If you check out the above link there are
photos there to see the general principle.
You will need the following:-
Tape Measure
Shaft
Blades
Grips and Heat Shrink Sleeving
Hot Air Gun or Hair Dryer
Epoxy adhesive - such as Araldite (Rapid is
easiest)
Mixing stick and Mixing board (cardboard is
ok)
Sand paper
Tissue
PVC electrical tape
Method:-
If you have one insert the shaft into a
vice Horizontally being careful not to crush the shaft.
Insert the Blade ends and measure the total
length.
For
Asymmetric blades keep the tape measure in line
with the shaft.
Decide how long you want
your paddles and subtract the total length measured from the length you
want.
for example - if you
want 195cm and you measure 210cm (2.1m) then you need to take off 15cm
Divide the amount you
need to shorten the shaft by 2 and cut off that amount from each end of
the shaft.
this is only important
when you are using a shaft with reinforced ends.
Remove from Vice and use
the sand paper to rough up the inside of each end of the shaft.
Fix index Grip on one side of the shaft and
secure in desired place with PVC tape.
Place the Heat Shrink Sleeving over the
grip and heat gently with the hot air gun or hair dryer.
Mix the two parts of the
adhesive on mixing board (equal portions of each - check packet for
details).
If the Paddle Blades are an Asymmetric type
(with specific left and right ends), glue the control (grip) end first
this is the right hand end if you paddle
right handed.
Using the mixing stick, apply some of the
adhesive to the inside of the shaft (only in the end you are working on)
as far as the blades go down.
Apply some adhesive (not too much) ball
around the spigot of the blade you are working on.
Slowly insert the blade's spigot into the
shaft end you are working on (grip end first).
Holding the shaft vertically with the blade
at the top, rotate the shaft slowly smoothing the adhesive around the
spigot and removing any obvious excess back onto the mixing board
Slowly push the blade end into the shaft as
you rotate the shaft while working the adhesive to avoid any excess.
Ensure the very top end of the spigot of
the blade has adhesive before pushing it firmly home into the shaft.
Remove any excess adhesive around the
shaft, neck of the blade with the mixing stick/tissue.
Locate the spine of the back of the blade
in line with the highest point of the grip.
Allow to dry.
WAIT till your excess mix is hard !
If you are using a second grip or even just
some Heat Shrink Tubing for the other hand, place that over the shaft end
now.
If you have a second grip, don't fix it's
position until after the second blade has dried.
Mix another batch of adhesive.
Repeat steps 10 to 16.
To ensure the paddle has the correct
feather, either
line it (Vertically) against another
similar paddle which has the same feather
hold the end of the paddle looking down
the length and check the angle between the two blades
adjust the second blade angle to suit the
feather you require
Check and Re-check the angle between the
blades by attempting to make paddling strokes in the air.
Check and Re-check by eye - looking down
the length of the paddle.
Allow to dry in a place they will not be
knocked over or have any risk of having their angle altered.
Fix second grip and Shrink (see 6 and 7
above).
Use PVC tape to cover all four ends of Heat
Shrink.
