Hi Paul, hope you don't mind some comments?

: than webbing, but probably stronger than nylon. Of course the manner you
: are testing applies your load in totally different directions, and you
: have to consider the leverage effect of longer or shorter lengths of the

I recommneded 3 feet for testing, as a typical loom on a GP is around 2 feet. The motivation was that a longer test piece requires less weight to bend and break, making for a more feasible set-up.

: Put your moounting points as close to where the paddle blades would attach,
: and keep the length of your test shafts as sloe to what you would produce
: for a paddle. Then not only do you get some interesting data, but you get
: data that is directly related to what you are building. If you see that
: some 6 foot long test shaft breaks at 45 pounds, the answer is less
: meaningful than finding that your 3.75 foot paddle shaft won't break with
: over 200 pounds of force applied. With actual paddle shaft lengths you'll
: have numbers that you can later tie together with real-life situations
: (stresses exerted during rolls, for instance).

Testing real paddles would be fine, if it weren't so costly... and I'd consider it sinful as well - breaking a good GP! !!! Anyway, with the gradually widening blades many things come into play, such as thickness, taper, edge wood, nr of laminations, etc. Would a test involving just the core box really be relevant for a finished paddle. Personally, I'd resist the temptation of making comparisons, let alone giving estimates or guarantees.

: Test what you are best capable of making as that will become your only
: product. If you can make a strong and a weak paddle, who would buy the one
: that is more likely to break? Nobody wants the inferior stuff.

Yes, I'm 100% in agreement here. Finding out how to make a simple and economical core quickly, and with sufficient strength, is far more useful than knowing how to make the most resistant one, at any cost and no matter how long it takes.

risto

ps. There is a saying in Finland that goes (app.) " the more Cooks there are around the pot, the ghastlier the Soup will be" . But since I don't believe any of it, I am happily adding my spices into the brew...