Oar blades - what glue?

[KevinV]

Just off for a week of r&r in Scotland. The bothy I'm using has a variety of (once lovely) wooden oars, most held together with duct tape. What glue does the panel suggest? I was thinking about gorilla glue, as it seems quite tolerant of imperfect prep and has plenty of other uses?

I'm on the motorbike, so space is at a premium

 

[KevinV]

As for varnish, I thought ronseal polyurethane - easy to use, and pretty tough - thoughts?

 

[westernman]

The traditional glue would be resorcinol.
I would hesitate to use epoxy because of the flexing.

At university we had a set of brand new blades from the then current manufacturer used for top notch oar blades which started to come unglued.
While they went back to the manufacturer for reglueing, we were lent a set of oars from Imperial College. I pulled to hard on one of those and broke it.
We got our oars back after reglueing and they were then very good.

I also broke a Concept2 oar just before a heat of Henley regatta. We went on to win the heat and the finals.

 

[davidej]

I assume you mean the foaming polyurethane Gorilla glue, not the other stuff.

It should be great assuming you can keep the parts firmly cramped together while it foams. Otherwise the action will push the pieces apart.

 

[KevinV]

I assume you mean the foaming polyurethane Gorilla glue, not the other stuff.

I do

 

[MisterBaxter]

The foaming stuff is great, epoxy would be great too. But the foamy stuff is easier to use in my experience.

 

[Hacker]

Epoxy is fine for oars. We’ve just built 8 gig oars from scratch using it. Collano Semparoc would also be good, moisture helps it cure.

 

[Refueler]

Gorilla Glue is also available in Generic form much cheaper .... its PU Glue.

For this Oar job ... make sure its the BROWN exterior version - as this is Seawater Proof ... but as a user of it on many things modelling and my boats - seawater tends to turn it dark brown if not sealed with varnish / paint.

As another says - make its clamped securely to prevent that expansion from pushing joint apart.

 

[seumask]

I rebuilt my 6ft tender oars this winter after the original , 30 yr ? glue failed. I used SP epoxy and then painted them with a 2 pack boa paint that I had spare of. This I hope will last for another 20 years.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I used foaming PU Glue for my plywood tender and the oars for propelling the dingy 10 years ago all still fine

 

[Supertramp]

I rebuilt a canoe paddle 10 years ago and used plain wood glue (exterior grade). Then about 5 coats of PU varnish. Still good.

 

[KevinV]

Thanks folks, PU glue it is.

How about the finish? I wondered perhaps if just oiling would be quicker to do (I'm only there 5 days) and easier to maintain? Thin some tung oil down and leave it in the shed there for a wipe down every now and then ?

 

[westernman]

Oars bend:-

 

[KevinV]

Oars bend:-

View attachment 180828

I'm talking about rather stout wooden oars with me at the hard work end - they won't be bending much

 

[DownWest]

I tend to think that the only glue for previously glued joints is epoxy, unless you clean back to basic wood. So, PU for a 'fix', but epoxy or resorcional for a really good joint on clean joints..
We used to get our masts from Collar, who's main business was oars. But, that was in the 60s.. Nice Sitka spruce..try and buy some now.
All carbon now..

 

[LittleSister]

We used to get our masts from Collar, who's main business was oars. But, that was in the 60s.. Nice Sitka spruce..try and buy some now.
All carbon now..

You burnt them?

 

[Rappey]

My oars are well used often. I would imagine totally saturated with salt. I had to reglue as the edge of the blade fell off.
Cleaned it with lots of fresh water and acetone. A few days later i clamped it back on with epoxy. 2nd use it fell off. Tried spread waterproof pva hybrid. Fell straight off. Tried cascamite- fell off. Dampened it and used polyurethene. Not pretty but 6 months later its still not fallen off.
Ages ago the shaft split on the other oar . I epoxied and wrapped a few layers of fibre glass tape. Strong as ever

 

[Daydream believer]

I'm on the motorbike, so space is at a premium

Never tried to row a motorbike. Are they anything like an avon?

 

[KevinV]

Never tried to row a motorbike. Are they anything like an avon?

No - more oarspower!