It's the classic
: oiled feel, and it is infinitely easier to apply. The only downside to
: soaking is that it takes at least a week in the oven for the paddle to
: dry. But the oil penetrates better than the epoxy. So, I'm hoping to keep
: the total production time to what it currently is, and get a stronger
: paddle with a better finish by using glass on the inner surface. Of
: course, the jury is still out on this, I'll lay up the first two tonight.

Have you tried shellac? When I was looking for information on shellac for a different post last week I came on a mention of using a diluted shellac that would soak deeply into wood pores. The idea might be useful for you, as the solvent (basically 200 proof alcohol) penetrates quickly and evaporates rather quickly. you should be able to wipe it on in minutes rather than stick your paddles in a bucket for hours. The shellac is supposed to be compatible with oil and epoxy finishes, so after the penetration by the shellac you can continue with either.

I can't find the exact mention of this now, but I think I saw it while reading through this site, or links attached to it:

www.shellac.net

hope this helps

PGJ