Stand Up Paddle Surfing Community Website
Shorten your Paddle
I picked up a used Kialoa Kole paddle from Gary which was too long for me.
So after bumping it around for a while, I decided to take off the old handle, cut the shaft, shorten and replace it.
Here is how I did it:
Heat the handle up with a hair dryer, real hot.
Jam the paddle blade between a mattress and the box spring.
Twist the hot handle real hard.
Heat, pull and twist some more.
Hurray it came off.
Clean out the old glue from the handle. I used a Dremel tool with a wire wheel. Pretty easy.
Cut the shaft. Figure out for yourself how long you want it.
I wrapped the shaft with masking tape and used a hack saw. No problem.
Rough up the cut end of the saft with fine sandpaper.
There is a blue foam plug in the end of the shaft. Stick it into the shortened end.
Get 5 minute epoxy from the hardware store. I used Devcon.
Mix it up and goop it into the handle and the end of the shaft.
Use enough so it comes out a little.
Remember, the curved side of the handle toward the blade of the paddle.
Stick the paddle, blade down, on a flat surface to make sure everything is straight.
Make sure the handle is square with the shaft.
Let sit overnight.
Paddle on.
So after bumping it around for a while, I decided to take off the old handle, cut the shaft, shorten and replace it.
Here is how I did it:
Heat the handle up with a hair dryer, real hot.
Jam the paddle blade between a mattress and the box spring.
Twist the hot handle real hard.
Heat, pull and twist some more.
Hurray it came off.
Clean out the old glue from the handle. I used a Dremel tool with a wire wheel. Pretty easy.
Cut the shaft. Figure out for yourself how long you want it.
I wrapped the shaft with masking tape and used a hack saw. No problem.
Rough up the cut end of the saft with fine sandpaper.
There is a blue foam plug in the end of the shaft. Stick it into the shortened end.
Get 5 minute epoxy from the hardware store. I used Devcon.
Mix it up and goop it into the handle and the end of the shaft.
Use enough so it comes out a little.
Remember, the curved side of the handle toward the blade of the paddle.
Stick the paddle, blade down, on a flat surface to make sure everything is straight.
Make sure the handle is square with the shaft.
Let sit overnight.
Paddle on.
Views: 110
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by David on
-
"Remember, the curved side of the handle toward the blade of the paddle."
Please explain... Thanks
David
-
Permalink Reply by Michael D on
-
David
The Kialoa paddle blade is angled forward. The curved or ( of the handle should be pointing toward the front. Does that make sense? To make sure it is perfectly aligned, epoxy it and then lay the paddle on a flat surface, paddle blade down and of course the ( handle down all on the flat surface.
I found the handle needed to be squared up to the shaft as well.
Hope this makes sense
Good luck
Michael D
-
-
Thanks Michael,
Maybe I'm wrong.. but I and everyone that I know has the handle with the curve fitting into your palm and the flat across your fingers..It seems more ergo that way.. Maybe there's no right or wrong way.
Here's some info that I posted about cutting your Kialoa paddle and gluing the handle on.
http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39056&Sea...
Cheers David
[img]http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg9/djp-1/IMG_0468Medium.jpg[/img]
-
-
David
I did the handle the way I it was when I bought the paddle and the way the seabreeze forum guy showed it.
If you like it the other way, go for it.
I'd like to see how it feels.
MD
-
Permalink Reply by jackson on -
That's a really good idea, I hadn't realised that the glue would melt like that. How long were you heating it up for? I'm assuming carbon is ok with getting hot?
Regards
Jackson
SUP Boards
-
-
Jackson
The operating temperature of the epoxy is 200 degrees F.
The stuff doesn't melt, it just loses its bonding strength.
Not entirely as I had to really twist the handle hard to get it off.
I heated it for maybe 5 minutes. The hair dryer gets it only so hot, so it doesn't wreck the carbon fiber.
But hey, it worked.
Michael D
© 2012 Created by Michael Ashley.
