Good afternoon from the Chilly north east.

thanks for all the help so far Im sure ill have more questions when I start the merganser 17w.

any way while waiting for my kit to show up I carved up a paddle (for practice) 5 dollar Junk cedar 2 x 4. shaped up Ok.

Im going to fabricate a better paddle (maybe laminated) My question is How do most of you add hardwood tips.

many of the plans I see call for pretty thin tips 3/8"+- and thus any dowls or tounge/groove joints will get sanded into/ away??

is the reason so many hardwood tips are quite long 3-4 " so to keep the joint in a thicker spot on the paddle.

whats your method

1) just epoxy on (I tried but wasnt very strong snapped off easy 3" tip) perhaps a SHORT TIP just glued could POSSIBLY work ( perhaps say up to 3/4" LONG?) ?

2) tounge groove? biscuit joint??

3) dowls

4) fancy finger/puzzle type joint

YOUR THOUGHTS please

many thanks.

Have a great day

"John"