Smash-Ball paddle set for the Collins family. Purpleheart veneer over top-grade Finnish plywood.
Flame maple through and through inlays.
Phillipine mahogany handles with purpleheart and maple pinlines with leather wrist thongs.Cooper Collins, for whom I have done a few groovy fins sets to go on his Terry Martin fish and quads, brought me a dilapidated set of smashball paddles, made in China (Bastards!!).
The plywood was chipped and delaminating and the plastic handles had fallen off of one of the two. He wanted to know if I could make him a better set (hee hee heee). These are what I came up with; high-grade aircraft plywood, dense, exotic wood veneer, hardwood handles and leather wrist thongs. They have a 3-step furniture grade finish. they are glued up with high-tech, water-proof wood glue. The wood will break before the glue bond will. BULLET PROOF!
The handles melt into the shape of your hand and they have a superb balance. They will last forever (almost) and they will look cool hanging on young Conrad's bedroom wall when they are not at the beach. The price for a similar pair would be $275 if anyone is interested.
It shouldn't be too difficult to draw the parallels between the smash-ball paddles and Chinese surfboards..................Know what I mean?
Aloha, JC
2 comments:
Those are killer Bro!
FD
Hi John:
We just got the paddles home and had the inaugural smashball sesh, ... not only are they sublimely beautiful pieces of art, they are noticeably livelier than the original paddles, almost as light, 10 times more durable and they feel wayyy better in the hand! Strong work, and thanks again.
-Coop
PS: Note my use of the lower case 's' in smashball, referring the generic game as opposed to the brand name, so as not to get into any legal hot water. ;) ;) [You know, kinda like xerox has become generic for a photocopy, rollerblades for inline skates, etc.]
PPS: I'm thinking they'll be hung in the living room [!], not in Conrad's room. ;)
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