: Instead of clamps, lay the paddle on a longer board and screw a
: block of wood to the board at each end of the paddle about
: 2" farther apart than the paddle length (plus the tips).
: Then use shims and wedges to apply pressure at one end after the
: glue/tips are in place. Just make sure you don't glue everything
: to the board.
: I built 20 door frames using this method and it worked out great.
: And it saved my clamp buying money for other materials.
: Happy building,
: Charles.

Good post, was going to recommend the same thing.

Btw, you can buy small kits of West resin, they sell them as repair kits. You do need something to thicken the resin for gluing, it's not a good glue by itself. I prefer microfibers but wood flour etc. works too.

I agree to precoat (and let harden) the edge grain it'll definately suck the resin out of the joint otherwise. Then lightly clamp the joint with the tips, good to leave a fairly thick glue like with epoxy, epoxy works better if there is a considerable amount left in the joint adds a bit of flex to the joint which resists damage.

Other than fine sanding I don't do anything else to the paddles before I finish them, sanding to something like 220 works great. Some people harden the wood first, but I've tried that. Might ask Brian?

Bill H.

Bill H.