Some years back as I was starting with GPs I used my second attempt to try out various things and shapes - sacrifized it to learn as much as I could.

The one thing that might help you is when i cut the loom to shorten it and put it back together with epoxy. It wasn't strong enough but split cleanly at the first test.

The thing to avoid is any kind of sharp step. I don't know if a long enough smooth scarf joint will work, but it might. You'd need two dowels to keep it from slipping, and lots of sinew to wrap around it.

The orientation of the grain will also be crucial - right angle to the bending force. And the dowels must not pry the grain open either.

No sharp step!

risto

: I am thinking that I would like to make a couple of Greenland style paddles
: as Christmas presents this year. I would really like them to be able to
: break down to transport on the plane. I have seen some hi-tech designs for
: two piece paddles, but has anyone heard of any more 'primitive' methods? I
: was wondering if maybe I could have some sort of scarf joint in the middle
: that could be lashed and/or wrapped with artificial sinew (no glue).

: I don't really want to use any plastic/metal/carbon sleeves or that kind of
: thing. Just cuious if anyone has made anything like this. I read on the
: QayakUSA forum a post from a guy thinking of making one with a threaded
: dowell to join the two sides...seems like it could be rather weak though.

: Any ideas?