protect paddle with a copper rim

[PatNEK1]

Hello, is there experience with member of protecting the paddle blade's end with the copper rim that I see on two of my old family paddles? Any idea 1) who might sell these copper half-circle skins? 2) Whether it is fairly easy to make them? Here is an entry that tells me "No!, don't do it!" "...The general consensus on the WCHA forums was that such paddle tip protectors actually cause more damage as the nail or staple holes permit water penetration and eventually lead to rot. For some paddle makers, the old-time aesthetic appeal is a desirable addition..."

 

[MGC]

These have been discussed quite often on this site. I own several older paddles with copper tips. I do not like the idea of putting nails or tacks through the paddle blade to mount them.

Thread 'Copper Tip'

Nov 26, 2011

Hi all.
I am wondering if anyone can point me towards any information,or photos, of how to make copper paddle tips. I made a mandrel the same shape as the tip of my paddle but as I expected a quick try with a scrap showed me it would kink. Any ideas?

• Craig Johnson
• Replies: 23
• Forum: Paddles and Paddle Making

R

Post in thread 'Blade tip protectors'

Nov 5, 2009

Robert! Excellent! Knew someone out there would have an answer! thankfully simpler than their usual paddle tips. Any thoughts as to what vintage your paddle might be?

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! Now to go and figure out how to make them!

• Roundtable

 

[pklonowski]

Doug Ingram, near Winnipeg, Manitoba, makes epoxy-based tips, that are shaped kind of like the old copper tips. They're very protective, and no hardware is allowing water to penetrate... He has a post here: https://forums.wcha.org/threads/new-to-forum.1908/page-2 which shows the forms he made to mold the epoxy onto the paddles. It's post # 36 in that thread...

 

[MGC]

I rarely use my "period correct" paddles anymore. Except for one really nice old Peterborough paddle, they are all a bit clunky, especially the 1960/70's Old Towns.
I use Branches paddles most of the time. These have epoxy tips that have hold up superbly. I used one a few weeks ago to separate my Jack Russel from a very large and angry raccoon.

 

[thunt]

I had them back in the '60s. Old Town used to make them and sell them back then. One of the problems was the catching on rocks in shallow streams or rivers.

 

[Worth Gretter]

One of the guys offering paddle making at the Assembly had a different idea. He said to slit the end of the paddle with a table saw, then epoxy in a tongue depressor to prevent splits along the grain. I'm thinking of doing it with the two paddles I made earlier this year.