Subject: Re: [baidarka] Carving Feathered Paddles
From: Marian Gunkel (marian-list@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Jun 08 2001 - 08:29:37 EDT
Mel wrote:
> I haven't tried it, but I think it would be fairly simple to use a
> commercial ferrule in the loom area to feather the blades.
I did so with an Aleut paddle (blank made by James Mitchell, delivered by Ralph Hoehn, almost finished by myself) and Nimbus fiberglas ferrule, glued to the loom with epoxy. It worked fine so far.
The problem with Aleut and / or greenlandic paddle looms and ferrules is that the ferrules extend the paddle length for some inches (they need space for the lock system) and that you need to shape the loom to fit the ferrule.
I had minor problems to shape the loom of the Aleut paddle to fit both ferrule and trapezoid shaped outer loom. With my greenland paddle, this would not be so easy because of sliding strokes and the short span of the loom. The nimbus ferrule takes up a large amount of the loom.
I don't have to worry too much on the greenland paddle since it broke two weeks at a knot close to the end of the loom. I could repair it using a ferrule (have got a couple of them) but the wood isn't that good to invest a US$ 20 ferrule.
> What I am
> laboring over is how to make a 4 piece with reliable joints that don't
> have
> splinters or sharp parts and don't wobble. I am convinced that it is
> possible, just haven't got there yet though.
I have once seen a split greenlandic paddle made by Gerald Maroske. Gerald used a brass ferrule (they had been used in older paddles are are still around) to adapt to the oval loom. He dengled (argh, my words are missing - treating a piece of metal with a hammer) the round shaped brass ferrule until it became oval so that he didn't have to change the shape of the loom.
Someone suggested making my own fiberglass ferrules and shaping them oval but that is too much messing around with a material I don't like.
The solutions might or might not fit your intended paddle, Mel. But I strongly believe a four piece greenlandic paddle is always a weak compromise in handling and performance.
just my 4,8 German Pfennige,
Marian
Marian Gunkel, Berlin, Germany
www.mariangunkel.de
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