Brian Nystrom ) writes:

Polyester resin is fine for laminating fiberglass, but it's a very poor
substitute for epoxy when you're working on wooden paddles. It's not an
adhesive and it's nowhere near as strong as epoxy.

I have polyester resin and glass fibre on the tip of my cheapest paddle
which I use in place of my lightweight paddle on "rough" outings exploring
shallow rocky creeks and so forth where it's used to push as much as to
paddle. The tip has to be sanded and touched up after an active season,
done in early spring as part of the ritual pre-season boat maintenance.
The polyester can't be built up too thick or it cracks and comes away in
chunks. However adhesion is not a problem as the paddle tip is drlled with
small holes into which the resin sinks and grabs hold. I'd use whatever
resin I had on hand, and if both, then the least cost.

As for cooking oil, in spite of theoretical musings, it has worked well
for me and is cheap. Like boot grease I rub in until it's warm. That is
supposed to help it sink in.


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