If the debate is over the use of the work emulsion, I can understand that there might be some narrowly focused, and off-track comments.

Regardless of whether the solvents form an emulsion OR a solution with the oils and/or natural resins in the wood, when the solvents evaporate anything dissolved in them will precipitate. You get precipitates in emulsions, too.

To avoid jargon hangups, you might just call the stuff "the goo left behind", or some similar phrase.

"Goo" seems to be a nice general term that covers many possibilities.

If this was an election year I could swear the politicians were out there caucussing -- or doing some other type of cussing. Translated, my take on the discussion is: It appears that the residue is not an emulsion, but the by-product of evaporation of solvents.

I'm not so concerned with the exact geneology of how "the goo left behind" was created as I am with wondering if it will cause problems. Apparently it won't cause problems, and you can remove it with dry abrasion if you want, or leave it alone.

So the next paddle you make let it sit a bit longer, and if it develops a slimy feel on the first use, no need to resume the DIS cussion, just get with a short burst of cussin' and wash any slime off -- and then use the paddle peacefully for the rest of its natural life.

PGJ