: ...how do you support it? I've been making them with epoxy coated tips, so
: I've avoided this issue to date by not varnishing the scrificial tip
: coating. I'd like to put a full coat of varnish on my latest one and I'm
: stumped. The only thing I can think of is to put brads or pins in the
: ends, then fill the holes afterward. Is there a better way?

I either pre-drill holes about 1" apart in the paddle tips and insert nails and fill later, or hold the tips with small spring clamps and varnish the bare spots later.

The nails or spring clamps rest on a pair of small stands clamped to my bend top so I can rotate the paddles to coat with epoxy or finish.

All the best,

Rob Macks
Laughing Loon CC&K
www.LaughingLoon.com